The Biomodd Computer Drive

The Biomodd Computer Drive

Biomodd Los Baños, in partnership with the University of the Philippines Open University and Informatics, present The Biomodd Computer Drive.

If you have old computers, monitors, and other computer parts, Biomodd needs your help. Biomodd is a sculpture made up of computers and plants. The second-hand equipment you donate will be integrated into the final artwork.

Computer drop off is on May 23, Saturday, 2-8pm at the Green Papaya Art Projects, 41 T. Gener St. Kamuning, Quezon City.

Celebrate art and recycling with music by DJ Drumlander and Dxzvizhawnz.  Early donors of computers and monitors will receive a P500 gift certificate from Informatics.

This event is also brought to you by UP Circuit, Green Papaya Art Projects, Haliya Light Fruit Wine, VuQo Vodka, and Purefoods Tender Juicy.

WANT TO DONATE BUT CANNOT ATTEND THE EVENT? Contact Lai del Rosario at 0916-3763835 or e-mail lai.delro@gmail.com and let us know where and when we can pick up your computers.

For more info, visit www.biomodd.net

Mga Tula para sa mga Manggagawa ni Joi Barrios-LeBlanc*

DALAWANG TULA PARA SA MAYO UNO

SYENTO BEINTE SINGKO
Joi Barrios-Leblanc

Gasino na ang syento beinte singko?
Apat na kilo ng bigas,
ilang saing sa hapag ng mahirap.
Anim na pirasong galunggong,
Simutin mula ulo hanggang buntot,
at nang makatawid gutom.
Kahit noodles ay laman na rin ng sikmura
at sa limang pisong pakete mula sa pabrika.
busog ka sa asin at betsin, paalam na sa sustansiya.

Gasino na ang syento beinte singko.
sa kapitalista't may kuwarta
isang tasa ng kape sa Starbucks,
isang hiwa ng kesong maalat,
isang espesyal na ensaymada
na ihahain na pang-meryenda.

Syento beinte singko lang ang dagdag na suweldong
hinihingi ng manggagawa.
Syento beinte singkong walang dantay
sa mga guhit ng timbangang sumusukat
sa agwat ng kapitalista't manggagawang naghihirap.

kuha ni Kenneth Guda, Pinoy Weekly

SA ARAW NG PAGGAWA
Joi Barrios-Leblanc

Kasingtayog ng gusali na siya ang nagtayo,
Kasingkinang ng minina niyang ginto
Ang halaga ng paggawa,
Ang pagsikhay na dakila.

Ngunit nabubuhay tayo sa mundo
na nangungusap ng salapi,
At sumusukat sa tao
Sa nakamal na pag-aari.
Ang manggagawa'y bayaran lang.
Ang walong oras, limang araw,
ay ipagpasalamat!
Bakit pa hihilingin
na ang sahod ay tumaas?

Bakit hindi?
Ano't ang pagpupunyagi
ay hindi tutumbasan ng biyaya,
O sasalubungin ng pagkilala.
Sapat na pagkain sa hapag,
Isang pumpon ng mga bulaklak.

Pagkat siyang lumilkha ay kaya ring magbuwal,
Siyang nagtiya-tiyaga ay marunong ring lumaban.
At ang daigdig na isinusulong niya sa pag-unlad,
Ay daigdig din na babaligtad sa kanyang pag-aklas!


*Sec-Gen, US Committee for the Protection of Workers' Rights

Addendum to Perfectly Legal

I was once asked by a journalist if I do not regret what I did, that in spite of my sacrifice and the suffering of my family, nothing have changed in the structure of Philippine society. Those who steal and lie are still there while I remain in limbo and uncertain of my future.

I gave him an answer that went this way, “Yes, I agree that it is tragic that Arroyo remains in power along with the rest of her people. But I believe that the bigger tragedy right now is the more than eighty million Filipinos who acquiesce to be subjected to the indignity heaped upon them by a handful of people”.

- Rodolfo Lozada Jr.

Talk about ironies. I try my best to mellow down my sarcasm; yet, to mellow down my rage, I cannot.

A few days ago, Lozada was arrested. On my previous post, I enumerated instances that define legality in this country. And here I am, a few days later, reaffirming how ill-defined this word we call legal is.

Lozada mentioned that of all the cases thrown at him, he refuse to believe that he is being arrested for lying. Whilst what made him a household name in the first place is that people found it refreshing that someone in this insane, corrupt government finally told the truth.

I saw a status message in FB maligning Lozada's role in the NBN-ZTE deal: as someone who did not get his "fair share" on the NBN-ZTE deal. Maybe this person did not watch the Senate hearings. Or this person is just to fed up to even care about facts and data. Or maybe she is just too tired of the Arroyo administration's lewdness. Please, Lozada is not Chavit, not in the long run.

Lozada admitted that he is an unwilling Senate witness, he feared for his life. He was asked to leave the country when his name came up on the discussion of the anomalous NBN-ZTE deal. He was kidnapped (or "escorted" by people he doesn't know/he didn't hire/he has no affiliation whatsoever with) and was paid (through his allowance from Manuel Gaite, through Mike Defensor's friendly loan... Defensor denies his participation in efforts to pacify Lozada and is "clearing" his name now, hence the perjury charge) to deny that he has no knowledge of what happened.

Lozada, Neri's friend, complied and lied for them. In his compliance he learned of FG and Abalos' rapacity.

He complied until he no longer can. This greed is no longer "moderate", he realized. And so he told us of his knowledge on the deal, his involvement, his story.

Jun Lozada, arrested for voicing the truth

The truth is Jun Lozada risked his life and his family's well-being. Normalcy was nil after the Senate hearings: Lozada became a convent-camper, jobless, forgotten. Heck, he is even being accused of being a tantrum-throwing pawn by random cynics. It would be easier to succumb, accept and pretend. Yet he did not choose the easy path. And it is remarkable. How many of us can claim such decency?

Rodolfo Lozada Jr. told the truth. He is now detained at the MPD-HQ. Legal?