Failures and reasons for joy

I wish I could honestly say it has been a very good year for Filipinos, but I find it impossible to recount the most trending and talked-about stories of the year that was, without confronting the Aquino administration with its biggest failures.

So here are seven local songs that may sum up President Aquino’s performance for the year 2015.

1) “Lupang Sinira” by Pol Galang. This alternate version of “Lupang Hinirang” was used by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and its paramilitary forces to justify the brutal killings and harassment in the lumad communities. For the past 12 months, the Aquino administration hasn’t done anything to stop the mercenary tradition of the military and the culture of impunity in general.

2) “Traffic” by The Wuds. Although not literally about traffic per se but more of a political commentary, we can relate this song to the worsening traffic condition in the country. As we all know, the year 2015 saw the heaviest traffic congestions in Metro Manila and the most insensitive remarks from the highest elected official of the land in recent memory.

3) “Igpaw, Mindanao” by Bayang Barrios, written by Danny Fabella of MusikangBayan. This recently recorded song traces back the roots of the indigenous peoples and their determination to resist the imperialist plunder of their ancestral domain. Furthermore, it tells how the counterinsurgency program is being used by government against the people in order to protect the interest of large-scale mining corporations.

4) “Utang na Naman” by Datu’s Tribe. This gut-wrenching song best describes P-Noy’s commitment to uphold neoliberal globalization at the expense of the Filipino people. His administration spent P10 billion to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, even as the poor are dying out there to get the most basic social services, like healthcare and education.

5) “Bahay” by Gary Granada. A winner in the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas Musicfest, this song will bring you to the filthiest slums in the metro that you could ever imagine. P-Noy has made things worse for the urban poor because of the public-private partnership programs that would demolish every informal settler’s shanty that lies on its path. 

6) “Base Militar” by Inang Laya. This straightforward protest song against the US military bases from a popular 1980s’ female duo will remain valid as long as the Visiting Forces Agreement is in place, and a president as treacherous as Benigno Aquino Jr. is in power.

7.) “Sayaw sa Bubog” by The Jerks. Written by Chickoy Pura, the lyrics “Tuloy ang Ligaya sa Hacienda Luisita” is  a statement about President Corazon Aquino’s biggest failure—land reform. Yet, nothing has changed under the present Aquino administration.

Still, despite all these, we have reasons to celebrate as we remember the glorious papal visit, Nonito Donaire’s recapturing of the WBO super bantamweight world title belt, Pia Wurtzbach’s historic reclaiming of the Miss Universe crown after 42 years and, of course, the suspension of Mary Jane Veloso’s execution in Indonesia, which we owe to the people.

May the new year bring genuine peace, social justice and prosperity to all Filipinos!

—DANIEL ALOC,
[email protected]