The Laze in Malacañang

He called his father his “idol.”

And Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., son of the dictator, has done nothing but make sure that millions of others share the same sentiment through distorting history. Yet a negligence has also seeped into the Palace, stemming from a president that would rather fly overseas than work domestically.

Jobs Drop, Prices Soar

February statistics show inflation in the country at 8.6 percent. Despite Bongbong’s promise of a recovery ‘roadmap,’ the country has only sustained increasing poverty and rising prices. Basic goods— such as fruits, vegetables, and meat—remain inaccessible, with the price of pork heightening to P420 per kilo in March and onions to P600 per kilo in January. Meanwhile, Philippine land carries on as an export-oriented and import-dependent marketplace for the benefit of imperialist conglomerates. A reliance on imports amidst a weak peso, as agri groups have warned, will only lead to even higher prices.

These conditions have caused a 1.8 million loss in jobs based on latest data. Research group IBON cites a discouraged workforce as the prime reason: poor job prospects due to lingering systemic issues of contractualization and wage decline. The priorities of the executive have been nowhere near solutioning these problems. Deregulation and neoliberalism remains unfettered as big companies are given more leeway for exploitative practices such as privatization.

Progressive analysts motion for the State to take a more assertive role in economic development through nationalizing industry, expanding public services, and tackling environmental challenges. Yet Marcos has only taken on the role of idleness. Empty promises litter Malacañang: from his campaign trail until the present. In their company are the buzzwords of “rightsizing” and “Charter-Change.” Both are undoubtedly ploys to serve the interests of the presidential family and their allies, removing democratic barriers that ensure local ownership of industry.

Inaccessible & Undemocratic

The education sector has likewise received the treatment of incompetence, and with Vice President Sara Duterte at the helm of the Department of Education (DepEd), it is no wonder why. After all, what does the prodigal daughter of a fascist know about running the country’s education other than her clan’s reign-ofterror on democratic organizations within learning institutions? VP Sara has proven that she would rather red-tag groups such as ACT Teachers Partylist rather than committing any policy to solve the gaping learning crisis after COVID.

With DepEd facing backlogs of more than 100,000 classrooms, and teaching staff being short-handed and underpaid, Duterte has proposed the institutionalization of blended learning—nevermind, of course, the blatant inaccessibility and ineffectiveness of such a model! The billions of pesos approved for presidential ‘intelligence funds’ and the fascistic NTFELCAC can clearly be put to better use to address long-standing education problems, yet the administration persists on resting on its (nonexistent) laurels.

Misplaced Precedence

Almost ten months after Bongbong’s win, the health department still remains standing on one leg as the title of Health Secretary remains unrewarded. With the country still under a health crisis, it is easy to think that Marcos has done nothing so far but worsen the circumstances.

Marcos Jr. had stipulated in September that the Department of Health (DOH) not only concerns itself with the pandemic but also other health problems such as dengue and HIV, as well as other unspecified elements. As such, the appointment of a secretary should be held back for as long as the structure is being ‘finalized.’ But the reluctance to appoint a health secretary by this justification makes no sense, as the appointee would handle the restructuring of the department anyway.

On top of Marcos Jr.’s questionable decisions is his appointment of an undersecretary who by no means holds any form of qualification to take the post: former Chief of Police Camilo Cascolan, who played a deadly hand in Duterte’s War on Drugs. Healthcare advocates and progressive groups have labeled the move as indicative of an “extreme lack of concern for the lives, health, safety and welfare of the health workers and the entire Filipino nation.”

Sabi nga nila: kung ano ang puno, siya rin ang bunga.

Marcos Jr., anak ng diktador na sinuportahan ng mga Duterte, at tuta ng imperyalistang Tsina at US.

Sa halos isang taon na lumipas matapos ang muling pagbabalik ng diktaduryang Marcos at Duterte sa Malacañang ano na nga ba ang nagawa nila para sa mamamayang Pilipino? Tila ang “golden era” na inaasahan ay nauwi sa 700 per kilo na sibuyas noong Disyembre, patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng mga pamilihin, at kaliwa’t kanang pangrered-tag…walang katapusang pasakit.

It is also notable that the refusal to appoint a Health Secretary is brought upon Marcos Jr.’s prioritization of opening up businesses and letting tourists come into the country to allegedly stimulate the rather dwindling economy. Marcos Jr. added that stepping away from an “emergency stance” will allow the dislabeling of the Philippines of being in a state of calamity through creating a sense of normalcy. However, there is a million dollar question: what is a booming economy for when your constituents are dead? Bongbong’s ‘justification’ not only removes the prioritization of public health, but also disregards local concerns in favor of foreign capitalists.

Also critical to keep in mind is that the DOH possesses the responsibility of primarily heeding the calls of health workers in the country. With the lack of a Health Secretary, it only goes to show that the calls of medical workers when it comes to their compensation, benefits, and other concerns are set aside with no promise of tomorrow.

What the country will come to be in the hands of Bongbong Marcos looks to be a precarious one. We are left at a blind spot, gagged and restrained. Needless to say, what hierarchy of priorities Marcos will follow as he continues on his seat is a price too costly to pay. It is clear that FIlipinos must unite, hold accountable, and remove the laze settled in Malacañang

ACTING EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Gabino Joaquin Barcelona | ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Will Bautista | MANAGING EDITOR Alyanna Mallari | NEWS EDITOR Chelsy

Claire Perez | ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR Bienne Marguarette Chan Lugay

| FEATURES EDITOR Kate Daphne Baron | CULTURES EDITOR Jeandair Benedicto | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER Brandon Deichmann | GRAPHICS

EDITOR & HEAD ILLUSTRATOR Alyssa Lorenzo | HEAD LAYOUT ARTIST Sarah Tagona

NEWS WRITERS Vivenne Audrey Angeles - Thea Bermudes - Trisha Anne Mataac - Alyssa Joy Damole

- Jose Emmanuel S. Junio - Erienzen Gyro G. Calalang | FEATURE WRITERS Jose Rodrigo Papa - Louie Busog - Jeffry Carillo - Kent

Alyssa Lorenzo

Ngunit sa gitna ng lahat ng ito, nananatiling kampante ang Malacañang. Bingi at bulag sa realidad—mga papet!