[PARTNER] A Manifesto Against Silence
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As the Philippines enters a time of change and possible turmoil, Filipino writers all over the world have bonded together to sign this manifesto against silence, the kind of silence that would enable despots to wreak havoc on democratic principles, the kind of meekness that would allow the story of our people to be mangled and misrepresented.Positively Filipino's Mona Lisa Yuchengco, Gemma Nemenzo and Rene Ciria-Cruz have signed the manifesto as individual writers.
A MANIFESTO
I am a Filipino writer.
I am one among journalists, fictionists, poets, essayists, bloggers, screenwriters, graphic storytellers, copywriters, playwrights, editors… Citizens, all—in a perilous place to wield a pen.
I stand for unfettered expression—to discuss, dispute, debate, dissent. For democracy is respectful disagreement—change persuaded, never imposed. And freedom cannot be dictated, for the right to speech empowers all others: to worship, and participate in society, to cry against injustice, and call for what is just. Speaking responsibly is my responsibility—but expression remains unconditional, essential to equality and universal liberty: To each citizen, a free vote; to every citizen, a free voice.
All of us, citizens, live in a world where the powerful thrive on secrecy and the privileged seek our poverty. Ours is a time when righteousness and faith are weaponized into fear and savagery, and life is dispensable to opinion and ideology. All of us, Filipinos, live in a country where facts are spun as black propaganda, and dynasties stage a masquerade of choice, and leaders prosper on our weakness and disunity. Ours is a society broken by those who benefit from its breaking.
I refuse to let that be the story of our people.
To our Filipino sisters and brothers—at home and around the world: I pledge my pen. My task is to listen, to give voices when you’ve none, and render us with all the humanity I can muster and the dignity you deserve. As a writer I work, and witness, inform, and incite. I shall concede my stance when proven wrong, aspire to constant civility, and safeguard our history from those who reap from its rewriting. This I vow. To this I will see.
To those who mislead for fake faith, profit, or political gain—the false prophets, corporations, and agents of disinformation: my enemy is your iniquity, rapacity, manipulation; my methods are clarity, creativity, careful investigation. I know, as you do, that your power sits solely in the pliancy of us people—and I refuse to sit idly as you crave our control. I shall match your inhumanity with plain and simple decency. This I vow. To this I will see.
To our leaders abusing power—elected or otherwise: I am watching, taking notes, recording for all time. I will mock you who’ve made a mockery of our democracy; yours will not be bronze statues in plazas, or elegies on brass plaques—for my words will outlive your influence, in a world that will know the ills you committed and the ugliness that you were. In life you’ve stolen from our country and our people, and in your death I will steal the respect you never earned and the dignity you never deserved. Try to censor me and I will find a way—to immortalize your infamy, defame your legacy, tell your children’s children with accuracy of what you did and precisely all you failed to do. Your punishment will stretch through the pages of perpetuity. This I vow. To this I will see.
For all histories have shown: Elections pass, systems crumble, but stories remain. Assassinate one of us—but another speaks louder. Pass laws to make us criminals—but our writing blooms beyond their reach. For history has proven: Jose Rizal is always remembered, Marlene Esperat never forgotten. Your weapons may be violence and money, but our tools are vigilance and memory.
For I am a Filipino. I am a writer.
This I vow, and this you will see: I shall not be silent. I cannot be silenced. I am not alone—our writing remembers, our laughter reminds. The truth of you the world will know. And it starts right here, with me.
ISANG MANIPESTO
Ako’y isang Pilipinong manunulat.
Isa sa mga mamamahayag, kuwentista, makata, mananaysay, blogger, scriptwriter, komiks writer, mandudula, patnugot—mga mamamayang nabubuhay kung saan mapanganib ang magsulat.
Naninindigan ako sa malayang pamamahayag — para makipagtalakayan, tumutol, makipagtalo, sumalungat. Pagkat ang demokrasya’y pagtatalong may paggalang - Inuudyok ang pagbabago, hindi ipinapataw. Kailanman, hindi maididikta ang kalayaan pagkat ang karapatang magpahayag ang magbibigay kapangyarihan sa iba pang karapatan: sa pananampalataya, sa paglahok sa lipunan, sa pagtutol sa kawalan ng katarungan, upang isulong ang katarungan. Responsibilidad ko ang responsableng pananalita - pero walang anumang hinihinging kondisyon ang pagpapahayag. Esensyal ito para sa pagkakapantay-pantay at kalayaang unibersal. Malayang boto para sa bawat tao; malayang tinig para sa bawat mamamayan.
Nabubuhay tayo sa isang mundo kung saan nananalasa sa paglilihim ang makapangyarihan; hangad nila ang patuloy nating kahirapan. Tayo’y nabubuhay sa panahong ang matuwid at pananampalataya’y ginagawang sandata ng pananakot at kalupitan. Walang halaga ang buhay sa harap ng opinyon at ideyolohiya. Nabubuhay tayong mga Pilipino sa isang bayan kung saan itinuturing na black propaganda ang katotohanan, at ang dinastiya’y nagkukuwaring mayroon tayong pagpipilian, at ang namumuno’y yumayaman dahil sa ating kahinaa’t pagkakawatak-watak. Tayo’y isang lipunang winawasak ng mga nakikinabang sa pagkakalansag nito.
Hindi ko papayagang ito ang maging kuwento ng ating lahi.
Sa mga kapatid na Pilipino dito at sa ibang panig ng mundo: inilalaan ko ang aking panulat. Tungkulin kong makinig, at bigyang tinig ang pinatahimik, at ilarawan tayo gamit ang lahat ng humanidad na aking mapanghahawaka’t dignidad na nararapat sa inyo. Bilang manunulat ako’y nagsisikap, sumasaksi, nagbibigay-alam, at nang-uudyok. Kung mapatunayang mali, aking isusuko ang pinapalagay, hahangarin ang laging paggalang, at ipagtatanggol ang kasaysayan laban sa mga nakikinabang sa pagrebisa nito. Panata ko ito; bagay na tinitiyak ko.
Sa mga nagbabalak iligaw tayo para sa huwad nilang pananalig, pakinabang, o ganansyang pulitikal—mga bulaang propeta, korporasyon, at ahente ng tiwaling kaalaman—ang kalaban ko’y ang inyong kahayupan, kasakiman, manipulasyon. Ang pamamaraan ko’y kaliwanagan, pagkamalikhain, at buong ingat na pagsisiyasat. Alam kong alam niyo na nakasalalay ang kapangyarihan ninyo sa pagiging matiisin ng mga tao - at hindi ako uupo na lamang habang kinokontrol niyo ang lahat. Tatapatan ko ang inyong kahayupan ng simple at payak na kapitaganan. Panata ko ito; bagay na tinitiyak ko.
Sa mga pinunong abusado sa kapangyarihan—nahalal man o hindi: nagbabantay ako, nagtatala, nagtatanda habang panahon. Kukutyain ko kayong mga umalipusta sa ating demokrasya. Walang rebultong tanso sa plaza o mga papuring sertipiko para sa inyo. Ang mga pahayag ko’y hihigitan ang inyong impluwensya, sa mundong batid ang katiwaliang inyong ginawa, ang kasagwaan ng inyong pagkatao. Pinagnakawan ninyo ang ating bayan, kaya’t sa kamatayan, babawiin ko ang respeto’t dignidad na hindi bagay sa inyo. Busalan man ninyo ako, hahanap ako ng paraan — para ilantad habambuhay ang inyong kasamaan, yurakan ang inyong ipamamana, isasalaysay sa anak ng mga anak niyo nang buong katotohanan ang inyong nagawa at kabiguan. Ang parusang iyan ay mananaig magpakailanman. Panata ko ito; bagay na tinitiyak ko.
Dahil napatunayan na ng lahat ng kasaysayan: nagwawakas ang mga halalan, nadudurog ang mga sistema, pero nananatili ang mga salaysay. Itumba man ninyo ang isa sa amin, may hahaliling mas malakas ang tinig. Magpasa man kayo ng mga batas para gawin kaming kriminal, yayabong pang lalo ang panulat namin lampas sa mga hangganan. Dahil pinatunayan na ng kasaysayan: laging magugunita si Jose Rizal; hindi malilimutan si Marlene Esperat. Pera at karahasan man ang sandata ninyo, ang aming kasangkapa’y aming gunita at maalab na pagbabantay.
Ako ay Pilipino. Ako ay manunulat.
Panata ko ito, bagay na tinitiyak ko. Hindi ako mananahimik o mapatatahimik. Hindi ako nag-iisa. Hindi nakalilimot ang aming panulat; nang-uusig ang aming halakhak. Malalaman ng mundo ang katotohanan tungkol sa inyo. At magsisimula ito ngayon dito, sa akin mismo.
Signed, chronologically (as of May 11, 2016):
MIGUEL SYJUCO
CLINTON PALANCA
LISANDRO CLAUDIO
JOEL PABLO SALUD
MARCK RONALD RIMORIN
RANDY DAVID
ALMA ANONAS-CARPIO
JIM PASCUAL AGUSTIN
SYLVIA E. CLAUDIO
ROMANO CORTES JORGE
AMBETH R. OCAMPO
CAROLINE S. HAU
DANTON REMOTO
ROFEL BRION
MARNE KILATES
NINOTCHKA ROSCA
IAN ROSALES CASOCOT
PATRICIO ABINALES
SARGE LACUESTA
J. NEIL GARCIA
KIMI TUVERA
GEMINO ABAD
LOURD DE VEYRA
MARITES VITUG
LUIS FRANCIA
JESSICA HAGEDORN
D.M. REYES
MOOKIE KATIGBAK LACUESTA
NICANOR TIONGSON
ISABELITA REYES
ROLANDO B. TOLENTINO
LINDA FAIGAO-HALL
MERLIE ALUNAN
NENI STA. ROMANA CRUZ
KARINA BOLASCO
NICOLA SEBASTIAN
RENE CIRIA-CRUZ
KRISTINE FONACIER
CRISELDA YABES
JOSE DALISAY
DEAN FRANCIS ALFAR
RAMON GUILLERMO
PATRICIA LIM
MONA LISA YUCHENGCO
GEMMA NEMENZO
CRISTINA PANTOJA-HIDALGO
NICK CARBO
GRACE TALUSAN
ALBERT B. CASUGA
SYLVIA L. MAYUGA
CARLOMAR ARCANGEL DAOANA
M. EVELINA GALANG
FH BATACAN
CARLJOE JAVIER
FELIX FOJAS
NADINE SARREAL
SUSAN S. LARA
RHANDEE GARLITOS
EUGENE EVASCO
DINO MANRIQUE
LINDA NIETES
GRACE R. MONTE DE RAMOS
JOHN LABELLA
KARL R. DE MESA
YVETTE PANTILLA-CARPIO
JAN PHILIPPE V. CARPIO
ROGER B. RUEDA
OSCAR V. CAMPOMANES
CHARLSON ONG
NOELLE Q. DE JESUS
MAXINE SYJUCO
SHIRLEY O. LUA
PAULO ALCAZAREN
TWINK MACARAIG
DEE MANDIGMA
MYRZA SISON
SHAKIRA SISON
LUIS P. GATMAITAN
THELMA ENAGE
RALPH SEMINO GALAN
MA. LUISA T. REYES
REBECCA T. AÑONUEVO
MICHAEL M. COROZA
GERALDINE C. MAAYO
RAMIL DIGAL GULLE
MALOU JACOB
RONALD REYES
DARYLL DELGADO
ELIZABETH ONG
INDAY ESPINA-VARONA
LOUIE JON A. SANCHEZ
LILA SHAHANI
LAKAMBINI SITOY
MONETTE RIVERA
JP ANTHONY D. CUÑADA
JEAN-SIMON DESROCHERS
JOSE ELVIN BUENO
TOTEL DE JESUS
TED ALCUITAS
ELMER GATCHALIAN
MARYANNE MOLL
ELIZABETH CASTILLO
BINO REALUYO
KENNETH YU
JASON A. BAGUIA
GABRIELA LEE
ROBERT V. BOLISAY, JR.
TED LAGUATAN
CAROL PAJARON
TRISTAN DAINE ZINAMPAN
LEEZL MENDOZA
NATASHA VIZCARRA
BUTCH HERNANDEZ
FIDEL RILLO
JO MARTINEZ-CLEMENTE
RODY VERA
ELIZABETH LOLARGA
LEI LANDICHO
RYAN PESIGAN REYES
RIAN SIMON MAGTAAN
CHARISSE ANNE PINGUL
ALYSSA DANIELLE NAVARRO
GILBERT TAN
DANIELLE HILL
RACHEL BRIONES
NORBERTO BANA III
CHING DEE
ISA LORENZO
MICHAEL PURUGGANAN
ANDREA ALBAÑA
KATE ALYZON RAMIL
MICHAEL DE GUZMAN
KRYSTAL GAYLE DIGAY
JOHN PAUL ABELLERA
PETER CO
ROBERT ANTHONY RAMOS
LILJA VEDIS HOLMSDOTTIR
DINO ALBERTO SUBINGSUBING
GLENN PERNES
EFREN DAYAUON
ANALISA LEONOR BALARES
CHUCKBERRY PASCUAL
NOEL PANGILINAN
RJ LEDESMA
EDWARD BASSE
GENE ALCANTARA
HERMINIA MENEZ COBEN
DANIEL AGONCILLO
ELVIRA ARANETA
CRISTINA DC PASTOR
MILA DE GUZMAN
ANGELICA HOPES
ISABEL TAYLOR ESCODA
FRED MAGALLANES
OSCAR PEÑARANDA
JOSE FERNANDO P. OBIAS
LUIS MALAY SYQUIA
MARIAN ROCES
JOI BARRIOS-LEBLANC
RASHMI GIRLIE TOLENTINO-SINGH
WINNIE DIMANLIG
GEORGETTE GONZALES
JOSE MARI EMMAUS DE LA TORRE
MILA D. AGUILAR
JUN SIMBULAN
GRACE KRAEMEF
MAKI B. SOMOSOT
CHE SARIGUMBA
MARIUS CARLOS
LUALHATI BAUTISTA
LOBREGAT BALAGUER
PAULYNN P. SICAM
JANN D. WINDSOR
ROSALIA FABRE LAPENA
JENNY ROMERO LLAGUNO
Join the growing list of signatories by contacting Miguel Syjuco at miguel.syjuco@gmail.com.