Sulat kay Ericson mula kay Bibeth Orteza

Binasa ng batikang aktres, manunulat at direktor na si Bibeth Orteza ang sulat na ito para kay Ericson Acosta sa "Kumustahan mula sa Piitan" ng Concerned Artists of the Philippines nitong Oktubre 14, 2011 sa NCCA Intramuros.

Narito ang orihinal na sulat sa Waray (katutubong wika sa Silangang Kabisayaan), at ang salin sa Filipino. Ipinanganak si Orteza sa Catbalogan, Samar, ilang bayan ang layo sa Calbayog City kung saan kasalukuyang nakapiit si Ericson.

Oct. 14, 2011

Maopay nga adlaw, Ericson.

Nacabati aco han recording han emo nga canta, han mga emo la solo, ngan an ha mag-opod camo ni Nato Reyes. Mag-opay nga mga carantahon; con may masiring nga diri malipay, sisidngan nga an ongod nga calipayan het ticang ha camatuoran.

Naawod aco nga deda ca ha Samar na-dacop.

Pera ca-beses na ene nga pagca-awod. An ona han pagca-posil ni Dr. Bobby de la Paz deda lewat ha Calbayog. Ada pa lewat an pagdaog ni Fernando Poe Jr. ha elecsyon ha pagca-presidente han 2004, ca-tima iguinlabog na la an ongod nga resolta. Ada pa an pagdaog han mga malimbong ha iba-iba nga parte han tibuoc nga isla. Maaram hera con heno han nabaligya han mga boto, maaram han langit con heno het mga perestehon nga napalit han mga boto.

Orhi co nga pagcada, damo pa’t mga carsada nga waray pa ca-semento, pero na-release na cono an pondo. Damo pa’t mga baryo nga waray coryente, waray escoylahan para ha cabataan, waray mga medisina ha ospital, damo nga labi pa ha damo nga waray para ha mga Waray-waray.

Naawod aco, Ericson, nga icaw, nagqui-quiquinada para magsorat ngan mangoha han inspirasyon ha dere na nacacapanhatag han inspirasyon ha heya mismo nga mga tawo.

Nahihiya ako, Ericson, na ako na diyan pa sana sa Justice Quonset Hut sa Catbalogan ipinanganak, naririto lang, at ikaw ang nariyan.

Naawod aco, Ericson, nga aco nga deda pa conta ha Justice Quonset Hut ha Catbalogan natawo, a-ade la, ngan icaw han a-ada.

Naawod aco, Ericson, nga aco, cay may ngaran, nag Outstanding Samarnon, doha pa ca beses, seguro cay an acon apoy nag Tresorero Provincial, het acon tatay nag Provincial Fiscal, het acon nanay nag Miss Catbalogan, ngan aco nag-artista, pero ano man lewat han outstanding nga nahimo co, compara han ha emo na hemo ngan mga hehemoon pa?

Naawod aco, Ericson, por eso, mabolig aco nga manguita han mga ca-oropod nga mga artista nga magyayacan, magra-rally, mag-aaringasa hasta ha macagawas ca. Ene nga butones — dere co na ene hohocason hasta macagawas ca. Maqui-quigyacan aco ha con heno nga mamamati dede ha gobyerno nga ene, hasta macagawas ca.

Waray opay han pagca-awod con hasta ha awod la.

Ayaw cabaraca, Ericson, con ano pa’t acon mahihimo, sereng la.

A-ade la cami. Waray ha amon ma-atras.

Amo la.

Bibeth

Oct. 14, 2011

Magandang araw, Ericson.

Nakarinig ako ng recording ng mga kanta mo, ng iyong mga solo at ‘yung magkasama kayo ni Nato Reyes. Maganda ang mga kanta. Kung may magsabi na hindi masaya, sabihan na ang tunay na kasiyahan ay iyong mula sa katotohanan.

Nahihiya ako na sa dyan ka pa sa Samar dinakip.

Ilang beses na itong hiya na ito. Ang una sa pamamaril kay Dr. Bobby dela Paz diyan din sa Calbayog. Nariyan din ang pagkapanalo ni Fernando Poe Jr. sa eleksyon ng pagkapangulo noong 2004, na pagkatapos ay ibinasura lang ang tunay na resulta. Nariyan din ang pagkapanalo ng mga kaduda-duda sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng buong isla. Alam nila kung sino ang nagbenta ng mga boto, alam ng langit kung sino ang mga namemesteng bumibili ng mga boto.

Noong huli akong pumunta riyan, marami pang kalsada ang hindi nasesemento, pero na-release na raw ang pondo. Marami pang mga baryo ang walang kuryente, walang eskwelahan para sa mga bata, walang mga gamot sa ospital, marami’t sobra pa sa marami ang wala para sa mga Waray-waray.

Nahihiya ako, Ericson, na ikaw, pumupunta riyan para magsulat at kumuha ng inspirasyon sa hindi na nakapagbibigay ng inspirasyon sa sarili niyang mga tao.

Nahihiya ako, Ericson, na ako, dahil may pangalan, nag-Outstanding Samarenyo, dalawang beses pa, siguro dahil ang lolo ko naging Provincial Treasurer, ang tatay ko naging Provincial Fiscal, ang nanay ko Miss Catbalogan, at ako nag-artista, pero ano nga ba ang outstanding sa mga nagawa ko, kumpara sa mga nagawa mo na at gagawin mo pa?

Nahihiya ako, Ericson, kaya tutulong ako sa paghanap ng makakasamang mga artista na magsasalita, magra-rally, mag-iingay hanggang sa makalaya ka. Itong pin na ito – hindi ko na ito tatanggalin hanggang sa makalaya ka. Makikipag-usap ako sa sinumang makikinig sa gobyernong ito, hanggang sa makalaya ka.

Walang saysay ang kahihiyan kung hanggang sa hiya na lang.

Huwag kang mag-alala, Ericson, kung ano pa ang magagawa ko, magsabi ka lang.

Naririto lang kami. Wala sa aming aatras.

Ito lang.

Bibeth

Detained artist sings for freedom in “Prison Sessions”

Ericson Acosta and Renato Reyes Jr (Sept. 20, 2011)

In the tradition of imprisoned artists like Francisco Balagtas, Jose Rizal, Amado V. Hernandez, detained cultural worker Ericson Acosta is writing…and singing, for his freedom.

Together with Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes, Jr, Acosta has recorded two albums worth of songs called “Prison Sessions,” all done while in detention at the Calbayog Sub-provincial Jail in Samar.

Acosta has been in detention for more than seven months now. He was arrested last February 13 in San Jorge, Samar by members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. He was unarmed at the time of his arrest and only had a laptop in his possession. However, that was enough to get him arrested, even if the soldiers were not able to open the contents of the computer. Acosta was brought to a military camp and subjected to continuous interrogation. After two days, he was brought to a police station. A total of 72 hours passed from the time of his arrest before formal charges were filed with a prosecutor. He was charged with illegal possession of explosives.

Acosta has since filed a petition for review wth the Department of Justice. His arraignment was deferred yesterday pending resolution of the DOJ review.

Acosta was a former cultural editor of the UP’s Philippine Collegian, assistant section editor at the Manila Times, and a UP student leader. He is a poet, thespian, playwright and singer/composer. A Free Ericson Acosta Campaign has been launched to help in his legal defense.

While imprisoned artists in the past would have to smuggle out their manuscripts on pieces of paper to be able to reach their target audience, Acosta’s Prison Sessions recordings reach their audience via Facebook and Twitter. The recordings are also downloadable. Aside from recordings, Acosta also maintains a blog which contains his prison writings.

"Prison Sessions 1" was recorded on April 6, 2011 while “Prison Sessions 2” was recorded on September 20, in time for the anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law. The songs were recorded "live and raw", with no special effects, just voice and guitar.

Acosta and Reyes first played together at the fourth floor of UP's Vinzons Hall in 1994, during their student activist days. Both were members of the student cultural group Alay Sining and wrote several of the songs still being performed by the group today.

The recordings are intended to raise awareness of the situation Acosta and other political prisoners who remain unjustly detained by the Philippine government. There are more than 360 political prisoners in the Philippines today, according to human rights group Karapatan.

“Prison Sessions” contains original songs on various social issues. Acosta also covered songs by artists like Binky Lampano (I read the news), Tambisan sa Sining (Patay na ang kabayo), Jess Santiago (Halina) and the Eraserheads (Kailan).

Listen to Prison Sessions here:
http://soundcloud.com/natoreyes/sets/prison-sessions-2-ericson/

http://soundcloud.com/natoreyes/sets/prison-sesssions-ericson/

Prison Sessions 2 recorded at Calbayog Sub-provincial Jail on September 20, with detained cultural worker Ericson Acosta and BAYAN Secretary General Renato Reyes, Jr.

Tracks:

Kay Hirap ng Buhay (Reyes / Alay Sining)

Halina (Jess Santiago)

Kailan (Eraserheads)

Paalam (Acosta / Alay Sining)

Balang Araw (Acosta / Alay Sining)

Duyan (Acosta / Acosta Universe)

Pambihira (Acosta / Acosta Universe)

"Isang mintuong katahimikan" is an unfinished song written by Ericson inside the detention facility. It is a song about extrajudicial killings, a harsh reality in Eastern Visayas where Ericson is detained.

Prison Sessions 2: Isang minutong katahimikan by natoreyes

Prison Sessions CD

Ericson Acosta: Prison Sessions
Unplugged, Unrehearsed...Under Detention

“‘Yung mga laman ng kantang yun…siguro yun ang dahilan kung bakit ako nandito.”
(Those songs.. must be the reason why I’m here.)

Cultural worker and political prisoner Ericson Acosta and BAYAN secretary-general Renato Reyes, Jr. first played together at the fourth floor of UP’s Vinzons Hall in 1994, during their student activist days. Both were members of the student cultural group Alay Sining.

This recording, which includes other raw tracks performed or written by Ericson Acosta, intends to
raise awareness of the situation of Acosta and other political prisoners who remain unjustly detained by the Philippine government.

TRACKS

Prison Sessions with Renato Reyes Jr,
recorded April 6, 2011 at the Calbayog sub-provincial jail

2. Kumustahan by Ericson Acosta / Alay Sining
3. Sa Aking Pag-ahon by Binky Lampano
4. Kay Hirap ng Buhay by Renato Reyes, Jr. / Alay Sining
5. Dahil by Ericson Acosta / Alay Sining
6. Magsasama, Magkasama by Ericson Acosta / Alay Sining
7. I Read the News by Binky Lampano
8. Alamat by Ericson Acosta / Alay Sining
9. Patay na ang Kabayo by Tambisan sa Sining

Ericson Acosta jam sessions

10. One by U2
11. First Light by Binky Lampano
12. Rage by The Jerks
13. Walang Kalabaw sa Cubao by Ericson Acosta / mixed by Mayo Uno Martin

Songs by Ericson Acosta

15. Awit ng Kasaysayan performed by Nato & Sarah
16. Haranang Bayan performed by Nato & Sarah
17. Pasensya (Live) performed by Anak ni Aling Juana
18. Dahil arranged and performed by Karl Ramirez
19. Kontradiksyon (Live) performed by Babes Alejo and Roselle Pineda
20. Haranang Bayan (Live) performed by Roselle Pineda, Jon Corsiga, Nato & Sarah
21. Paalam (Live) performed by Nato & Sarah, Aki Merced and BLKD
22. Duyan by Acosta Universe

Email freeericsonacosta@gmail.com for orders.
Proceeds will go to Ericson's legal defense fund.

Ericson Acosta : From Monument to Masses*

Ericson's father Isaias, with artists Boy Dominguez and Ed Manalo, Bayan staff Oyoboy Pascual, and the writer (right) during the Free Ericson Acosta Campaign public launch last April 15.

by Renato Reyes, Jr. in Like a Rolling Stone

“'Yung mga laman ng kantang yun…siguro yun ang dahilan kung bakit ako nandito.”

Such were the words of political prisoner and cultural worker Ericson Acosta as we concluded the “Prison Sessions”recording at the Calbayog sub-provincial jail last April 6. Acosta, who was arrested without warrant last February 13, faces false charges of illegal possession of explosives and remains incarcerated at the Calbayog jail.

Ericson wasn’t exaggerating when he said that the songs we recorded that day, songs that spanned the entire 17 years that I have known him, were somehow to blame for his current situation.

I met Ericson in 1994, during a period of transition in the Philippine Collegian. Our meeting was not really of a political sort. We just happened to be at the 4^th floor of Vinzons Hall, where the Center for Nationalist Studies library and the Collegian office were located and where the rehearsals for Alay Sining’s PD1081 were being held.

It was during those times that we happened to have a similar interest in music, along with the Kule editor-in-chief Mike Ac-ac who played the blues harp. Our “set list” consisted of Binky Lampano, The Doors, U2, The Jerks, Eraserheads, Yano and so on. The stage was the 4^th floor lobby of Vinzons, or the Grandstand in Sunken Garden. We eventually brought our “performances” to protest actions against the commercialization of UP, with megaphones as our sound system.

Ericson got to know the activists of ND movement, both in and out of Kule. He would eventually join and lead Alay Sining. He went on to write and perform songs that he composed. Ericson wrote epic loves songs that inspired revolutionary romanticism among listeners.

His songs found an outlet through the multi-media production called Monumento, about the life of Andres Bonifacio and the unfinished revolution. He wrote and directed the production and was also the lead actor. One of his early compositions, “Awit ng Kasaysayan” was the opening song.

Ericson’s songs however, are not just meant to inspire or consolidate the ranks of the activist youth. The songs are often a reflection of his own personal contradictions as artist and activist. The songs exhort the artist to follow the road less traveled and to immerse themselves in the revolutionary struggle of the people.

The second stanza of the song “Dahil” tells us why.

“Dahil itong pagtula
hitik man sa tugma,
lagyan pa ng himig,
di pa rin marining,
ang awit ng pag-ibig.

Kaya nga buhay mismo ang alay
Di lang luha, sigaw, tula at awit
Kaya nga alay mismo ang buhay
Ngayo’y di na kaila sa akin kung bakit”

The song “Haranang Bayan” may have referred to Ericson being a “late bloomer” as far as activism was concerned. Learning to playing music, even belatedly, became a metaphor for joining the struggle. It is never too late to be part of this grand “composition”.

“Sadyang di pa huli ang lahat
Bukas tatanganan ang gitara
Mag-aaral tumugtog ng tapat
Darating din ang araw ng harana

Sadyang di pa tapos ang laban
Kailangang hawakan ang sandata
Pagkat awit ay di sasapat
Upang lubos na tupdin ang panata”

Again the familiar theme reminds the audience of the artist’s ultimate goal. The same is true in Ericson’s poem, “And so your poetry must”, a scathing criticism of poets and artists who deny social realities.

And so in recollecting
your epiphanies
you elude the void
which is my hunger
the famine of millions
the empty bowl of history.

The love song “Magsasama, Magkasama” has a more upbeat tune and theme, with the artist and revolutionary having accepted his/her role.

“Suyuin ang musa ng kasaysayan
Suungin ang dusa na kasabayan
Maglalayag, tula’t mga talata
Maghahayag, pulang mga panata”

And so from this pledge (panata) to serve the people, Ericson went outside the university and experienced firsthand the struggles of the oppressed masses. Fulfilling his pledge meant going to picket lines, far-flung barrios and depressed communities. Developing his craft meant making art serve the people struggle. At the time of his arrest, Ericson was investigating the human rights situation in Ban-yang, San Jorge,Samar.

Prior to this, he had written articles on human rights violations against farmers in Samar. His only “crime” at the time of his arrest was that he was a Tagalog-speaking person with a laptop in a remote village. His affidavit tells of the strange circumstances of his illegal arrest and how, because he seemed a bit out of place in that barrio setting, he was accused of being an NPA. One can’t help but recall how, similarly during Martial Law, those with long hair were arrested on suspicion they were activists. It seems that in some places in the country, people are still living in that era.

“Dati sa Vinzons lang tayo kumakanta,” I told him at the start of the recording.

From Vinzons Hall to the Calbayog jail multi-purpose hall, from the first mounting of Monumento, to the raw recordings inside prison, Ericson has come a long way. His current situation may not be something he had contemplated in any of his songs, but rather an unexpected consequence of the choices he had made as an artist and activist.

And they were the right choices, notwithstanding the sacrifices he currently has to endure. If anything, his experience further highlights the continuing gross human rights violations under the current regime. From a documenter of human rights violations , to a human rights victim himself, Ericson’s unjust detention serves as a challenge for all artists to get actively involved in the cause of civil liberties, genuine freedom and democracy.

We are happy that fellow artists, writers and activists have thrown their full support behind his fight for freedom. Ericson is waging his own struggle behind bars. Every song, poem and statement from his detention facility is an assertion of his rights, and an indictment of the rotten system.

“Salamat sa inyong suporta,” Ericson’s voice almost cracks. “Magkikita din tayo.”

Ericson will celebrate his birthday on May 27, likely still behind bars as he awaits the prosecutor’s decision on whether or not the case against him will be filed in court. A campaign has been launched for his immediate release. We plan to have a benefit gig for Ericson to coincide with his birthday.

We stand firmly with Ericson during this difficult period of struggle.

“Hangga’t digma’y may saysay.
Hangga’t dugo’y may kulay.
Hanggang tagumpay.”

*From Monument to Masses was a progressive post-rock band based in the Bay Area during the last decade. The name of the band was meant to challenge the notion that great men, for whom monuments are built, are the real makers of history. For FMTM, it is the struggle of the masses which shape society and determine the course of history.

From "Prison Sessions"

Prison Sessions: Unplugged, Unrehearsed...Under Detention
Calbayog sub-provincial jail, April 6, 2011

Cultural worker and political prisoner Ericson Acosta and BAYAN secretary general Renato Reyes, Jr first played together at the fourth floor of UP's Vinzons Hall in 1994, during their student activist days. Both were members of the student cultural group Alay Sining. Acosta and Reyes wrote several of the songs still being performed by Alay Sining today.

This recording is intended to raise awareness of the situation of Acosta and other political prisoners who remain unjustly detained by the Philippine government. FREE ERICSON ACOSTA! FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS!

TRACKS:

1.Patay na ang Kabayo (Tambisan sa Sining)

2. Sa Aking Pag-ahon (Binky Lampano)

3. Kay Hirap ng Buhay (Renato Reyes, Jr. / Alay Sining)

4. Dahil (Ericson Acosta / Alay Sining)

5. Magsasama, Magkasama (Ericson Acosta / Alay Sining)

6. I Read the News (Binky Lampano)

7. Alamat (Ericson Acosta / Alay Sining)

8. Kumustahan (Ericson Acosta / Alay Sining)

9. Ericson's Message to Friends and Supporters

Prison Sessions: Ericson and Nato, Patay na ang Kabayo (Tambisan) by natoreyes