Black Friday Protest in Luneta

We were blessed with a cloudless, sunny day. Enteng and I were in contact early, confirming our plans for later in the afternoon. Both of us were unsure about how many we would ultimately be, as we had sent out the call via our blogs, text, and email and had not requested confirmation. The last three silent protest actions had, at most, twenty two people, and that was last Black Friday. And since our target area was still the City of Manila, we were a little uneasy.

There was a reason as to our choice - we had to defend our rights to free speech and peaceful assembly in the same city wherein these freedoms were assaulted. There was no intent to provoke confrontation, so we made sure our movements would not be misconstrued as aggressive. Everyone had five different assembly points to choose from, would proceed from them in small groups to our final destination, the Rizal Monument, the point from which all our roads extend.

And so we began our short stroll, in twos and threes. When we finally assembled, there were at least 120 of us, dressed mainly in black, many wearing the now famous "Patalsikin Na! Now Na!" tee shirts. Some of the participants were pleasantly surprised to see each other, so there was a lot of greeting and catching up. It took some effort for Enteng to get us to group together for pictures, we were so busy taking our own.

By far, the most pleasant surprise was the absence of any WPD personnel. The Rizal Monument color guard was there, of course, but they ignored us. Park security even obliged us by taking our pictures. This Friday could not have been more different from last Friday.

After the final pictures were taken, the media interviews over, some of us stopped to admire the view and pay our respects to Gat Jose Rizal. A fitting way to end a peaceful day of protest.

BLACK FRIDAY PROTEST BULLETIN #4: Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not) Sa Luneta

Designated Time and Place of Flash Protest on March 24:
Luneta Park - 4:00 to 4:30 PM

Plan of action:

1) Wear BLACK

2) Assemble at any of the following locations between 3:30-4:00pm
a) Bayview Starbucks
b) Chow King Restaurant along Roxas Blvd. corner T. M. Kalaw
c) Manila Hotel
d) Parking Area of Harbor View
e) Entrance of Chinese Garden

3) Wait awhile for other people dressed in black. Take a snack, if you wish, while waiting for others.

4) At 4 PM, walk towards the designated location. Important: walk per family, or 2 at a time, so that this is not construed as a march by a group. Give sufficient spacing between families and pairs.

5) When you get to the designated place, mingle with the other people, without any unnecessary commotion.

6) When the signal is given, everyone in black must come together to pose for pictures.

7) Do the "patalsikin" sign during the picture taking.

8) On cue, disperse quietly.

Suggested preparations:

1) Bring your family. This is a non-violent action, after all.
2) Invite as many friends, or officemates to this peaceful event.
3) If you're an employer or a manager, invite all your subordinates to join you.
4) If you're from the same office, arrange for carpooling to your selected assembly point.
5) If you're located outside Metro Manila, and wish to organize a protest action, select an area where you and your friends can assemble peacefully. Advise your local media to cover your action. Document your silent protest by taking pictures and email them to helga1957@gmail.com.

Important reminders:

1) This is a SILENT PROTEST, not a rally. Please DO NOT shout, sing, pass leaflets, bring banners or placards or do anything to disturb the peace.
2) Bring your cameras. The highlight of the protest action is the picture-taking with the "patalsikin" pose.
3) In the unlikely event that there is one in our ranks who may attempt to disturb the peace by shouting or any other unruly behavior, take pictures of that person while trying to peacefully talk him down. We could use those pictures to prove that the rabble rouser is not one of us.
4) If the police block you on your way to the designated area, assert your rights without being confrontational. Get the name of the policeman in charge and ask someone to take pictures of him blocking you. Email to us so we can file the appropriate charges against them.

Black Friday #3 Pictures

Enteng will post his take on our experience with the Manila Police later. For now, here are some pictures from last night's barring from Baywalk. We would like to thank all our friends who sent texts of encouragement. Special thanks go to our new and old friends, especially those who joined our action and stayed with us, even waited patiently outside, at the precinct, WPD, and night court. We would also like to thank the legal eagles that came to Enteng and Dinky's aid: Atty. Butch Abad, Atty. Hector Soliman, Atty. Edwin Lacierda, Atty. Marvic Leonen, and Atty. Marlon Manuel. We really appreciate your friendship!

Black Friday Bulletin #3 - Baywalk Makapili Protest

Designated time and place of flash protest for March 17:
BAYWALK, Roxas Blvd - 6:30 to 7:15 PM

Plan of action:

1) Wear BLACK. BRING ALSO HAT, SHADES, AND IMPROVISED HOOD similar to the hooded witness of DOJ (see attached photo).
2) Assemble in front of the Aristocrat Restaurant, Roxas Blvd. between 6:15 to 6:30pm
3) Wait awhile for other groups in black. Take a snack, if you wish, while waiting for others to arrive
4) At 6:30pm, cross Roxas Boulevard in single file towards Baywalk.
5) Put on your "Makapili" hooded outfit and mingle with the regular Friday strollers on Baywalk.
6) When the signal is given, line up single file along the road and face the street.
7) Do the "thumbs down" sign to passing vehicles.
8) On cue, disperse quietly.

Suggested preparations:

9) Invite as many friends or officemates as possible
10) If you're an employer or a manager, invite all your subordinates to join you. Offer to "treat" them after the flash protest, if you can afford it. Hey, it's Friday after pay day. So you can have your regular "gimmick" after this.
11) If you're from the same office, arrange for carpooling going to the Aristocrat restaurant.
12) If you're outside of Metro Manila, and there are enough of you to organize a protest action, just select your own area of protest, but follow the "MAKAPILI" theme.

For feedback on last week's MRT flash protest, please visit our blog: www.blackfridayprotest.blogspot.com

We're finalizing details of the International Black Friday Protest that should happen sometime in April. Abangan...

Forward this message to as many friends, relatives, colleagues, and e-groups. I've also included below a brief description of the Black Friday Protest Movement, so those receiving your forwarded mail and hearing this for the first time will understand what we're trying to accomplish.

Let's paint BAYWALK BLACK on Friday.

God bless,

Enteng
http://blacknwhitemovement.blogspot.com
http://www.blacknwhite-movement.com


BLACK FRIDAY - A NEW FORM OF PROTEST

The Black Friday Protest Movement was launched by eLagda on March 1 to give professionals, students, businessmen, and other sectors a venue to express their protest against the continuing and escalating acts of repression of the GMA administration as manifested in its series of proclamations – CPR, EO 464, and PP 1017 – all designed to curtail basic rights and oppress the people. Even after PP1017 has been lifted, the repressive measures continue.

Patterned after the flash mob concept, the Black Friday Protest calls on people to gather at a designated time and place every Friday while wearing black as a symbol of protest. There will be no programs or speeches. Instead, people will be given specific instructions on what to do, and the whole exercise should last about 30 minutes at most. It’s safe, non-confrontational, and within the bounds of the law, even under a repressive one like PP 1017. The mere “flash” gathering of people is an expression of protest.

Where will people get instructions?

Details of the Black Friday Protest action for the week will be published at its blogsite – http://www.BlackFridayProtest.blogspot.com every Wednesday evening. Those who would like to receive instructions directly can also subscribe to the movement’s bulletin service by sending a blank email to BlackFridayProtest-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

Train Ride for Truth

We started off from the MRT's Ayala Station, our spirits buoyed by gently smiling faces. It was high volume time, so we were packed like sardines as we made our way to the ADB-Ortigas Station. A Japanese news crew, NHK, joined us for the Php12 ride, and we passed the ten minute trek by speaking to the folks pressed against us.

When we got to Ortigas, it was packed with cops, and we had to smile at the "overkill". There was no trouble, we didn't intend to make any, and so the cops kept their distance as we spoke to the media. They made no move to stop us from thumbing down the Arroyo regime.

The most gratifying part of this Black Friday protest was the presence of a young couple from the Ortigas area that joined us after reading about it on the internet. Peaceful protest does work, after all.

Domo Arigato Shibuya!

Filipino overseas workers in Japan recently displayed their disgust and dismay over Madame Arroyo's repressive PP1017 by staging a rally in the Shibuya district of Tokyo. Composed of different migrant workers groups, these hardy, freedom-loving Pinoys braved the cold to get their message across the miles. Here are a few pictures sent to us by Yuko:

Skirts

It's that time of year again, girls! Please join the International Women's Day March tomorrow, 8 March. We meet up between 2-2:30pm at the Makati Fire Station on Ayala and Buendia Avenues, Makati. We have been asked to wear bright, solid colors, as well as brightly colored scarves for this event. The action will be topped by a program at the end of the march. There will be no speeches, but there will be singing, dancing, a celebration of womanhood.

A word of caution - although the City of Makati is sympathetic to the holding of marches and rallies, there is currently a nationwide ban on these by the fiercely menopausal Gloria Arroyo. Since we believe that this ban is illegal and unconstitutional, we will continue to march anyway, in defiance. Just be aware that there may be a blocking force in place to meet us.

N.B. To those awaiting Bulletin #2 of the Black Friday Protest Movement, please check this blog tomorrow for a posting by Enteng.

The Right to Remain Silent

I am glad that the military incident and the subsequent proclamation of PP 1017 two weeks ago emboldened those of you, who previously stayed on the sidelines, to share your convictions. There are 2 emails making the rounds – “Why we are not out in the streets” and “Galing sa isang Middle-Class Pinoy” that are quite interesting.

I appreciate why people can identify with these email messages. I felt the same way during the days prior to EDSA 1. I was a middle manager at that time, trying to build a career, and when I saw the likes of Cory side by side with the reds pushing the economy to the brink as they began calling for civil disobedience, I was indignant. I told everyone I knew who participated in such exercise that it was sheer foolishness... that it was bringing the economy down. And that if they would only stop, then we can all go about our business of building up our careers, our personal fortunes, and by extension, the economy. Hard work is the key. Politics was just a necessary evil.

I did not know and didn't mind the extent of pillage of our national treasury that Marcos and his cronies committed, nor the extent of human rights violations, including disappearances, happening around me. Really, it did not affect me directly, so I did not care.

And then EDSA 1 happened. People, led mostly by the middle class, came out. I was there, too, for 2 days, celebrating with the rest of the nation the end of a dictatorship, conveniently forgetting that only a few days before, I was all too willing to let Marcos rule forever, a bit embarrassed to be called a hero of EDSA, for simply being there.

EDSA 2 followed a similar path. While a committed few fanned the flames of discontent, the middle class waited on the sidelines until the opportune time to push the envelope proving once again that people power is a middle-class act. EDSA 3 only reinforced the idea. It failed because the middle class was conspicuously absent.

And now you tell us to stop the protests, because you have no intention of coming out to the streets and therefore people power will fail. You may be right – people power could fail. But that should not give you comfort, for it only opens up other forms of revolt – a peasant revolution, a military rebellion, or a communist takeover. When you have more than half of the people living in abject poverty, a restive military, and an oppressive regime – it’s a social volcano just waiting to erupt. And this time, it could be bloody.

You ask us why we can’t just redirect our energies towards building up the economy through productive work, like you do, instead of disruptive protest actions. You might be surprised to know that this is not a full-time job for us. Like you, we have a business to run or a job we try to keep. Beyond work, there are many in our ranks who are involved in civic projects through Rotary, Gawad Kalinga, and NGOs – trying to help in alleviating the conditions of our poor. So, please… you don’t have an exclusive claim to doing good for this nation, much less to patriotism.

You accuse us of being fools for allowing ourselves to be used by the leftists, Erap and Marcos forces, and other unscrupulous politicians to advance their agenda. We are not as naïve as you think. We recognize that it is Erap’s right to dream of one day regaining his lost glory just as it is the leftists’ right to push their ideology within the bounds of law. In the same manner, we recognize it is your right to express your willingness for your basic rights and freedom to be curtailed or to settle for a president who is a cheat, a thief, and an oppressor. We may not agree with any of you, but we do not get angry like you do, when people espouse views different from ours. Such is the way of democracy. It is the same democracy that gives us the right to think of you as the bigger fools, for allowing yourselves to be used by GMA to prop up her repressive regime.

And now that you have finally decided to speak up, you claim to represent the silent majority. Where did you get this idea? The majority could be silent, but they do not necessarily share your sentiments. At least when we claim that 80% of our people believe GMA cheated and 54% wants her out, we have the surveys to back our claims. Whether or not they will act on what they believe in is another story. Soon – when the flurry of mail forwards bottom out - you will discover as we have, that this nation is hopelessly divided. And that is how GMA intends to keep it in order to cling on to power.

How, then, do we move forward?

If you, the middle class, sincerely believe that the future of this nation is in your hands, then I urge you to arise now, be heard, and take the lead. If you believe GMA staying on is the best option for our country today, then I call for leaders to rise among you, and organize yourselves to act on your belief. Lobby your congressmen to ban protests. Tell your president of your unequivocal support, regardless of her alleged cheating and thievery. Go to the streets in thousands, if not millions. But do something. Put your money where your mouth is… because forwarding email messages around and wishing the protests away will not make it happen.

If, on the other hand, you share our convictions that GMA must go, then join us now and be counted. There’s an easy way to do this through our Black Friday Protest Movement. Just visit www.blackfridayprotest.blogspot.com or send a blank email to blackfridayprotest-subscribe@yahoogroups.com to receive a regular bulletin from us. You may also forward this email to friends and colleagues and urge them to join us now.

Whichever side you are on, the important thing is to come out and be counted. The time to act is now. For if you continue exercising your right to remain silent – pretty soon, it will be the only right left for us as citizens.

God bless and God save this country.

Enteng

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for some good men to do nothing.”

- Edmund Burke

Thank You, Starbucks

Although we never told Starbucks we were coming, they didn't give us any trouble last night. Some people thought it was a PR stunt for the coffee shop franchise, but in reality they had nothing to do with it. Enteng will be posting a new bulletin on Wednesday to tell you all about our new " black target" for next Friday. Meanwhile here are a few choice shots from last night:

Lawyers and Journalists Weigh In on EO1017

The Black & White Movement is hosting a forum on EO1017. Our special guests are the members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines:

• Date: Thursday, 2 March 2006
• Venue: Manila Room, Metro Club (Estrella St., Makati, across Rockwell)
• Time: 10:00 am Registration, 10:17 am Start
  

We hope you take the time to attend. Snacks will be served along with insightful comment.