"Paalam" by Free Ericson Acosta feat. BLKD

Ang kantang ito ay sinulat ni Ericson Acosta para sa grupong Alay Sining.

Happy Birthday, Ericson! by Ina Silverio

The Jerks @ Acosta Universe

by Ina Alleco Silverio in Achieving Happiness

I did not particularly like Ericson back during our days in the Philippine Collegian. He always struck me then as some kind of mad man. Sometimes when he spoke he adopted accents: American, British, Chinese. Like a bird on speed he sang at the top of his voice during unexpected moments. On some mornings during weekend presswork, he could be found sitting at the conference table, his head cradled in one hand while his other held a burning cigarette. More often or not he’d be hung over, and, inevitably hungry. He’d try to wheedle/jokingly threaten younger staff members including myself into shelling out money (as a “loan”) to so he could go downstairs to the University Food Service cafeteria and buy a meal. Then afterwards he’d come back up to the office and he’d have a plate with him — one of the food service bone-white, heavy ceramic plates: he said he ‘merely “borrowed” it and will return it soon enough.

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Happy Birthday, Ericson! by Renato Reyes Jr.

Dong Abay and Renato Reyes Jr. perform Bong Ramilo's "Awit ng Petiburges"

by Renato Reyes Jr. in Like a Rolling Stone

Kagabi ay natuloy na din, at matagumpay na naidaos, ang “Acosta Universe: Beatles Night for a Cause” sa My Bros Mustache sa Timog. Medyo nangamba kami 2 araw bago ang event dahil nga sa napabalitang bagyong Chedeng. Panay ang weather watch at advisory sa mga naimbitahan. Pinalad naman na sa araw ng gig ay sya ring araw na inanunsyo na hindi na mag-landfall si Chedeng.

Ang “Acosta Universe” ay fundraising gig para sa legal defense ni Ericson, na itinaon din sa birthday nya (May27). Dumating ang mga kaibgian, ka-eskwela, kaklase, mga kasama sa UP, mga alagad ng sining at manggagawang pangkultura at mga kasama mula sa iba’t ibang sektor. Andun ang mga dating LFS, CNS, mga 90’s Kule, mga orihinal na STAND UP, at mga taga-Alay Sining. Dami ring “walk-in”, marahil dahil “Beatles night” nga ang event. Sa totoo lang ay di na nagkasya sa venue ang mga dumalo. May mga umpukan sa labas ng gate at sa iba’t ibang sulok ng Mustache.

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Free the Artist!

Aquino asked to look into plight of political prisoners

BAYAN

News Release
May 20, 2011

Aquino asked to look into plight of political prisoners

They are not VIP-prisoners and receive no special treatment, but their ongoing unjust detention also deserves the attention of the Aquino government.

This was how the umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan described more than 300 political prisoners in the country today, most of whom were arrested during the regime of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Several others were also arrested during the term of President Benigno Aquino III.

“While the rich and powerful detainees are enjoying perks and privileges while in detention, we have more than 300 political prisoners languishing in jail for trumped-up charges. Some have been detained for years. All they seek is justice and freedom, and not any form of special treatment,” said Bayan secretary general Renato M. Reyes, Jr.

“The detention of hundreds of political dissenters is a stain on the human rights record of the Philippine government. Many of the detainees were arrested during the reign of terror of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Others were arrested as the peace talks under the Aquino government were about to begin. Their plight deserves immediate attention from the Aquino government,” Reyes said.

Bayan cited the case of detained cultural worker and writer Ericson Acosta who was arrested last February 13 on trumped-up charges of illegal possession of explosives. At the time of his arrest in the rural town of San Jorge in Samar, he was in the company of a Barangay official and only possessed a laptop. Acosta was a former editor of the Philippine Collegian of UP Diliman and a one-time assistant section editor in the Manila Times. He is accused of carrying a grenade when he was accosted by the AFP.

Acosta continues to write his "prison diary" and the entries are posted online in his "Jailhouse Blog" that's maintained by friends and colleagues.

“The dropping of charges against the Morong 43 was a positive step undertaken by the Aquino government. A follow-up to this can be made through the withdrawal of the charges against the remaining detainees, or the granting of a general amnesty for all political prisoners and thus effect their immediate release. The release of prisoners in relation to the peace process should also be pursued,” he added.

The more than 300 political prisoners are scattered in detention facilities all over the country, including Camp Crame, Fort Bonifacio, Camp Bagong Diwa and various provincial jails.

Haranang Bayan

mula sa asteroid b-612 blog

Hindi ko na nadatnan ang antok nung makauwi ako ng bahay.

Naiwan ata sa Taumbayan bar kung saan ginanap ang Haranang Bayan: Panata sa Kalayaan ni Ericson Acosta. Hirap kasi kasi akong matulog na hindi naliligo ulit. Nung gabing yun dala ng init at pagod, hindi ko na rin kinayang pumunta ng banyo. Nagpalit ng damit, naghubad ng sapatos at nahiga. Alas kwatro pasado, nakatingin ako sa madilim na kisame, ina-assess ang mga nangyari sa event.

Pasado alas sais nung dumating ako ng venue, andun na sina Lester, Pia at Maan. Andun na din si Louise Amante at ang mahal niyang kabiyak.

Naupo muna at pinasadahan ko ang bagong ayos ng Taumbayan.

Paunti-unti, dumadating na ang mga tao.

Nakatakdang magumpisa dapat ng alas syete, pero siyempre hindi yun nasunud.

Ganap 8:30, binuksan ko ng tula mula sa libro ni Axel Pinpin, Itakas Ninyo Ako. Personal favorite ko ito at ito rin talaga ang tema nung gabing iyon- ang pagtakas kay Ericson na tatlong buwan nang nakakulong.

Sinundan iyon ng awitin ni Dessa Ilagan mula sa OST ng pelikulang Sigwa. Binasa naman ng kanyang mahal na inang si Maam Marili ang tula ni Sir Boni Ilagan para kay Ericson.

Kinwento ni Bayan Sec Gen at lalong naging malapit na kaibigan ni Ericson na si Nato Reyes ang kahusayang mag-isip ng sandatahang lakas ng Pilipinas. Nagpasalamat din sya sa mga dumalo sa kabila ng ikli ng panahon ng pag-iimbita at humingi pa ng suporta para kay Ericson. Tumula naman ng dalawang tula si Pia Montalban, isa mula sa proyektong pitong sundang ni Ericson at isang nagawa naman nya para sa kanya.

Nagsalita rin ang ama ni Ericson, nagpasalamat sa suporta. Nakakatuwa ang iniwan niyang biro, na kung totoo ngang may mataas na katungkulan sa NPA si Ericson Acosta- karangalan niya iyon bilang ama.

Tumugtog naman pagkatapos si Karl Ramirez at ang manunuod lang dapat na si Tony Palis, sila ang Batman and Robin ng gabing iyon. Sumunod sa kanila si Babes Alejo, na bumigkas ng tula at tumugtog ng ilang komposisyon ni Ericson.

Binasa naman ni MJ Rafal ang bagong tula nya para kay Ericson (Sa Labas na Mundo).

Sumalang ang Bersus na tumugtog ng awitin ni Mike Hanopol (Mr.Kenkoy) na pinalitan ang ilang linya ng mga katagang “..hoy Noynoy, Mr Kenkoy..” patungkol syempre kay sa napakahusay na pangulong si Noynoy Aquino.

Binasa naman ng ka-fb kong noon ko lang nakitang si Ret Castillo ang isang tula tungkol sa mga detinidong pulitikal. Pinarinig ni Che Gitara ang ilan sa mga bago nyang komposisyon.

Isa sa pinakaabangan ng gabing iyon- si Bob Balingit, tulad ng dati ay nagbigay naman ng matitinding awitin. Tinapos nya ang kanyang set sa sikat na awitin ng Beatles na Across the Universe na iniba’t pinalitan nya ng Acosta Universe, isang magandang segue para i-plug ang susunod na event (Acosta Universe, May 26, My Brother’s Moustache) at pa-birthday kay Ericson na magdidiwang ng kanyang kaarawan.

Nagtanong si Matt ng Karatula JRU sa pamamagitan ng kanyang tula kung ano nga ba ang kasalanan ng isang naglilingkod sa sambayan para ikulong. Humabol nung gabing iyon ang mahusay na musikerong si Danny Fabella bitbit ang isa pang paborito kong kanta nyang tungkol sa mga di-pangkaraniwan. Pinarinig rin ni John Pablo, mula din sa grupong Karatula ang ilan nyang komposisyon.

Tinapos ang gabi sa pamamagitan ng pagpaparinig sa ilan sa mga awitin mula sa prison sessions (recording sa Calbayog Provincial jail nina Nato at Ericson). Limang araw lamang ang preparasyon ng event na ito, pero sa dami ng dumalo at nagtanghal, nagpapatunay lang na handa ang mga kaibigan, mahal sa buhay at kasama na handa ang lahat na palayain at itakas si Ericson Acosta.

haranang bayan, may 13, 2011, taumbayan bar kamuning, QC

Philippines: Political Prisoner Writes Online Prison Diary

by Karlo Mikhail Mongaya in Global Voices

A Filipino artist, journalist and activist who is being detained by Philippine authorities has created a blog to document his prison experience and reflections. His family, friends, fellow artists and writers, and supporters from civil society have also been using the net to campaign for his freedom.

Ericson Acosta was about to ride a motorized boat heading for the rural town of San Jorge in the eastern Philippine island of Samar on February 13, 2011 when he was arrested by elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Amusingly, Acosta’s captors took issue with his bringing a laptop while travelling in the countryside. Their accusation that he was a ranking leader of the underground communist movement, however, is no laughing matter.

The number of victims of extrajudicial killings in the region reached 126 while 27 became desaparecidos (disappeared persons) in the region under the previous administration of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Acosta was writing a Human Rights situationer on the region at the time of his capture.

The military subjected Acosta to tactical interrogation and charged him of illegal possession of explosives. Civil society groups, writers, artists, his family and friends have decried these allegations as trumped-up and called for his unconditional and immediate release.

Acosta remains detained at the Calbayog City sub-provincial jail, also in Samar. According to the human rights alliance KARAPATAN, Acosta is one more addition to the 353 political prisoners languishing in Philippine prisons as of December 30, 2010.

Campaigns calling for the release of all political prisoners in the country have been a regular feature of the political scene since the times of the Marcos dictatorship. The ruling party has long made it a practice to harass, intimidate, and even kill government critics and social activists working for more equitable distribution of wealth and the empowerment of the poor.

One of the new things about the campaign for the freedom of Ericson Acosta is the extensive and creative use of online tools in the advocacy. Unlike Italian philosopher Antonio Gramsci, who would have to wait for almost three decades until his Prison Notes can be published, Ericson Acosta’s own prison diaries are regularly posted online at acostaprisondiary.blogspot.com.

The Jailhouse Blog contains Acosta’s experiences in prison like the entry written last April 13:

I suppose I’m still basically ill-adjusted with my present prison set-up. I find it almost impossible to write during the day. The heat inside the cell is simply oppressive – there is no ceiling here, the lone window is less than a square foot, and my tarima is just beside two charcoal stoves that burn non-stop. The noise outside and the frenzied – sometimes juvenile, sometimes zombie-like goings on among my 12 kakosas (fellow prisoners) inside a stifling, cramped-up space are just too distracting, disorienting.

Or the entry written last April 17:

In many ways, dalaw (visit), hangin (wind) and great expectation are all quite synonymous as far as the inmates here are concerned.

The visiting area or dalawan is almost three times the space of any of the regular cells. It also functions and is interchangeably referred to around here as pahanginan. Once a week, each cell group, composed of twelve inmates on the average, gets the chance to lounge here for a few hours. The idea is to somehow experience breathing – not necessarily fresh but simply – air. There’s almost an extreme absence of oxygen inside the cells, especially between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm. And so the weekly pahangin is such a gracious respite the inmates anticipate with excitement much like waiting for a scheduled dalaw.

The blog also features Acosta’s prison reflections:

Yet prior to my illegal arrest and detention, I had long and pretty much accepted that, for all its intents and purposes, I had already been a rather obscure, almost estranged member of this community. This had been a consequence among the many trade-offs, so to speak, in choosing to work fulltime in the anti-feudal, anti-fascist and cooperative movement of poor peasants and farm workers in the countryside.

Being uprooted from one’s immediate and familiar milieu was, in fact, a sacrifice of considerable weight… There was romance to it too, of course, and as a poet, nothing of the earthy images of ricefields and barefoot children, nor the primal sounds of crickets and crows ever escaped me. There would be times, however – and these I think were moments of lucid self-appraisal – when it seemed as if I had somehow escaped poetry.

And poems written by Acosta while in jail are also posted in this same prison blog.

Apart from putting up the online prison diary, the organizers of the Free Ericson Acosta Campaign also came up with an online petition. They also posted a Facebook page that has so far taken 788 likes as of this writing.

Backing for the campaign to free Acosta continues to grow as proven by the growing number of statements, testimonies, and other articles compiled in the campaign blog freeacosta.blogspot.com.

The struggle for freedom by Acosta and other political prisoners in the Philippines continues.

Ang Sarap Umibig

Karl Ramirez & Tony Palis performing "Ang Sarap Umibig", a song written by Tony Palis, at the Haranang Bayan: Panata sa Kalayaan ni Ericson Acosta last May 13, 2011 at the Ta(u)mbayan Bar. Artists, musicians, and human rights organizations are calling for the immediate release of poet and people's artist Ericson Acosta from detention.

Alab Ng Pluma

Sa kadakilaan ng adhikain

ng makapangyarihan mong pluma,

iminumulat ang masa

sa bawat likha nitong obra.

Sa iyong mga tula,

tinatablan sila.

Kanilang ninanamnam

ang bawat mong salita.

"Pagkat para saan ang makata?

Para saan ang tula?

Kundi rin lang malaya,

At hindi nagpapalaya"

Pluma at paninindigan

ang tangi mong tangan.

Ito ang iyong sandatang

pantapat sa armas ng kalaban.

Ang mga hinabi mong kataga

ay higit na mapaminsala

higit pa sa bala ng kalaban

o anumang sandata.

'Pagkat mamatay ma't mawala

ang isang makata,

libu-libong tulog na diwa na

ang ginising ng kanyang tula.

Ang makata'y dinakip,

binusalan ang bibig.

Diwa niyang makabayan

pilit sinasagkaan.

Ngayon makata'y detenido,

nasa madilim na yugto.

Isang malamlam na lampara

ang tangi niyang kasama.

Ngunit sa taglay nitong apoy

lagablab ng diwa'y dadaloy.

Tula niya'y magpapatuloy.

'Di pansin ang panaghoy.

Maalab niyang panitikan

pilit man nilang sugbaan

patuloy na magniningas,

muli't muling babalikwas.

Ngayon makata'y detenido

tinanggalan ng laya

Pero kailanma'y 'di sumuko.

Ni minsan "di nanghina.

-Grobyas Magdiwang

Alay kay Ericson Acosta

ika-8 ng Mayo, ika-pito ng gabi

Month three in jail: artists, art events echo demand to end poet’s detention

Renowned Filipino artists will figure in a series of events drumbeating the appeal for the immediate dropping of charges filed against poet and former UP activist Ericson Acosta who remains imprisoned at the Calbayog sub-provincial jail in Samar.

Exactly three months after his arrest, screenwriter Bonifacio Ilagan and National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera joined other artists, Acosta’s family and former colleagues in the cultural event dubbed “Haranang Bayan: Panata sa Kalayaan ni Ericson Acosta,” at the Ta(u)mbayan bar, Kamuning, Quezon City.

Acosta was illegally arrested in Barangay Bay-ang, San Jorge, Samar last February 13.

“Haranang Bayan” featured musical performances, prose and poetry reading, reiterating the demand for Acosta’s release. The event was sponsored by the Kilometer 64 Poetry Collective, KARATULA, UP Alay Sining and the Free Ericson Acosta Campaign (FEAC).

Bonifacio Ilagan’s “Bawat Araw,” a poem assailing the injustice done to Acosta for each day he spends in prison, was read during the event. Ilagan himself is a former political detainee and member of the Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA)

“Ericson deserves to be released for his continuing incarceration is a grievous loss to the growth of a truly democratic art and culture of the Filipino people," Lumbera, who also chairs the Concerned Artists of the Philippines (CAP), has earlier said.

According to the CAP, Acosta has interwoven his artistry into being a human rights activist who lives among and works closely with common folk.

“We demand the authorities to not prolong his illegal detention and to end this injustice now,” the artists said.

Case still with the prosecutor

According to Acosta’s legal counsel, Atty. Julian Oliva Jr. of the NUPL, the detained poet’s case is still with Investigating Prosecutor Agustin M. Avalon, the assistant provincial prosecutor of Samar.

“The private complainant, upon urging from the military, directly filed with the RTC a Complaint against Acosta without Inquest or Preliminary Investigation. The presiding judge of RTC Gandara, Samar, Branch 41, then issued an Order referring the case back to the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor for Preliminary Investigation.”

“Hence, except for the Court's logbook records on the filing of the Complaint and the Order referring the case back to the prosecutor, there are no other records whatsoever of the case filed with the Court.”

“The outcome of Eric’s case is in Avalon’s hands,” said Oliva.

“It has been three months since Eric has been arrested and detained, but no Resolution of the Preliminary Investigation has been issued and no information has been filed in court.”

In his counter-affidavit, Acosta stated that he was held incommunicado, subjected to interrogation for 44 hours, physically and psychologically tortured, deprived of sleep, coerced and forced to admit membership in the NPA.

“The evidence against me was planted,” Acosta wrote. “The complaint against me was filed in court only after 72 hours and 30 minutes after my arrest.”

Poet’s specific appeals

“And so it has happened that I was able to ultimately verify the truth of rampant incidence of human rights violations in the area by falling direct victim to it myself,” narrates Acosta in a recent statement marking his third month in jail.

Acosta expressed gratitude to relatives, friends and colleagues not only in calling for his release but also for giving “due attention to the plight of other forgotten prisoners such as the ‘Catbalogan 5’”referring to five ordinary farmers who were also illegally arrested and detained by the army’s 8^th ID.

Acosta then made several appeals. He called on Samar’s 1^st district representative Mel Sarmiento and current House Committee on Justice Chairman Rep. Niel Tupas to initiate a congressional investigation on his case. He also appealed to the local CHR-8, as well as to Catholic bishops led by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma to look into and condemn the human rights violations in his and the Catbalogan 5’s cases.

He also called on the people of Barangay Bay-ang, where he was arrested, “to hold on fast and to be determined to stand up for the truth… even with (military harassment).”

“It is clearly expected of us to carry on the fight,” ended Acosta’s statement.

Series of art events

Two more events will follow “Haranang Bayan” to raise funds for his legal defense and to drumbeat the call for the freedom of Acosta and other political prisoners.

In “Acosta Universe: Beatles Night for a Cause,” rock band The Jerks and other artists will be performing at My Brother’s Moustache, Sct. Madrinan in Quezon City, on May 26.

Another fundraising concert organized by Acosta’s journalist father-in-law Pablo Tariman will be featuring classical chamber music performed by violinist Gina Medina and pianist Mary Anne Espina at the Balay Kalinaw in UP Diliman on May 28.

Bawat Araw ni Bonifacio Ilagan

Si Bonifacio Ilagan sa screening ng "Dukot" sa The Netherlands.
Isinulat ni Ilagan ang screenplay ng pelikulang "Dukot" sa ilalim ng direksyon ni Joel Lamangan.

BAWAT ARAW

(Kay Ericson Acosta sa kanyang ikatlong buwan sa piitan)

Bawat araw na piitin

ng estado at gobyerno si Ericson Acosta

ay isang araw ng inhustisya.

At isang araw ng paghihimagsik.

Bawat araw na iwalay siya

sa mga anakpawis at pamilya

ay isang araw ng kalupitan.

At isang araw ng paglaban.

Bawat araw na yurakan

ang kanyang mga karapatan

ay isang araw ng pandarahas.

At isang araw ng aklasan.

Bawat araw na piitin

ng estado at gobyerno si Ericson Acosta

ay isang araw ng dalamhati.

At isang araw ng paglikha.

Mag-aklas. Lumaban.

Maghimagsik. Lumikha.

Tumataga sa batuhan

bawat krimen ng kaaway

bawat araw ay bilangin

papalapit sa paglaya.

Sulat kay Ericson Acosta mula kay Axel Pinpin

Makata at dating detenido pulitikal: Axel Pinpin

Mayo 12, 2011

Dear Ka Eric,

Kumusta?

Sana’y di mo na lang ako nabanggit sa blog entry mo. O ang mas tama – sana’y naunahan ko nang pagliham ang pag-acknowledge mo sa akin. Wala sanang pressure isulat ito. Mas masarap lumiham nang spontaneous, ‘yung walang umaasa na may maganda akong sasabihin.

Hindi sana ako nag-aalala sa grammar, bantas, syntax at/o semantics.

Plano ko nga sana ay magkakalkal na lang ng "pro-forma” statement of support. Yung tipong:

Ako, sa ngalan ng (Org ko) ay taas-kamaong nagpapaabot ng pinakamaalab (o pinakarebolusyunaryo, depende sa okasyon) na pakikiisa sa marubdob na panawagan ng mamamayan sa agarang pagpapalaya kay Ka (pangalan ng nakakulong). Naniniwala kami na walang sinuman ang dapat na mabilanggo dahil sa kanyang pampolitikang paniniwala.

(Maghahapag ako ng kapirasong Natsit o HR sit)

(Bago tapusin, sisipi ako ng isang malupit na quotation, hal.,

our tomb is not of marble but of rusty iron bars

and on the headstone engraved: eternal struggle. – mula sa tula ni Axel Pinpin na Ang Pagdalaw sa Libingan ng mga Buhay)

Palayain si Ka (pangalang ng PP)! Palayain ang lahat ng bilanggo politikal! Hanggang sa ganap na kalayaan!

Mas mabilis sana kung ganan. Tutal pwede naman akong mag-cramming, huwag gawin ang homework na mag-alam pa tungkol sa iyo. Tutal hindi naman tayo personal na magkakilala. Kahit pa mas-matangkad-pa-sa-akin ang inggit ko sa Walang Kalabaw sa Cubao mo.

Nito ko na lamang malalaman na ikaw pala ’yun. Na ikaw din pala ang mismong bumigkas nun, tama ba? Mahabang panahon ding laman ng CD collection ko ang Uniberso bago ito finally mapasama sa mga nakumpiskang gamit ko noong ako ang mahoyo.

May partikular kang request sa blog entry mo, kamo sabihin ko kung paano ko hinarap at nilagpasan ang karanasan namin. Wala talagang 1-2-3 guide e. Nun ngang aktong magkakadamputan, hindi ko nagawa ang No.1 rule na ihiyaw ang pangalan, address at i-identify ang yunit na humarang sa amin, in-short – gumawa ng eksena.

Paglutas sa kahandaang mamatay ang una kong inatupag nun.

Alam kong nalampasan mo na ito. Pero hindi masamang i-share rito para sa iba pang mga kasama. O, sa ibang nakakabasa nito, hindi ako nananakot. Dapat nating maintindihan na bilang mga aktibista – ang damputan/dukutan, pagdaan sa torture at interrogation at pagkakakulong ay sing-normal ng pagdalo natin sa pulong, pagbibigay ng mass education, pagmamartsa sa rally, so on and so forth.

Eto ang tumatakbo sa utak ko pagkatapos kaming isakay sa van at maposasan at mapiringan na:

"Ayan Axel, sumpa ka nang sumpa na buhay-man-ay-ialay, pagkakataon mo na ngayon na handa ka itong patunayan.”

Maiksing sandali lang ’yun. Pagkatapos nun, napakadali na ang lahat. Walang halong bola. Kasabay nito ang pag-arte kong hinihika ako, kahit wala akong theater workshop at instinct lang ang nagtulak sa akin na baka mababawasan ang pahirap kung makikita nilang sakitin ako. Palagay ko, mas mape-perfect mo ang execution nito kung nagkakilala at nagkakwentuhan na muna tayo bago ka nadampot at naibigay kong tip ito sa ‘yo.

Nakita ko sa picture mo, pareho naman tayong kapani-paniwalang may hika. Ngapala, singit ko na agad rito, gawan mo nang paraan na hindi ka sa sahig matutulog. D’yan ko nakuha ang pneumonia at TB ko paglabas. Sampung buwan ba naman kaming sa semento natutulog, kung hindi pa kami nag-hunger strike para sa kapirasong tarima.

Alam ko ring magiging pampubliko ang sulat kong ito kaya hindi ko pwedeng ibalandra lahat rito ang mga technique ko at baka ma-preempt lang ang mga plano mo, gaya ng:

1. paano lulutasin ang buryong (mababasa mo naman ang ilang pamamaraan ko sa tulang Kung Paano Paslangin ang Pagkabagot sa Loob ng Karsel)
2. paano lalansihin ang bantay para makapagpasok ng kontrabando
3. paano aawayin at kakaibiganin ang gwardya
4. paano ioorganisa ang kapwa bilanggo
5. paano magdidisenyo ng mass campaign para sa prison struggle
6. paano mag-hunger strike
7. paano tatakas/makakalaya
8. paano tatanggaping maaring magpabalik-balik tayo sa No.1 ng listahang ito pagkatapos ng No.7

Alam mo, hindi dapat ikaw ang sinusulatan ko, dapat sana ‘yung mas marami pang tao na wala-namang-keber sa kalagayan mo. Yung napaka-mundane at trivial ang concern sa skinny jeans at mohawk nila. Dapat sila ang kinukumbinsi ko na “Huy, may nakakulong na spoken word artist. Panis ang mga pyesa ng RASP ni Lourd De Veyra sa Walang Kalabaw sa Cubao. Suportahan naman natin.”

Marami nang kasama ang gumagawa n’yan, titiyakin ko sa ’yo. Walang oras na hindi nila naiisip na gawing mabilis ang paglabas mo riyan. Bukod sa campaign committee mo, sigurado akong marami kang kaibigan at kasamahan na isinisingit sa pang-araw-araw na buhay nila ang kampanya para makalaya ka.

Hindi ito para pakalmahin ka. Alam ko ang pakiramdam ng nakakulong kapag parang wala nang nag-iingay sa labas. Nakaka-paranoid na baka pinababayaan na ang kaso. Kapag walang dumadalaw, kapag walang sulat, kapag walang balita, kapag wala kahit ano. Nakakasira-ng-bait.

Iyan talaga ang gustong mangyari ng estado sa mga bilanggong politikal.

Hinihigpitan na raw ang paglabas ng mga sinusulat mo? Baka naman ipinagpapaalam mo pa. Another rule – mas madaling magpaliwanag kesa humingi ng permiso.

Anyway, gusto ko sanang i-share sa ’yo ang tipong recommended readings while in jail. Kaso hindi ko hawak ngayon ’yung listahan ko. Ang tanda ko naka-204 na aklat ako sa loob. Walong (8) notebook at 3-box ng Mongol ang inubos sa loob ng 28-months na pagkakabilanggo. Yang lapis, dahil sa Su Doku ‘yan at hindi pa sa mga literary works ko.

Palagay ko rin, karamihan sa mga binasa ko ay nabasa mo na rin. Pero hindi masamang balikan at basahin ulit ang mga paboritong libro. Hindi applicable sa nakakulong ang ”Too Many Books, Too Little Time”.

Eto, at random, kung mapapahanap mo ito (panawagan na rin sa iba pang nakakabasa nitong sulat ko):

• The Bible As History ni Weine Keller
• Sacco and Vanzetti at Haydee Santa Maria (Rebel Lives)
• Fanshen ni William Hinton (inattempt kong isalin ito nung feeling ko mako-convict na kami)
• Lennon Revealed ni Larry Kane (Pinakabago ito sa pagkakaalam ko. Nilinaw ang teoryang bading si John, may DVD rin sa back cover na nagwe-weather reporting siya)
• Bandoleros ni Orlino Ochosa
• The Tale of the Body Thief ni Anne Rice (mainam na pampaantok)
• Secret Windows ni Stephen King
• Of Mice and Men ni John Steinbeck
• The World’s Most Notorious Men (nariyan si Jim Morrison at Kurt Cobain sa mga brief bio, pati si Stalin na demonized syempre. The best ang kwento riyan ni Larry Flint)
• The Black Poets na edited ni Dudley Randall

Sa pelikula, kung may access kayo sa TV at video player, wala nang papantay pa sa mga prison movies! Wag mong palalampasin kahit si Robin Padilla. Palagay ko e yang mga prison movies ng Pinoy ang may nearest depiction sa mga tunay-na-nangyayari sa lipunan kumpara sa iba pang pelikula na kathang-isip. Intentional malamang, para takutin ang mamamayan sa terror na meron sa loob ng bilangguan. Pahanap ka na ng 4-na-serye ng Prison Break.

Last hirit, oo nga’t routinary ang buhay diyan, magara pa rin na i-organize ang bawat araw. Sa tipikal na araw na walang dalaw, eto ang itinerary ko noon:

UMAGA –

· Magkakape.

· Magpapa-araw at mag-eehersisyo. (5-minutong stationary jogging, calisthenics, 3 sets of 10 push-ups at pull-ups)

· Mag-aalmusal.

· (makikinig ng balita sa AM Radio. Kung may headset ka, simultaneous lahat yan sa morning ritual mo maliban kapag naliligo)

· Magbabasa ng dyaryo kung meron. Magsasagot ng Su Doku

· Bago mananghali – makikipagtalakayan sa kakosa o gwardya

TANGHALI – Kakain.

· Makikinig pa rin ng balitang-tanghali o kaya’y simulan mo nang sumubaybay ng mga drama sa radyo, maniwala ka, entertaining iyan.

· Makatanghalian – umidlip nang at least isang oras

· Pagkagising, makikipagtalakayan ulit.

· 4PM – may balita na ulit sa dzRH nang ganyang oras. Hanggang prime time news na ’yan na simulcast naman sa AM radyo ang mga balita sa TV

· Hapunan – wag kararamihan ang kain

GABI – manunuod ng isang pelikula.

· Magbabasa at/o magsusulat (Mahalagang rule sa akin na huwag magbasa o magsulat sa araw para maksimisado ang iba pang aktibidad. Naa-isolate rin tayo sa mga kakosa at bantay kapag ginawa natin ito sa araw.)

Ngapala, nasa regular jail ka, kami ay nasa Police camp noon kaya tiyak na magkaibang-magkaiba ang sitwasyon natin. Pero maari ring applicable sa iyo ang iba riyan.

Iyan na muna. Pasensya na, wala pa akong tula sa iyo. Palagay ko rin ay hindi na kita maigagawa pa. Bukod sa mahirap gumawa ng tula sa kapwa makata, umaapaw na sa talinhaga ang kalagayan mo ngayon.

Maraming salamat sa pagbabasa sa mga tula ko. Tatapusin ko sa nakasanayan kong closing ang liham na ito (hindi ako nage-STP/STR ever sa buong activist life ko).

Sa ating di-magmamaliw na Panata sa Kalayaan,

Axel Pinpin