ABC STARS Inspires

"Even Birds that freely roam the Sky, Loudly weep when not allowed to fly, How more deeply will a Land most fair, Yearn to break the chains of sad Despair?" -I- All things false and frightful         All rackets great and small All things fierce and spiteful         This “New Republic” has them all. Perjuries and puppetry         Beclouding what the people know— Ninoy was slain for but one reason         He was Marcos’ foremost foe. An impotent judiciary         Unmasking all pretensions To supremacy of law;        ...

-I- All things dark and booty-full         All rackets great and small All things rank and plunder-full         This "New Republic" has them all! Decreed a day of "thanksgiving"         Is September Twenty-One The advent of martial power         The power of the gun! A formal Constitution         Approved by show of hands; By voters and non-voters         In parks and grandstands! With a Sixth Amendment         The loyalists' excuse There can't be legislation         Against the Monarch's views. And now, the Agrava Commission         The only ones who still don't know Ninoy was slain for but one reason         He was Marcos' foremost foe. The feats of engineering         The pyramids of steel With billions disappearing     ...

All things dark and booty-full        All "miracles" great and small All things rank and plunder-full        This "New Society" has them all! A formal Constitution        Approved by show of hands; By voters and non-voters        In parks and grandstands! An Interim Assembly        With ready-made excuse— It can legislate in freedom        On tolerated views! Neither democratic        Nor parliamentary; Neither coming nor going        From "crises" to normalcy! Running the Administration        Are casuals high and low; The test of tenure being        Are you Marcos' friend or foe? A Comelec foreknowledge        Making canvassing passé— The Poll Returns completed        Before election day! The President, the Premier...

(The following invocation was delivered by Atty. J. Antonio M. Carpio, a member of the Ateneo de Naga Board of Trustees and an alumnus of ADN Pre Law Class '51 during the annual alumni homecomiing of the Ateneo de Naga Alumni Association, Inc., last December 30, 1980 at the Ateneo Gymnasium. While the CITY NEWSWEEK does not necessarily subscribe to, much less endorse, the sentiments contained in the following invocation, we are reprinting it principally for its literary value and to underscore the fact that even under the present martial law regime there is, in truth and in fact, freedom of the press and of expression. ---Editor) Ever loving Father, hallowed be Your name. From Naga thru Kabikolan, we proclaim In myriad moods, our total dependence on You O Alpha and Omega of all that is good and true. Deign to bless us in a special way This day, our 34th homecoming. We pray, Too, for those no longer with us; for those  Who want to, but cannot be here; for those who ch...

The good are going, the ungodly reign! Gerry. Ninoy. Not Pepe! (Why not Ferdie?) The morrow promises more want, more pain Don't take away our leaders! Don't let it be! We need him as we struggle towards the dawn Of self-determination. Where truth prevails. With life again revered. With justice won And peace upon us. Dissenters out of jails. You "write straight with crooked lines!" 'Tis treason Doubting. Without You, where can we go? You are our all in all! You will the reason For a leaf, a life; a friend or foe.           Yet I must ask, beyond all I intend---           Cure Pepe Lord! Because he is my friend! Ichthys, 14 Sept 84 photo credit: dawn in port via photopin (license) License: (license)

All things dark and booty-full         All rackets great and small All things rank and plunder-full         "The politician's made them all!" "We needed a 're-structuring'         Of our unjust society." The clamor "Change!" was echoed         Re-echoed to satiety. "We faced the gravest danger---         The Republic's impending fall! A 'democratic revolution'         Was launched to save us all!" The top-most politician         Then ruled us by decrees Behind him, martial power         "So as to keep the peace!" "A rule 'authoritarian'         A crisis government'" A plain dictatorship         Until his power's spent! He got a Constitution         "Approved." By a show of hands! By voters and non-voters   ...

Dear Jesus, we are gathered in Your name. And we of the Camarines Sur Bar proclaim Anew our commitment to the Rule of Law Over infrastructures held in awe In a regime of coercion where the strong are right--- The dominance of military might, The uselessness of writs of liberty And the labyrinthine way to normalcy. Lord, do let the Holy Paraclete Abide in us. That we may not be effete! That we may conquer the fearsome doubts we dread And we may dare where Justices fear to tread; Maintain our chapter as a forum, free, For law, and what jurisprudence ought to be; And with integrity, effectively Discharge our public responsibility. May we seek You in our quest for truth. Beyond the brazen brainwashing of our youth; The deceit upon our people; the "managed" news; The "freedom" to publish tolerated views And exposes and other happenings But, "keep off royalty and royal things." Because, in seeking, striving for what's true We are...

Our Father, almighty, hallowed be Your name. From Abra to Zamboanga we proclaim In myriad moods, Your People's trust in You O Alpha and Omega of all that's good and true! Deign to bless us in a special way This day, as we labor and pray That Your will be done in this Conven- Tion through the rule of Law and not of men. Despite diverging thoughts and words and deeds Despite diverse ideologies and creeds That our Integrated Bar, now four years old, Be ever faithful to our goals. Be bold; Be non-political; a forum, free! For law, and what jurisprudence ought to be! And with integrity, effectively Discharge our public responsibility To rich and poor, the mighty and the low- Ly; with fairplay for all --- stranger, friend or foe. Look kindly on our human failings, Lord! The countless times we live not by Your Word; As we forgive, and understand the plight Of hangers-on of power who indict Us falsely. Who equate non-political ...

MARY, there is blood upon the hills. Your sons have etched upon their guns---their kills. There's an evil wind that's blowing badness Among the winds of change. And sowing sadness In the hamlets of your land of peace. Ah, when will this wind of madness cease? For fleeting moments till these rites are done Bicolanos once again are one Gathered at the crossroad of Bicolandia On this, your annual feast of Peñafrancia. Yes, this is what we always remember This turbulent, passionate pilgrimage of September. But Mary, many are our crying ills Today, there is blood upon the hills. Many of our brothers have their tables bare There's so much greed; deceit is everywhere. Justice is a phantom in the night Banished by goons and gold and armalite. Our leader has reneged upon his word No voice but that of his mighty can be heard. No wonder there's that nagging thought that fills A growing many---blood upon the hills. O Mary dearest, of Peñafrancia Shri...