25 Years After Edsa By: Owen S. Bayog

I was in Grade 4 during the Edsa Uprising in 1986.  I can vividly recall that Cassette tapes containing the speeches of Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. were illegal and newspapers containing releases about him were scarce.  My teacher was fond of me when I would gather my classmates and discuss what I have learned about Ninoy and why the country was under Martial Law. 

Years after my teacher and I bumped into one another and told me that she was right when she said that I might be an activist when I grow up.  I did, but not because of Ninoy Aquino.  I was among the student leaders holding a pen, a campus journalist and later on was with the National Patriotic Alliance (Bagong Alyansang Makabayan - Negros).

The experience has taught me of the National and Democratic movement where until now has my respect.  Over the years – people change and evolve, and so did I.  I am now with the Fourth Estate being a photojournalist and writer.

Last Feb. 25, I was with fellow journalists covering the Edsa People Power commemoration.  I instantly recalled the experience when the people took the streets to call for Marcos to go down from the presidency.  I saw thousands of people went to the Bacolod Public Plaza – the unity of the people to remove Marcos from power.

After 25 years – the time and people do change, but I could still hear speeches saying that Edsa in 86’ was a peaceful revolution and a miracle.  It was not a revolution but a people’s uprising, the leaders were changed but the political system remained the same. I also noticed that after 25 years people do not walk out from their houses to commemorate the day we regained our democracy from a dictator – they now arrived with cars in a motorcade.

An avid Pinoy supporter told me in a facebook comment: “We marched and walked to the streets to rally during the Martial Law Days, we can now ride. 

 Again, time and people change and evolve.  What the people should march and protest about is the ever increasing prices of oil and other commodities, people should assert their right to land jobs and own parcels of land to till. Filipinos should be given access to free education and social services rather than having a government that is subservient to foreign rule, spending more on military budget and debt servicing.  These are the issues that has not been resolved by EDSA and we continue to face today.#

RAGE AGAINST THE DYING OF THE LIGHT By: Owen S. Bayog

Members of the militant youth trooped to the Fountain of Justice to call

on the present government to put a stop on the Privatization scheme. Torches lit the 

streets in front of the Bacolod City Hall as activists held their rally. 

FLOWERS FOR VALENTINES By: Owen S. Bayog

A rose costs P30 a piece at the Bacolod City Public Plaza.

POLITICAL WHEEL (STEERED BY POLITICS) POWERED BY POLITICIANS By: Owen S. Bayog

Market vendors outside the Bacolod Central Market and Libertad are being cleared from the road.   Reactions from various quarters flew up in the air.  Others call it political will and the right thing to do, while others remain pessimistic and will just say “they will be back in no time”.  Just this morning I passed by the Libertad Market, vendors who stationed themselves to sell their goods outside the market were told to vacate the area and will be given equal space so that there will be order.

It had been the problem in the area ever since and today we see a moving force to put things into “proper perspective”.  Remove the sidewalk vendors, lad-lad himos or transient vendors from the portion of the street that they occupy.  If I remember it right, vendors are supposed to be inside the market.  There are spaces for everyone who would like to venture into business which of course benefits the City’s coffers as these vendors pay the rent for the space they occupy.

Years have passed from several leaderships and the situation of the Public market deteriorates, more vendors went to the streets instead of being inside the markets.  Streets were converted into extensions of the wet market.  One could even finish marketing for a household need even if it does not go inside.  What happens to those who are renting spaces from the government inside the market?  They too have resorted to get spaces outside in order to get their goods sold.

The chance of having the markets function as what it is should be depends on the present leadership, the chances whether they thrive or not is not the responsibility of the Government.  It is simply implementing what is in the bounds of the law in order to be fair to everyone.  Bacolod City is experiencing what I call the “political wheel” (steered by politics) and “powered by politicians".

Those who have dismayed the expectations of the vendors just like what happened to politicians who ran for the executive post had suffered a consequential defeat during the elections. 

Many blame the leadership of the present administration to its inaction towards the transient vendors, sidewalk vendors and to those who are outside the market.  There were also speculations that the present administration banks on the population of market vendors whenever elections comes along.  Today, there is a concrete action to put things in order – some may ask why now? Some people said it is of high time and other would simple say – that this is just temporary and we will see them on the streets in no time.

I simply go for the idea of having the vendors inside the market – have them pay the rent and close all establishments that have major delinquencies and have them filled up by the eager ones.  In this manner, the markets will be maintained, the city’s income will continue rather than maintaining empty spaces which is of no use.#osb