The Real State of the Nation

For the seven agonizing years, the Filipino people have been fed with fiction—ugly fiction from the mouth of a fictive president.

Thus we, the members of Dakila – Philippine Collective for Modern Heroism, present our own version of the State of the Nation.

The phrase “strong economy” has always oozed from Mrs. Arroyo’s lying mouth. But if “strong economy” means high gasoline prices, if “strong economy” means Filipinos falling in line for rice, if “strong economy” means thousands of Fillipinos leaving their families behind to take on dehumanizing jobs abroad, then we would rather have no economy at all.

The people cannot lie. We no longer need surveys to show that she is the worst Philippine president in recent times. Of course, Malacanang will mouth the same old tired cliché about the presidency not being a popularity contest.

That is actually insulting the intelligence of the Filipinos. To say such a thing is to treat them like mindless showbiz fans. But if the presidency is not a popularity contest as she says, then why does she feel the need to deface the landscape with her face? Why is her face on every streetcorner billboard? Why is her face on our trains and our tickets? Why is she on TV all the time in those ugly commercials?

The people have enough famous personalities to idolize. But their stomachs do not lie.

The people are hungry. The people are tired.

The people are tired of the same old lies.

Let us invoke the sense of dignity in each and every one of us.

We have suffered enough. We have the right to be noble.
We have the right to be angry.


-- DAKILA

Artists' AGIMAT: Power of Filipino Art and Culture through New Media

Finally, a website that is truly our own.

AGIMAT is a rich content artist’s database and an ultimate resource material for artist information. The “Agimat Project” envisions educating Filipinos on our rich cultural heritage and introducing them to the bountiful Filipinos artists of the new millennium.

AGIMAT: Sining at Kulturang Pinoy calls on all Filipino artists to be part of this project. You may submit your profile/photos/videos/sample works to be featured at the agimat.net website at

info@agimat.net or dakila.philippines@yahoo.com.

Come to the Press Launch and Party on July 31, Thursday, 7pm at Access Point Bar, Scout Borromeo, Quezon City. The event is also for the benefit of Susan Fernandez' battle with cancer. Agimat encourages everyone to donate whatever they can to help Susan win her fight against cancer.

Featuring: Zelle, Stonefree, Datu's Tribe, Sopiz, Matilda, Miko Pepito, Electromomma, Jeepney Joyride, Juan Pablo Dream and Radioactive Sago Project.

Artists may also submit your profiles/pictures/videos during the launch. A group of photographers volunteered their time for those who want their pictures taken for their profiles.

Let AGIMAT be the talisman to usher Filipino Artists and Philippine Art and Culture towards greater heights.

Mabuhay ang Sining at Kulturang Pinoy!

Free admission!

Para kay Susan

I first heard about the musician Susan Fernandez in college. I was a budding activist and feminist back then in UP Manila. Her song “Babae Ka” is every feminist’s anthem while her rendition of Ruth Mabanglo’s poem “Kung Ibig Mo Ako Makilala” represents every woman’s romantic hope in finding a man who would truly accept her for the person she is.

I met Ms. Susan when she attended a Dakila General Assembly at the Kolumn Bar in Timog two years ago. Since then, Ms. Susan has become a regular figure in Dakila activities. She is part of the 46-artist collaborative anthem, “Kaya Mong Maging DAKILA”. What I admire most in Ms. Susan is despite her long years of involvement as a protest singer, musician-activist and a feminist, I could not sense any strand of frustration or cynicism in her. Whenever I hear her speak to the younger crowd, I would always feel her passion for her principles and her undying hope that another generation would carry on the struggles that she has embraced.

To some, Susan may be a tireless activist, a professor, a nightingale who enchants with her sweet voice, a true feminist, a radical nationalist folk singer, a comrade or a friend. For the rest of us, her zeal for her advocacies and in life is what inspires us to take on the challenge to be dakila.

KUNG IBIG MO AKONG MAKILALA

Kung ibig mo akong makilala,

lampasan mo ang guhit ng mahugis na balat,

ang titig kong dagat—

yumayapos nang mahigpit

sa bawat saglitng kahapon ko’t bukas.

Kung ibig mo akong makilala

sunduin mo ako sa himlayang dilim

at sa madlang pagsukol ng inunang hilahil,

ibangon ako at saka palayain.

Isang pag-ibig na lipos ng lingap,

tahanang malaya sa pangamba at sumbat

may suhay ng tuwa’t ang kaluwalhatia’ywalang takda—

ialay mo lahat ito sa akin

kung mahal mo ako’t ibig kilalanin.

Kung ibig mo akong kilalanin,

sisirin mo ako hanggang buto,

liparin mo ako hanggang utak,

umilanlang ka hanggang kaluluwa—

hubad ako roon:

mula ulo hanggang paa.

Si Susan Fernandez ang “Nightingale” ng cause-oriented groups dahil sa matining ngunit buo niyang boses sa pag-awit na napakagandang pakinggan, tunay na walang kaparis at walang kupas sa kabila ng nagdaang panahon. Buong puso niyang ibinahagi sa marami ang kanyang talento at oras upang maisulong ang mga mabuting adhikain para sa lipunan at sambayanan

Para Kay Susan

Isang natatanging pagsasama ng ilan sa pinakamahuhusay na mang-aawit upang tulungan si Susan Fernandez labanan ang kanser!


ika-3 ng Hulyo 2008 Brother’s Mustache
Sct. Madriñan cor Sct. Tuason Sts.
(near T. Morato) Quezon City
6 – 9:30 ng gabi Gate: P150.00

GUESTS
Lolita Carbon . Joey Ayala . Becky Demetillo . Lester Demetillo . Pete Lacaba . Chikoy Pura . Noel Cabangon . Bayang Barrios . Cookie Chua . Joel Saracho . Bagong Dugo . at isang espesyal na panauhin

Special Sale!!!
Habi at Himig
Music Album of Ms. Susan Fernandez in CD

Organized by friends of Susan

in cooperation with Brother’s

Mustache

flippyknows: week 3

WEEK 3 JULY 03
For the first time in Flippyknows, we will be having two free courses in one night! Don't miss out. See you all Thursday!

FREE Courses of the Week:
Understanding Domain name and Web Hosting and Adobe Flash (focusing on website building)

Domain names are the human-readable addresses used on the Internet (eg, "www.flippyknows.com"). The Domain Name Service translates these names into IP addresses which TCP/IP programs use directly. Compare dotted quad.

Web Hosting is a service that allows users to post web pages to the Internet. A web host, which is also called hosting service provider (HSP), is a business that provides the technologies and services needed for websites to be viewed on the web.

Adobe FlashAdobe Flash, or simply Flash, refers to both the Adobe Flash Player, and to the Adobe Flash Professional multimedia authoring program. Adobe Flash Professional is used to create content for the Adobe Engagement Platform (such as web applications, games and movies, and content for mobile phones and other embedded devices).

Flips of the Week:

Nityalila Saulo, Bitaw!Nityalila is a singer-songwriter / recording artist who is also a "geek" at heart. She is a self taught techie like a lot of people. But it was during her "call center" days 4 years ago that she became a certified Domain name and Web Hosting support agent for Network Solutions, world leader in domain name and web hosting services.

Ivan "Ice" Basit, Mad House ProjectIvan studied at the First Academy of Computer Arts, where he got his certification in 3D Modeling and Animation. He did not stop after that as his five years of broadcasting service led him to take up AB Journalism at the Manila Times. There he exercised his knowledge of giving information, reporting the facts, and translating specialized knowledge to the general public. The use of his creativity, however, became limited to making short documentary films, power point presentations and radio plugs.

Try as he might, however, there was no going away from the inheritance of his father. Ivan continued to pursue his earlier goals by purchasing books on photography, advertising, and other learning materials concerning art. He also learned by himself important computer software programs, one of them which was the Adobe PhotoShop. He further trained himself in the disciplines that he had yet to master and learned them even more when he joined the different productions that honed his skills.

PROGRAM:

07PM : Chingle (Chill and Mingle)

08PM : Ask Flippy: Understanding Domain name and Web Hosting, and Adobe Flash

09PM : Show and Tell

10PM : Open Mic