hobbygamers ~ View topic - The Great Book Blockade of the Philippines

Old Dragon Joined: 30 Aug 2007 Posts: 577

Sen. Miriam Santiago Weighs in on the Book Blockade

I have mixed feelings on this. On one hand, she will probably roast over an open flame the idiots responsible. On the other hand, she is an epic twit herself, so...

She may be on our side this time but I still don't trust her

Things that still need to be done:

*Get the attention of other UP orgs; primarily Ex Libris and Lingua Franca, and ask them if they're interested in banding together to raise awareness on the issue.

*Come up with our position letter: What's taking this one so long? The site's been up for almost a week now, and I'm waiting in on this one.

*Update on Faculty support regarding the issue. We've approached them for help, right? Nothing says we're serious as well as a consistent follow up.

So who can do these things?

I've dropped the ball when it comes to double-checking on the contacts and faculty, since I've been at home working most of this week.

Anyone relatively free over the next week? When will the end of classes be?

I can check on our advisor again next week. I've mailed her a few things, but I haven't really heard back from her.

On the org contacts end, I've gotten in touch with an alumnae from some of those orgs, and she's talking to a few other people. I haven't gotten any reply over at my inbox yet. I'll get back to her later tonight.

UPHGC position on the Book Blockade:

We the U.P. Hobby Gamers’ Circle, a duly recognized university organization, mindful of the University of the Philippines’ commitment to Excellence, believe in the unrestricted flow information and the free exchange of cultural and educational material. Furthermore, we believe in the critical role that book reading plays in the education of the nation. We therefore believe in the importance of the Florence Agreement, the UN treaty which guarantees the duty-free importation of books and other cultural materials. The fact that the Philippines is a signatory to the Florence Agreement is a symbol of our nation’s highest humanitarian ideals and our commitment to education and cultural understanding.

We therefore condemn the actions of the Bureau of Customs in the taxation of imported books, as we believe it to be in violation of the Florence Agreement and the interests of the Filipino people in general. We call upon the Philippine Government to uphold our international obligations and stand for our highest ideals by repealing this tax. Anything less would only lessen us in the eyes of our peers in the community of nations and more importantly betray our commitment to the high ideals of education, cultural understanding, and the free flow of information that we have declared ourselves committed to in the signing of the Florence Agreement.

I asked a relative who's a judge regarding the matter. Unfortunately, there is no governing body to enforce the treaty; the most other member countries can do is to apply pressure to the Philippines -- i.e. not shipping in famous titles, which might have already occured due to the blockade. Granted, the courts have the capability to review the law and provide the correct interpretation in harmony with the treaty, but the actual job of correcting the law lies with Congress... so yeah. Although, if your movement goes along successfully and garners enough attention, Congress might try to actually do something, at least for the media coverage.

Yep, that's partly the aim Q.

Miriam Santiago has been most vocal of the officials opposing, but they also include some party-list reps, Mayor Binay and rep. Teodoro Locsin from Makati. Sometrhing of a media blitz is planned next week with the Manuel L Quezon III aka The Explainer doing an episode, as well as an open forum on Monday, as well as a bunch of other stuff. See the book blockade squidoo, and I'll try to blog about a few new developments soon.

Old Dragon Joined: 30 Aug 2007 Posts: 577

My friend just wrote an article about it in today's Manila Bulletin, complete with an interview of certain DoF people. I'll let you know what's inside once I read it.

EDIT: Here's an online version of the article. Still reading it.

Success! Bumped into Kate Dy at the Komikon, an alumnae of Ex Libris and their current advisor. She likes our ideas and our stance, and is willing to help set up an HGC/Ex Libris tie up. She wants to arrange a meet with head honchos of both orgs on Wed afternoon. I'm go as one of our contacts, and Juabe will probably need to be there as our Sec Gen as well. Who else would be good to go for this meet?

She's also recommending expanding our position paper, cosigning it with ExLib and HGC, and then circulating it with links to our squidoo on the matter.

If the matter manages to survive until the opening of classes, she's also willing to give up some time in her first few classes in order to give time to HGC speakers who want to preach to the classes.

She's a new lecturer. Therefore she teaches GEs. Which means lots of...FRESHIES.

The recruiting possibilities should be obvious to anyone, but if they aren't...WE HAVE A CAPTIVE AUDIENCE OF FRESHIES!

On a related GBB front, Manolo Quezon has proposed "Seven Days of Action Against the Book Blockade", and he will be hosting an episode of the Explainer on Monday on the Book Blockade. There will also be an open forum on Monday evening at ANC's Talkback, iirc, on this issue. Anyone want to call up?

Norman Sison, one of the architects of the GBB Facebook cause, is proposing that advocates of the issue start organizing for a longer slog. See his blog entry here:

EDIT:
Re: the Ex Libris meet
-I figure we need the SG and the Externals head on this one.

Old Dragon Joined: 30 Aug 2007 Posts: 577

DOF to Book Critics: Just sue us!

Oookay.

This is bad. It means that either we spend a lot of cash to sue them or just pay the additional duties. @__@

Not necessarily. All that's been said is that, as of this moment, the DOF is drawing a line in the sand. Does that mean that this is all over? NO. That just means that since the DOF won't back down right now, you either try to attract the attention of those above them, or take the case to the court of public opinion through the media. Even the craziest public official can be forced to back down with enough public opinion.

Also, remember that 2010 is an election year. There's an idea running around from one of the organizers of the Facebook cause proposing political reprisals. Form an organized and vocal group that can tell Senators and Reps point blank that you either you stand against the Book Blockade, or you do not receive our vote and we publicize their tacit support for the book blockade. (this is better on the senatorial scale, as reps will have more like local matters to consider).

What this does mean is that an escalation of popular action is necessary.

Well, it kinda sounds like blackmail. @__@ Support us or we don't vote you... I love it. XD

Old Dragon Joined: 30 Aug 2007 Posts: 577

Conrado de Quiros takes on the Book Blockade at the Inquirer

Finally, we're showing up on the mainstream media!

Very Old Dragon Joined: 29 Aug 2007 Posts: 693

Revan's asking me to post these.

How to take on the book blockade.

Proposal for Organizing

Very Old Dragon Joined: 29 Aug 2007 Posts: 693

So...has anyone seen our Grail Boys recently? o.oa (Yes, this is a relevant question)

Good Job, Revan. I have a contact with EDSOC so if you guys need one. I can pass on the details via PM.

Old Dragon Joined: 30 Aug 2007 Posts: 577

I'm harassing my contacts at the New Worlds Alliance, Asian Development Bank, and ADMU about this.

Young Adult Dragon Joined: 08 Aug 2008 Posts: 68

Been discussing the blockade with my fellow GRAIL members. I think I've done a pretty good job of hyping them up (someone actually ripped off a particularly valuable chunk of our tambayan out of rage).

I'm thinking of arranging a meet-up with you chaps to foster and hopefully strengthen inter-org relations, and further educate them sinners on why they should care. We have some suggestions you'd probably like to hear as well (have to censor the more violent ones, I suppose). Still trying to free up a date, however.

Hope to hear more from you, dude. Just set the date and hopefully Reva and AAS would be there to talk about it.

Young Adult Dragon Joined: 08 Aug 2008 Posts: 68

Stellar job of disseminating info, too. I am crazy impressed.

I went ahead and contacted my Lingua Franca people. They've shown interest and are just waiting for a jolt of reality. If you want to meet up with them, just tell me. I'll make you an introduction or whatever.

Very Old Dragon Joined: 29 Aug 2007 Posts: 693

Sweet. We honestly want to meet up with any group who'd listen. Uhmm...just don't schedule it on Monday or Tuesday next week. I'm personally good any other day.

Just confirmed something with EDSOC. They do have members under STAND-UP. Do you guys want them to be involved? You know, since sometimes that groups gets out of hand a lot.

Very Old Dragon Joined: 29 Aug 2007 Posts: 693

Well...currently, we don't think it's a good idea yet. Just hold on to them for now.

Actually, we can still hook up with EDSOC without getting STAND-UP involved. SO, what's the plan?

Old Dragon Joined: 30 Aug 2007 Posts: 577

We're currently working with Ex Libris on a position paper for our orgs. We should be finished with that by this weekend. Then we'll start organizing communication hubs on the net, and take our talking tour on the road in UP.

May I suggest that you guys put up a working schedule both on the forums and the yahoo groups so that information is properly disseminated. Not all members are currently enrolled this summer but should still be informed of such activities so that if they want to assist they have a fair idea.

If the issue is dissemination, use yahoogroups. Forums is a bit slow, and requires regular checks, while yahoogroup messages are sent to all.