It is the 10th of December. Besides Kartunista-Manunulat Kolektib's 4th anniversary, it is the 62nd Anniversary as well of International Human Rights' Day. Somehow, this is good news, though, of course, it should have been done earlier and the 43 healthworkers should not have been detained in the first place, and they shouldn't have suffered 43 weeks of detention as computed here. As mentioned in the previous entry, this is human rights week, though, of course, human rights week should be observed not just on this season of the year. Anyway, please allow me to tell of this week and other related matters of concern (parang lahat ng bagay ata yun a, kasi lahat magkakaugnay. Ay, nga pala "KarMaalala Mo Kaya" dapat ang pamagat nito, nagbago lang ang isip ko! Ang wasak na ang lame na ewan!)
After BLTX, the FACTSHEET5 exhibit opening and RIGHTSv.3 NCR screening, came another tiring week. And another. And another. And I remain unemployed. Anyway, the week started with the discovery of a carinderia / canteen / food stall / whatever-you-want-to-call such, that sells second hand books (may tutubusin pa ako sa Monday na mga libro! Nasa akin na ang "Frida Kahlo: A Spiritual Biography," "Success and Failure of Picasso" ni John Berger, at Three Plays ni Bertolt Brecht). Bargaining for books with the reservation bulk piling up, we talked with the owner, and later, ended up leaving copies of LIHIM NG MGA LESPU. Future events might be held here, since the place is not the "usual" canteen and it does not feel like high end restaurants and ...wait, tama na ang advertisement pala!
The first to buy a copy from CRAZY CARABAO (located somewhere near UPLB) was a pastor affiliated with UCCP (United Church of Christ in the Philippines). I remembered Josel of QBCCC when a nun asked for his autograph and even a picture with him and his work. Haha. I think I felt the same when the pastor and his wife who teaches at CSI (Christian School International?) appreciated LESPU. We even invited them to the RIGHTSv.3 screening. (Ganda ng "43," isang shadowplay tungkol sa Morong 43. Ambigat :| akala ko nung una sa UPD lang ipapalabas.) Here's our 1-minuter public service announcement re: Human Rights. It is supposed to show how the AFP channels its counter-insurgency frustrations against legal, unarmed activists.
It was Wednesday, I think, when KarMa planned a zine launch as anniversary celebration. Then, the following day, we performed during Teatro Umalohokan Incorporated's ARTIKULO "Muling Pagtatala ng Nagpupumiglas na Sining: A cultural Night for the advancement of People's Struggle through Arts for the Masses." (Again, as in the previous entries, please pardon the spontaneity resulting into cluttered writing and expression of my train of thought. I blog for the sake of remembering important days of my life, and if you're interested, and willing to dig through the clutter, then do continue visiting. Anyway, I just recalled, Monday was Komiks workshop / discussion day with Umal Inc., thank you for the gas-lamp-like token!) It somewhat feels fulfilling that we haven't "repeated" a performance. This time, the performance seemed two-part, though the on-the-spot visual arts "jamming" on a human canvass (salamat ulit, Pura!) was done all throughout. The "first" part was something like a spoken word performance followed by a song from UPLB Kulayan.
Way back then, we used to stage shadow play performances, but after having no accessible or ready overhead projector, etc., we used to perform and think of gimmicks that would be unique to the particular performance, while, of course, living up to our name as cartoonists and writers, thus the performances shall have visual and literary elements. Somehow, KarMa is "returning" or inevitably "reverting" back to its roots: UPLB ibarang, a performance group. And I find this relieving and um... re-living?
Anyway, before this blog entry turns into Karmaalala mo kaya, I would like to end by inviting you to UPLB Writers' Club's cultural night titles DEKALIBRE (Depamilyarisasyon sa oryentasyon ng dekalidad at libreng education), where PANAYAM KAY IO and the very first Karma Kolektib Kalendaryo and/or Portfolio shall be launched (I've just thought of turning the folio into ones like SHELL's! Very National Bourgeois idea, against one of the sickest commercialization schemes, ie, LARGE CLASS POLICY in UPLB). This is set on December 15, as a celebration of KarMa's 4th anniversary and, of course, the group's collective and consistent stance against the P1.39B Budget Cut and other commercialization tactics against the education sector. Venue shall be announced ASAP. Teasers are meant to be released on the 12th of the twelfth month. I am also thinking of having an "anniversary edition" of PAKIO.
Hm... Two layouting jobs then. Two weekend headaches! Ay, to whom it may concern, by the way, had the rumours I heard been true, this is all I have to say about award-giving bodies that stink of dirty politics: I think fighting for rights is more worthwhile than fighting for privileges, so if that is the way you want it, so be it and enjoy your academic pretense. Let's find out soon. 'Nuff said!
UPLB STUDENTSTRIKE DIN ON DECEMBER 15! ANIV NG TUITION INCREASE!
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