2
PERIPETEIA: PROM 2019
4
LOVE IN ALL FORMS
MARIE RESSA’S CYBER LIBEL CASE
MARCH 2019 - VOL 70, No. 4
7
Photo by Kelly Veneracion
FOR THE STUDENTS, BY THE STUDENTS
Hi-LITES
#DefendPressFreedom by Angelo Naorbe and Jacob Ugsimar Various student journalists and leaders of Ateneo gathered along Gate 2.5 on February 15 for the Defend Press Freedom Rally, which was spearheaded by the Loyola Schools’ Confederation of Publications in light of the recent unlawful arrest of Rappler’s CEO Maria Ressa. A Call to Action Representatives from the GUIDON, Hi-Lites, BLINK, Matanglawin, and the Loyola Schools Sanggunian were vocal in expressing their dissent over the administration’s blatant crackdown on press freedom. Michelle Abad, Editor-in-Chief of the
CRN advocacy head keynotes MakiALAM on juvenile justice By: CJ Caruncho In line with the ACO’s mission to foster awareness on pressing sociopolitical issues among the student body, the ABM and STEM councils headed this MakiALAM session on February 18 at Room 118. Ms. Melanie Ramos-Llana, Children Rights Network Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility (CRNMACR) advocacy head and research associate from John J. Carroll Institute on Church and Social Issues, delivered a brief lecture on the controversial House Bill 8858. JJWA of 2006 Ms. Ramos-Llana presented popular arguments used by legislators for the ratification of HB 8858. She then negated the claims through data collated by scientists and advocates alike.“They insist that most children above 9 are already fully informed because of the wealth of information that they can easily access through technology, but children just don’t have the same psychosocial decisionmaking capacity as adults,” said Ms.
GUIDON, highlights the crucial role of journalists in these times. “We write stories and articles in hopes to prompt change. Hindi ako titigil sa pamamahayag at hindi dapat kami tumigil sa pamamahayag,” she said. Representatives also called for fellow journalists, the youth, and fellow Filipinos to be knowledgeable of these kinds of injustices in our society. John Matthew Yuching, Broadcast News Editor of GUIDON, who officially started the rally, spoke on the necessity of the community to speak out against the attacks on the free press by stating, “The continued attempts of the administration
to besmirch the reputation of journalists and media practitioners will not be taken silently. This is a direct attack to media practitioners.” Representatives of local and national coalitions, such as the Student Christian Movement of the Philippines (SCMP) and Consortium on Misinformation on Democracy CMD), took part in the protest, sharing similar sentiments with fellow protesters. These groups asserted the importance of fighting for human rights, especially in the context of a “frail and uncompromised justice system”, as mentioned by the SCMP.
A Nationwide Issue Members of various nonwriting organizations, such as the Kabataan Partylist (KPL), also took part in the rally to express their discontentment over the administration’s efforts to silence truth-seekers. The group stands firm in saying that Ressa’s arrest is a “direct attack on democracy and civil liberty”. Al Alegre, member of the CMD, also stated how the issue of Ressa’s arrest is reflective of a bigger one. He said, “This is not an isolated problem. It is part of a larger problem [which is] the [administration’s] continued assault on democracy.”
Ramos Llana, citing several clinical studies on the brain’s development. She explains that the HB 8858 amends provisions of the RA 9344, also known as the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act (JJWA) of 2006, specifically by lowering the MACR from 15 to 12. She also states that the JJWA created a separate justice system for children under the Department of Justice, and set the lowest statutory age at which children can be tried in court to 15. The measure was based on a study by the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, which evaluated 15 as the average age by which Filipinos can act with sufficient discernment. Problems with implementation While the JJWA provides a complete range of interventions, from prevention to rehabilitation and reintegration for children in conflict with the law, the insufficiency of social workers and improper allocation of the required budget by local government units gets in the way of JJWA’s full implementation. 56 of the 114 mandated Bahay Pag-asa facilities are yet to be established, and only eight are officially accredited to be in working order. “LGUs say that the implementation of the JJWA is a hard task, but the JJWA has sufficient measures that take the difficulty of
its execution into consideration,” she said. The talk ended with a collective statement from more than 600 organizations who oppose HB 8858. Ms. Ramos-Llana urged the attendees to join the fight and be the voice for CICL. Polls conducted by the ACO revealed an increase in the number of students (57% from 50%) who strongly disagreed with “Lowering the age of criminal responsibility gives more protection than harm to the youth” after the talk. The results posted on the ASHS Sanggunian page showed that after the talk, 28% (from 39%) disagreed with the statement while 13% (from 7%) remained neutral.
and a more bully-free environment. As part of its commitment against bullying, the administration thoroughly looked into the string of bullying videos, which were posted on facebook last December 20, that involved a JHS student bullying another student in the comfort room. After three days, the penalty of dismissal was recommended due to sufficient evidence against the bully. Being subjected to a dismissal equates to the student no longer being allowed to enroll into the Ateneo with subsequent consequences in the student’s permanent record. In the letter penned by Father Jett Villarin, SJ, University President, he denounced the bullying incident and said, “We have the power to summon the courage to stop fighting one another. We should be one in the spirit of Christ, who taught us to be people of peace and to love one another. Moreover, Villarin expressed his sympathy with the families affected by the incident which he described as causing “a lot of pain”. In addition to that, he cried foul at those who were continuously fanning the flames of pain and violence. Meanwhile, investigations are still ongoing over matters related to the incident.
Ateneo forms task force to curb bullying By Lanz Ethan Galvan and Lexi Lagamon To prevent a repeat of the bullying incident in the Junior High School (JHS) that sent shockwaves beyond the campus, a special force was created to assess existing bullying measures and create recommendations on making a safer
h
2
Juniors celebrate being a “light for others” at prom by Lanz Ethan Galvan
The Grade 11 batch, together with their respective dates, as well as faculty members, gathered at the High School Covered Courts for the Junior Beneficiary Prom, Peripeteia, last February 16. Inspired by the movie Tangled, students walked the red carpet with pastel-colored outfits at the sight of lanterns bearing the logo of the fictional kingdom in the movie. The night saw various performers and bands such as MMXV, Any Name’s Okay, and Timmy Albert providing entertainment for the attendees apart from the refreshments they enjoyed throughout the night.
“I am not surprised at what you, the Ateneo students, these soldiers of Christ, have accomplished to make this venue remarkably festive,” said Mrs. Maria Victoria Panlilio-Dimalanta, school principal, when she commended the efforts of the Grade 11 Batch Committee. Ending the night, Pilar Bonifacio and Gabe Ocampo, who represent STEMTorres, were crowned Prom Queen and King respectively after a careful selection process that included social media voting and a Question and Answer portion. In addition to that, other major awards include Mr and Ms. Stellarium awarded to Nico Duque and Veda Zabala; Eugene and Rapunzel conferred to Enzo Ramos and Julia Lim; Strand Prince and Princesses brought home by Henrik Santos and Sabina Angeles (ABMMr. and Ms. Innovant), Tim Orda and Galatea Fajardo (GA- Mr. and Ms. Polyvalent), Izak Letargo and Julia Aspe (HumSS- Mr. and Ms.
Celebrating One’s Identity: ASHS partake in their respective Strand Days by Angelo Naorbe, Nicole Tong, and Jacob Ugsimar
As part of celebrating the unique identity of each academic strand, students enjoyed a variety of funfilled activities as part of their respective strand days, organized by each strand’s core leaders. ABM January 29 was a day full of celebration as the ABM students held their strand day with the theme “Managers, Arise!”, which sought to expose the students’ talents, knowledge and skills in applying managerial concepts through numerous challenges throughout the day. The day commenced with a film viewing in their respective classrooms, which was then followed by the ABMazing Race, in which Grade 11 and 12 sections were paired up to finish daunting physical tasks and strategic executions. After an exciting activity, the students gathered for a community lunch. Meanwhile, the afternoon’s set of festivities, entitled ABM End Game: The Final Quiz Bee, was arranged mostly by the ABM teachers. Various questions spanning all subjects, core or specialized, were asked to certain members of each group. Other tasks were in the form of “Minute to Win It” challenges. The show also featured many student performers, such as the class of 12-Beyzym and their “Origs” performance, a five-member singing group, and the ABM representatives who won this year’s “Hataw!” during the Buwan ng Wika celebrations. Aside from these activities, the strand day also celebrated the achievements of ABM students through an open exhibit of outstanding members of the strand, as well as a coat-of-arms making contest, which aimed to give classes a time to reflect on their identity. GA GA celebrated their strand day with the theme “Walang HangGAn” on January 23 when its students came
together to appreciate what has been and to look forward to what the future holds through various activities. The morning began with a reflection period for students to look back at the time they’ve spent and the experiences they’ve gone through. This was followed by the students transferring classrooms to be with their partner sections where they bonded through icebreakers and where the seniors talked to their juniors about the electives they could take and what the future holds for them. The first half of the program was then concluded by practicing cheers and preparing for the games to be played in the afternoon session. During the second half of the GA strand day, students bonded through different challenges and activities. First, participants competed to win the quiz bee and not too long after, groups battled it out in a lip sync contest. The day then saw different cheers from the groups, as well as various performances from members of the strand. Students from each year level then prayed over each other to conclude the program.
Photo from DLC Productions
Conscient), and Koj Garcia and Erin Chan (STEM- Mr. and Ms. Analytique). However, not only students but also teachers brought home titles with Mr. Dean Urbina romping away with the honor of Sir Eleganz while Ms. Amyrrha Estolloso was titled Madame Eleganz. Minor awards HumAzing Race, where students were assigned into groups and battle against other groups in the different challenges and obstacles that covered topics within the Humanities and Social Sciences. It was then followed by the VERAYOty Show, which saw various HumSS students, faculty members, and other invited artists hit the stage to perform. Moreover, students also showcased their artistic side as the groups had to create outfits that symbolize the strand’s identity. HumSS day culminated with HabilinPabaon in which Grade 12 students got to exchange greetings and salutations to Grade 11 students as a way of culminating their two-year stint in the strand. Apart from the programs, students were also treated with free ice cream and a chance to buy HumSS shirts. STEM
On January 30, the STEM strand came together dressed in blue with different colored bandanas on their heads and forearms for its strand day entitled “STEM Ablaze” where the students celebrated what it meant to be STEM through various performances, Photo courtesy of Draico Gallardo games, and challenges. HumSS The HumSS Strand was the first to hold its strand day with the theme, “Homebound: Come Home to HumSS” on January 22 with the event having the initiative to foster stronger bonds within the strand through various activities that engaged the participation of everyone. The whole-day program started with the
The program opened with a speech from Mrs. Dimalanta, the ASHS principal, who spoke about conquering our own corners of the sky and was followed by a talk from Dr. Mikko Manalastas that aimed to inspire the students to excel in their respective STEM fields. The day continued with a set of performances prepared by the
were also given to students who have shown exemplary qualities in different aspects. Led by Adama Beatriz Capayas, Batch Project Head, more than a social gathering, the event also sought to raise monetary donations for A Liter of Light, as a part of the social involvement mission of the Ateneo. students. Classes were grouped into six, each of which aimed to land in the top three. Placing in the upper half of the competitors would result in additional points on a long test of their math or science subjects of their choice. In between each of the performances, the Grade 12 sections presented their Pamana canvases that showcased the things in store for the juniors. With a sense of competitiveness set within the strand, the performances transitioned into the STEMtastic Quiz Bee, where a junior class was paired with a senior class to answer questions pertaining to STEM related subjects. Each pairing was marked by the same colored bandanas that the students wore on their heads and forearms. Similarly to the setup of the performances, classes played to earn points to be added to their long tests. Afternoon activities began with lunchtime as the strand broke off into their respective classes who participated in potlucks within themselves. Once the hour was up, students channeled their restored energy into the STEMlympics that had games aiming to inspire unity and teamwork, which marked the end of the program. When asked about the event, STEM Chairperson Mary Gabaton of 12-Sullivan talks about how the day was worth it. She says, “It was so fulfilling to see another side of STEM free from the daily hustle and bustle of schoolwork. It was an ideal time for us all to take a break and let loose. The shared moments between batches and among classes will linger on and these are memories I would always choose to go back to. I really hope they enjoyed it as much as I did!”
h
3
ABM students showcase creativity, managerial skills in first ever Trade Fair
By: Jacob Ugsimar As a culminating activity for their CSIP and Management integrating projects, Grade 12 ABM students took part in the first-ever ABM Trade Fair held at the Ayala Malls Feliz Activity Center on February 10, 2019. When asked about how the idea of holding an exhibit came to reality, Mr. Gab Añasco, CSIP adviser of all ABM-12 students, shared how “[the CSIP team] genuinely believed [the] ABM students are already well-equipped with the skills necessary to start and implement an actual business.”
Additionally, according to him, preparations leading to the event were simple enough, but the actual execution took a lot of conceptualization and hard work. He recounts coordinating with a lot of parties, including Ayala Feliz, the booth suppliers, and, most importantly, the students themselves. He states, “The biggest thing we really needed for the event to be successful was the careful cooperation of everyone involved, meaning everyone had to come up with their own set of preparations.” As early as 8:00 am, students were already setting up their respective
booths to featuring their business ideas, which were conceptualized in order to address specific socio-economic issues of their assigned CSIP partner communities. Prototypes of the products that are to be offered by their proposed business models were also present in the exhibit. Among those that may be found across the hall were ingenious items such as slippers and woven baskets made out of water lilies, which are abundant in most communities, as well as other products and services directed towards alleviating the financial incapacities of the partner communities. Mr. Añasco also shared how he was extremely happy with how the Trade Fair came to be as some customers even asked for partnership agreements with the students. “By the looks of the booths, everyone really worked hard and showed intense professionalism with what they displayed.” He also expressed how he is genuinely proud of the ABM students who “pioneered this project into existence”. He says that “they have really shown their passion and dedication towards their business ideas with the knowledge that this is for something bigger than themselves”. The ABM Trade Fair is part of the Christian Service Involvement Program (CSIP) that provide Grade 12 students the opportunity to help empower a partner local community by providing solutions and projects that will aid them with their needs.
Senior High successfully launches its first ever fair By: Angelo Naorbe and Nicole Tong
Photos by Marcus Garcia and Dom Aumentado On the days of February 1-2, the Ateneo Senior High School (ASHS) came together to celebrate its first fair, “Primero”, held mainly in the high school football field with certain events taking place in the ASHS building. Various rides, booths, inflatables, and events entertained the eventgoers throughout the fair. A two-night concert, “Sulyap”, featuring famous local bands and student bands, served as the fair’s main event, culminating both Day 1 and Day 2 of fair.
Beyond Expectations As a whole, Primero managed to exceed expectations as the event earned twice as much as last year’s joint High School Fair. The Accounting subcommittee posted total revenue of around two million pesos, which is a 100% jump from the one million peso total earnings of last year’s joint High School fair. Entrance fees and “Sulyap” alone collected half a million pesos while the various booths, rides, and mini-events earned
more than 820,000 pesos. Sponsorships also helped in the success of the event as it contributed 343,000 pesos to its total revenue. Fair Committee Overall Head, Ago Bugtong of 12- Grodecky, points out that the fair’s success would not have possible without the determination of the Fair Committee in staging the event. He says, “the familial bond that has been created among us [committee] has given each and everyone the strength that we needed to push through. Despite all the hurdles and turbulence that we experienced, we held on to our goal and remained steadfast in achieving our goal, which was to make the first Senior High School Fair a memorable one both for the students and for the fairgoers.”
Overcoming Struggles
Despite its success, the Fair Committee dealt with different problems and concerns, specifically with its financial aspect.
The Accounting subcommittee Head, Juan Miguel Villanueva of 12-Holland, speaks on how the Fair Committee experienced initial struggles on reaching their financial goal for the event. Villanueva talks that special measures had to be made to ensure that the event will profit. He says, “ As early as the month of December, the fair committee doubled the work to get more sponsors and luckily enough, more companies replied, saying they were willing to donate and sponsor for the first ever Ateneo Senior High School Fair.” The many changes from last year’s fair also posted a challenge for the committee as additional expenses from suppliers, rentals, and performers had to be paid. Apart from providing entertainment to its attendees, Primero is also an fundraising event as the entirety of its proceeds will be handed to the school’s partner CSIP communities and Tulong Dunong program beneficiaries.
Valentine’s Festival HumSSSakin Ka Na Lang by Nicole Tong
Throughout the week of February 11 to 15, the ASHS halls were punctuated Valentine’s festival HumSSSakin Ka Na Lang, which was produced by the HUMSS Council in collaboration with Matanglawin, Lakambini, Broadway Theater Troupe of Ateneo (BTTA), and Symphonic Ensemble. Working with Matanglawin resulted in a plant delivery service where buyers get to purchase a succulent and attach a note for it to be delivered to a person of their choice, while the collaboration with Lakambini allows for the ASHS community to buy heart-themed pins whose designs range from red to different LGBTQ+ flags. The united forces of the HumSS council, BTTA, and the Symphonic Ensemble offer a selection of songs that people can choose to be performed for fellow members of the community. In addition, the freedom wall entitled Sakin Ka Na Lang gives the opportunity for thoughts and expressions of loverelated matters to be heard. Having the Media and Creative Arts District Week during the same timeframe has given them the opportunity to work together through the February 14 event entitled “HumSSSalita: Feast”, which is an open mic handled specifically by the council and Pugad. When asked about the event, project head Doms Cordero of 12-Kibe talks about how blessed and proud he feels. He says, “It’s just really amazing how we got to share our talents and advocacies to the ASHS Community, while being able to see the spirit of love and acceptance among everyone.” In terms of the difficulty experienced in juggling other commitments and collaborating with multiple groups, he continues, “All of us really are so very grateful to everyone for their support -- not only for us, but also for the beneficiaries involved.” HumSS Chair Gap Estrella of 12-Kibe mentions that while he is proud of the event, it did not meet his expectations as its potential was not maximized. He explains, “Due to circumstance, however, our event was lined up with several other events from the MCAD, which greatly affected the audience we were expecting to receive… As for the planning phase, I think we got ahead of ourselves and didn’t stick to the time table, making a lot of things crammed.”
LOVE IN ALL FORMS
by Kristina Jao
Love is the only universal concept that stands with no absolute definition. Love for one may mean the polar opposite of the other. Still, the countless variations of its meaning neither hinders people from feeling it nor trying to understand it. For most, romantic love comes into mind, that shout in the void, that jump into the unknown, that first step into the war. But there is more than the love that demands and manifests itself in an extravagant and quintessential gesture. Let this be a reminder that love comes in more ways than one. It comes in all forms and in all ways – from and for the people of the ASHS community. ON LOVE FOR FAMILY “Love for family is one of the constant things in the world for me. My husband and daughter are my rock. They keep me grounded, and they remind me every day of God’s love for me. I show this love by supporting my husband, and listening to my daughter. Listening to her is very important for me because even at a young age, I want her to feel that she can rely on me.” - Mrs. Inez Crisostomo Mother, Moderator ON LOVE FOR LEARNING “First, I love the people and the community that I am able to learn with. And, I love just being able to get to know more things and to be able to be more disciplined in everything I do. [On showing it] I love to help others in their learning process, as well. If they’re having a hard time, if I see something in them that is lacking in that learning process, or they just don’t understand the lesson, I always try my best to be able to help them out. And I just want them to be able to feel as comfortable as possible, as happy as possible. Because we all know that school is really, really hard,
I just want to make learning as easy of an experience for everyone.” - Miguel Simpao STEM 11-Tsuji
compose the significant ones - like candids, portraits or groupies during moments that mean a lot to people - is how I sincerely show and share my love for photography.” - Marcus Garcia Hi-Lites Photojournalist
ON LOVE FOR SPORTS “To me, baseball is my whole life. I grew up playing the sport and I enjoyed it. Aside from showcasing my talent on the field, I was able to create everlasting relationships with good people. Looking back now, I see how much baseball did for me to grow as a player and as a person and I wouldn’t take that back for anything. Give your best each game. Even when people tell you to give up, even if people doubt that you can win, you keep playing to the best of your abilities. Show some emotion, show them how much you care for your sport as an athlete. Me as a player, I’d give everything to this sport. Even if I got injured one day, I’d sacrifice my body just to play this sport. And for the people who watch and support me, the best I can do is to give them a game that they can enjoy.”
ON LOVE FOR SELF “Kasi for self-love, ako lang talaga nakakaalam sa sarili ko, the truest form of myself. I love myself for exactly who I am – and that’s what makes it different. Others may have a different image of you in their minds that they made up and that’s what they love but if you love yourself, you know what’s your truth and you love everything about it. If I know to myself that I’m okay with myself then I don’t have to mind what other people have to say because they don’t know me and I know myself. If you know who you are, you see through who you are, and you don’t conform to what they say, it will be easy to love yourself because you are not trying to be somebody you are not.”
- Marcel Guzman SS/CF, Ateneo Juniors Baseball Team
- Danielle Halili Writer, Pugad
ON LOVE FOR PASSION “What makes me love photography is just how spontaneous it is, which for me, makes photography so exciting. I can grow tired of learning all the rules, histories and technicalities, like how to use a camera, but I will never grow tired of seeking the perfect shot. Every photo I take, whether good or bad, will never be the same -- and has a life breathed into it that I know I can’t find anywhere else. Showing and sharing is easy, because you can quite literally do that with photos, like posting on Instagram or Facebook. The hard part is doing it with photos that truly matter to people. There are many, many kinds of photos, but taking the effort to learn how to shoot and
ON LOVE FOR OTHERS “It’s a natural thing for me. I think it’s deliberate, intentional for me. I come to a point when it’s really intentional and deliberate on my part. During the day, I really go out of my way to show love. It’s at the core of my being. Kasi kailangan sa isang buong araw, it’s clear to me, na may nagawa akong mabuti para makapagpasaya and mapakita ko ang pagmamahal ko. It’s easier for me now, since I’m in this setting. I’m surrounded by people, especially by students. It’s easier for me and natural for me to do that. So, it does not take a lot of effort for me. Cause at the end of the day, usually midday or end of the day when I do my examen in school, I just recall the things I
did that made other people happy, not just my happiness. It’s not anymore about my happiness. It’s precisely why I presented myself to you this morning. I intentionally wake up in the morning so that I can be here in the morning, just to see the students. Give them a smile and greet them ‘good morning’. Because I can just stay in the office, I can just do a lot of paperwork. But for me, coming here and staying here in the morning, is a simple sign that your administrator truly cares for you.” - Ma. Victoria Panlilio-Dimalanta Principal, Ateneo de Manila SHS ON LOVE FOR GOD “What makes my love for God different from all other love is my undying trust in Him. What makes it different from all my relationships with other people is the fact that I know He will always be there for me, to catch me when I fall, especially at time where I feel like no one I know will save me. The faith that I’ve grown to appreciate and love in Him is something that has formed me as a person and I’m still learning a lot from him. In short, I trust His plan for me and I’ve grown to appreciate even the pain I’ve experienced in life. I show it by simply practicing the faith, from small things like praying and reflecting to showing my gratitude in singing and performing. I use my talents to bring people closer to Him, and hopefully, prayerfully feel His presence through our songs and productions. Lastly, I show my love for Him in loving others. The generosity I give to people is practicing the capacity of love God has given me.” - Karl Paredes Sibolista
Senioritis:
The High School Student’s Most Dangerous Disease by Kimi Pantanosas by Kimi Pantanosas It’s almost summer, and you may be excited because this means getting a break from the rigors of school life. However, a few days into summer, and you find yourself alone in your room with absolutely nothing to do. You’re bored, and truth be told, your summer is on the brink of going downright miserable. That’s why, if you want to make sure it’s a memorable summer, it’s important to keep yourself busy. Study It sounds like a joke, but in many ways it can actually be very practical. Preparing for the incoming school year can prove to be beneficial in the long run, especially if you’re doing it with close friends, For those taking their CETs in the incoming school year, going to review centers or studying with friends over the break is actually a good way to prepare, whilst also bonding with friends and perhaps gaining new ones. After all, it’s always important to keep those brain cells active when school is out. Learn a New Hobby For many people, the break is a time to do things they’re interested in but haven’t been given the chance to explore yet. Maybe it’s time to get on the field and play that sport that you wanted to try out but never got the chance to. Perhaps it’s time for you to pick up that instrument that you thought sounded beautiful, and actu-
ally get to be the one playing beautiful for it. Even something as simple as learning how to cook can be a good way to spend summer, and you might even end up becoming great at it. Travel By travelling, I don’t exclusively mean going out of the town or out of the country to visit places miles away. Sometimes, travelling can refer to going to that one restaurant near your place that you never got to try out. Maybe it can mean travelling to a friend’s place that you haven’t seen in a long time. It can even mean visiting a beautiful site and just simply taking in the scenery. It’s good to visit places you’ve never been to, no matter how near or far the are. Go Out of Your Comfort Zone Perhaps the most meaningful thing you can do is to go out of your comfort zone. This means doing something that you’ve found to scary to do before. Whether it means going on that one ride in the amusement park that you’ve always been scared of, or perhaps asking someone that you’ve admired out for a quick eat, summer has always been about being a bit courageous. After all, it’s moments like these that really make the summer break worth it.
The empty chairs inside the classroom increase each day; students enter and leave the classroom lethargic and stressed; your classmates’ performances deplete throughout the school year. It’s senior year and it looks like there’s a Senioritis outbreak. Senioritis generally refers to a mindset that many students attain after College Entrance Exams (CETs) and once senior year progresses. Laziness, lack of motivation to do school work, absences are a few of its most common symptoms. It can be common as a cold but the consequences can be severe. So what’s the cure for this dangerous disease? Understanding Senioritis Senioritis can come from laziness. After a certain point in a school year, many students start to feel too safe with their standing and grades (especially once they have colleges!), and because of this start to take their schooling less seriously. While this is understandable, at the end of the day it is still a reckless mindset. This goes against one of Ateneo’s Ignatian values, magis, and ultimately could backfire on us. Senioritis can come from burnout. With the hustle and bustle of our school lives, it’s easy to get burnt out and unmotivated. Couple this with the pressure of life after high school, as well as many other factors such as our personal life and extra-curriculars, students tend to feel too tired to go
to school. However, we must understand that this is a reflection of poor self-management. It is imperative that, among all these requirements, we still find a way to take care of ourselves. Avoiding Senioritis Work hard. While stereotypical, we shouldn’t give up our academics just because we don’t feel like accomplishing it. It’s important to learn to persevere, and be strong throughout whatever challenges our final year has in store. Manage your time. There will always be opportunities for us to take a breather, but we shouldn’t sacrifice our productivity for it. Always learn to manage your time properly so that you won’t have to succumb to simply bailing on classes constantly. Have fun. Learn to see the fun side in school. Even if there are parts we don’t like, look at all the good things your senior year has to offer. A deeper appreciation of your last year in high school could lead to a healthier mindset and work ethic. At the end of the day, Senioritis should be something we try to avoid at all costs. A culture of Senioritis in our school will do nothing but hurt everyone involved. Instead, we should work together to make sure that everyone stays motivated until the end of the year. That is the real way we can make the most of our senior year.
Love that Inspires PHOTO | Stella Arenas by Kristina Jao and Andrea Medina
The month of love marked the celebration of the Media and Creative Arts District (MCAD) - a nod to the love one finds in their passion, a toast for the muses. However, truly elevating the value of the muses through the commemoration was not an easy task. Zachary Empemano, MCAD Project Head, shares his take on what it really meant to celebrate the love that inspires.
How was it like to spearhead the preparations of the celebration? It was honestly very trying. Coordinating with five different orgs, with a limited number of org sessions was no easy feat. I'm just so glad that I had the core team and the different subcommittees because they are the the people who made For The Muses possible. Despite the stress, despite the sleepless nights, the week itself actually gave me so much joy. When
I saw the MCAD booth for the first time, I still remember how happy it made me feel. Every time I visit the different mini events/booths, I'm welcomed with so much life. I guess it's because the people that organized them and manned them are what reminded me of why I wanted to head the project in the first place. They reminded me how much I love art. They reminded me how much joy it brings me. They reminded me to smile. They are my inspiration. They are my muses.
What makes MCAD different from other districts? First of all, the Media and Creative Arts District is made up of artists; artists who continue and strive to hone their crafts, continually practice their skills, and utilize their creativity through every day and every session that passes by. Second, MCAD is the only district in the CSO
that doesn't have a district head which makes communication between the orgs and between the district and the CSO a bit more difficult. But through all this, we managed, we strived, and we pushed through because well, that's what families do.
What was new in this year’s MCAD week celebration? In MCAD week, we got to celebrate not only the different orgs within the district, but we also cultivated a culture of love and appreciation within the campus. Through our MCAD merch, flower or messenger services, we managed to make ASHS's Valentine’s week a bit more special and meaningful. MCAD week also organized a regular talk show during recess and facilitated the first ever Art Battle to happen in the ASHS. These, along with our exhibits and other attractions, further showcased how creative and inspiring the students of the Ateneo are.
Celebrating Pride WITH LAKAMBINI
Why "For the Muses"? Inspiration is one of the greatest things an artist could have. It gives the artist the motivation to move, create, and try again. Inspiration gives life in work. It gives life to art. We decided to entitle this week For The Muses because we offered the week up to our sources of light and our sources of inspiration. We offer the week up to the reasons why we wake up in the morning, the people who we love and cherish with all our heart. Through this week, we show our appreciation to our muses, whether in giving out flowers, selling stickers, or exhibiting our work and talent. We give value to our sources of light because by doing this, we hope to shed light to others as well. Though the celebration may be over, the same love we show through the things one does and creates will never wither. Such is the same of the MCAD festival, its essence will remain. The love that inspires will live on.
READY
By Katrina Moñozca
to be found by Kristina Jao
If the official soundtrack made you cry, wait ‘til you hear it live. The Broadway Theatre Troupe of the Ateneo (BTTA) brings to the senior high a showcase of its Community Workshop Production, themed and inspired by the original material of the Tony Award Winning musical, Dear Evan Hansen. DEH tells the story of a young man with social anxiety disorder who stumbles and falls in pursuit of changing his life. Here are five things you need to know about BTTA’s upcoming production:
Ateneo Senior High School offers many organizations and projects for students to participate in, specializing in nearly every field: sports, environment, mental health, and math and science ones just to name a few. However, Ateneo also takes pride in its committees with social advocacies, also known as Sandigan Committees, one of which being Lakambini. Lakambini is a Sandigan committee that advocates gender equality and sensitivity, which was created last school year by Aleiana Duque. Its objectives have always been clear since its beginning: awareness and action toward current issues affecting equal rights for men and women and the LGBTQ+ community and their rights. Since the start of the school year, Lakambini has turned its goals into action. It first kicked off with a Pride Month Panel Board set up in the ASHS foyer. It then released, “Lakambini Tindig Tinig,” an album posted online during Buwan ng Wika that aimed to provide more exposure for artists and their songs to advocate gender equality. Moreover, the committee remained up-to-date with the news through a released statement on President Duterte’s rape comments posted online.
As the school year progressed, Lakambini’s projects engaged with the ASHS community through its interactive projects. An example of this is the launch of Quaerere, a panel board that allowed students to raise frequently asked questions related to gender equality and sensitivity, like response to sexist remarks and clarifications on certain LGBTQ terms. Not to mention, Lakambini also included socio-political and gender equality symbols in its merchandise sold during Fair and Valentine’s week. Lakambini is not confined to the senior high school building. It participated in an outreach activity in Tahanan Sta. Luisa, a crisis intervention and recovery center for victims of sexual harassment and abuse in need of rehabilitation by gathering donations for the beneficiary and preparing a program that enabled interaction with the victims. Despite being established merely a year ago, Lakambini has already made a great impact inside and outside the school. In a community where gender stereotypes and inequality persists, Lakambini is the cure that it needs. A year full of projects and progress, we have yet to imagine what great things are in store for this Sandigan Committee.
1.
It’s BTTA’s first-ever workshop production.
The production is a two-part workshop that will feature fully realized scenes coming from Dear Evan Hansen’s original material. This is to become an annual project to establish BTTA as the ASHS’ premier community theatre and home to invest in the growth of the community’s performing arts scene and appreciation
2.BTTA has been preparing for it since October.
What started out as a simple concept from the BTTA core turned into the seed that bore fruit to the Dear Evan Hansen Workshop Production. The final cast was introduced for the first time during the Performing Arts District (PAD) Week as they performed a rendition of one of the Dear Evan Hansen’s most iconic songs, “You Will Be Found.”
3.The workshop production opened its doors to the entire ASHS community.
Yes, both cast and crew include people from the ASHS community that are not official members of BTTA. The Workshop Production offered the SHS community members opportunities to learn the ropes of musicals and hone their skills, as long as they had the love for theatre and production. 4.It touches on relevant issues, specifically mental health. The story revolves around teens who struggle with depression and anxiety – moving the topic of mental health awareness closer to the youth. Moreover, the workshop production moves towards promoting the art of musical theatre while contributing to discourse of pertinent and relatable issues to students of the immediate ASHS community.
5.YOU CAN WATCH IT FOR FREE!
BTTA and the rest of team behind the workshop production will be presenting the BTTA Workshop Production Showcase before the year ends. And yes, entrance is free. GRAPHIC | BTTA
h
6
Lower MACR: Analyzing Its Effects on Filipino Children by Carey Baisas
Children as young as 12 years old who commit serious crimes will soon be mandated by law to be detained in rehabilitation facilities, after the House of Representatives’ swift approval of the HB 8858, which aims to bring down the minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR) from 15 years old to 12 years old. According to the bill, children 12 years old and above can be prosecuted in court for the following crimes: murder, kidnapping, parricide (killing of a parent or near relative), infanticide (killing a child less than a year old), serious illegal detention where the victim is killed or raped, or violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. The Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act (JJWA) of 2006, a law that creates a separate justice system for children in the Philippines, previously set the MACR at 15 years old. However, several bills to lower the MACR have been filed in the 17th Congress since September 2016.
CICL in the Philippines
Section 4 of the JJWA or RA 9344 defines ‘child in conflict with the law’ as “a child who is alleged as, accused of, or adjudged as, having committed an offense under Philippines laws.” According to the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council (JJWC), during the first quarter of 2016, a total of 1,297 CICL were served by City and Municipal Social Welfare and Development Offices in 15 regions. Moreover, according to the Council for the Welfare of Children, some qualities that are common among CICL are: male and between 14 and 17 years old, has low educational attainment and has stopped schooling, and is charged with property-related crimes such as theft of cellphones, clothes and shoes, wallets, bags, jewelry, and accessories.
Criminal Behavior due to Social Context Discussions on whether this bill should also be passed by the Senate often take into account the circumstances that lead to children committing these illegal acts. A thesis conducted by Renée van Abswoude
Gunslinger
Up High, Down Low Let’s face it: Ateneans reek of privilege. It’s a stereotype glued to our image. It’s a mentality normalized in everyday Ateneo. Everybody acknowledges it, from the students, to the teachers, administrators, staff, parents, and even people outside. Even the symbolism of the Hill we are perched on reflects the idea that
and Mariska van Assen in Utrecht University looked at the criminal and violent behavior patterns of CICL as a product of their social context. According to them, the factors that likely contribute to children being involved in criminal acts are the Philippines’ crime environment, lack of accessible and proper education, lack of job opportunities, and a lack of parental guidance and care. They further added that when children lack parental guidance and care, the lack of positive role models often translate into learning the use of violence or drugs. In some instances, juvenile delinquency in the form of gang participation is seen as partial replacement structures for institutions that do not work, such as the family. In these situations, the lack of resources and institutional support forces children into committing crimes made out of necessity.
Provisions of HB 8858
Despite having been increased to 12 years old from the initially proposed nine years old, HB 8858 still intends to send children who commit a serious crime to Intensive Juvenile Intervention Support Centers called Bahay Pag-asa. These intervention centers aim to rehabilitate and reintegrate CICL into society through reforming their behavior by addressing important factors such as education, family and community, peers, religion, psychological training, liberty and drug issues. On another note, if the CICL that committed the offense are below 12 years old, they would be returned to the custody of their parents or guardians. However, since they are not exempted from criminal liability, they must undergo a community-based intervention program conducted by a local social welfare officer. After the initial intervention program of the CICL, they will be assessed by a social welfare worker to see if the program is working. This assessment includes identifying physical and mental issues, substance abuse, and family issues of the CICL. In cases when CICL reach 18 years old and still do not reform, they will be sent to agricultural camps or training centers supervised by the DSWD, the Bureau of Corrections, we are high above. Is privilege necessarily bad? Not really. We can’t help it, after all. We’re born into it. It’s nothing but a fact that we are privilege. So what exactly is the problem, then? Down from the Hill, a 1968 manifesto published in The GUIDON, explains what we lack as Ateneans. The manifesto dwells on how the Ateneo has not fulfilled its moral and spiritual obligations as an institution of service to the oppressed masses; it does the opposite by catering to the oppressors, to the ruling elite. Doesn’t this sound familiar? How can a piece written over 50 years ago still ring true? Here’s an excerpt that serves as a painful truth for us all: The Ateneo does not project the true image of the
and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. They will be set free, even if their sentence was not completed, once they reach 25 years old. Also, because CICL are minors, their parents or guardians would be held “primarily” liable for the civil damages that their children incurred. In addition, the parents or guardians must also undergo a mandatory intervention program. Failure to attend due to invalid reasons would merit 30 days up to six months of imprisonment. Furthermore, HB 8858 mandates that the penalty for CICL would always be two degrees lower compared to when an adult has committed the crime. However, if the punishment is equal to life imprisonment, they can only face up to a maximum of 12 years in prison.
Lack of Funding
Tomás, the official of the Olongapo City City Social Welfare and Development Office, said that city youth centers across the country are not able to perform their functions due to setbacks and obstacles in the Philippines’ current socio-economic and political context. One particular issue that was identified by Tomás are financial constraints. “You need four million pesos first. To put up a building that is maybe functional. And the facilities. The people, the building, like social workers, psychologist, house parents, doctors. Four million pesos,” he explained. Because funding cannot cover the salaries of enough staff to successfully run the youth center, untrained social workers feel obliged to step in. In addition, the absence of funding for already established rehabilitation centers has resulted in some CICL living in poor conditions. As a result, there are cases where children are placed in jail cells with adults or kept in the police station. The child is therefore unable to grow up in a healthy environment where they can learn to be a productive member of society.
Strong Resistance
The proposal to lower the age of criminal liability to 12 years old was met with strong resistance from oppo-
Filipino people. Efforts by numerous student groups, committees and organizations, alongside programs included in the Ateneo Senior High curriculum, attempt to urge Ateneans to stay aware and care about things happening inside and beyond the campus. To an extent, these are effective. We do get to learn about several pressing matters inside our classrooms, in Room 118 and the Blackbox Theater, in our TD and CSIP visits, and over the PA speaker. We’re asked to write speeches and sulatins using a lens aligned with being persons-for-others. How often, though, do we act on what we learn? All these efforts are in vain if we do not get rid of the mentality embedded in our minds. Are we
sition lawmakers and other children’s rights groups. In fact, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has called this an “act of violence against children.” Despite Oriental Mindoro Rep. Doy Leachon claiming that “recent news and reports show an alarming increase in the number of syndicates using minors to perpetrate criminal acts,” data from the Philippine National Police shows that from 2006-2012, only two percent of the total crimes were committed by children. Many have also argued that if crime syndicates use children in their illegal activities, the children should not be seen as criminals but as victims of exploitation and abuse. “They should be rescued, not criminalized. Syndicates that victimize children should be the ones arrested and penalized. Lowering the MACR to 9 years old will not stop syndicates from using children in their operations. It might further encourage them to victimize even younger children,” explained the John J. Carroll Institute on Church and Social Issues. Furthermore, the Psychological Association of the Philippines added that “Children and adolescents are vulnerable to coercion. As minors, young people lack the freedom that adults have to assert their own decisions and extricate themselves from criminal situations.” Studies show that the minds of young children are not developed enough to fully discern between right and wrong and to comprehend the consequences of their actions. The prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for making decisions, is not fully developed until the age of 25. While the intention of HB 8858 to decrease crime rate in the country is desirable, there are more restorative ways in handling cases of children who offend without criminalizing them. These include providing children with intervention, rehabilitative services, and mentoring from positive role models. Criminalizing children would only express discrimination against them and lower their chances to have a better future.
working on on our TD and CSIP requirements out of sheer concern for our tutees and communities or merely for our grades? Do we host and attend talks to genuinely learn and spread awareness or do we do it to pad our CVs and brag about it online? It’s easy for us not to care about things that don’t directly affect us. It’s easy to remain apathetic because we have the privilege to stay in this bubble. That’s the challenge, though: to use the hill to see the bigger picture and serve more people. Some things just have to be said, and I’m glad I got to say them. This is Liana Apostol, your gunslinger for this school year, closing her last Google Docs tab (for now)
h
7
A n a n o m a l o u s a r r e s t: a c l o s e r l o o k i n t o t h e i l l e g a l i t i e s a n d i r r e g u l a r i t i e s o f M a r i a R e s s a’ s cy b e r l i b e l c a s e By Jana Maxine Tan
Rappler CEO Maria Ressa was detained on February 13, 2019 due to a cyber libel complaint filed by businessman Wilfredo Keng. The libel complaint was based on a report written by former Rappler columnist Reynaldo Santos Jr. regarding Keng’s ties to the late chief justice Renato Corona. Keng expressed his dismay against the segment of the article that mentioned his proven and alleged illegal activities, which include involvement in smuggling, murder, and human trafficking. “The article was published by Rappler, without observing the ethical
standards of journalism. It contained malicious imputations of crimes, with bad intentions, purposely to malign, dishonor and discredit my character and good reputation,” Keng mentioned, even if Santos’ article included personal statements from him. Reputable persons such as UN Rights Office chief Michelle Bachelet and various Princeton University alumni also expressed concern over the cyber libel case, branding the issue as a deliberate intimidation attack on press freedom. Maria Ressa herself has also voiced out on the unusual procedures of her arrest.
Case irregularities The subject article was published on Rappler’s website on May 29, 2012, four months before the Republic Act No. 10175 or Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 was signed and five years prior to Keng’s complaint. Because criminal Maria Ressa being interviewed after being arlaws are not retroactive, raigned - Photo by Martin San Diego/ Rappler Keng’s complaint argued that the Rappler report was
UP CLOSE: A photo of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa - Photo by ABS-CBN News
a current matter because it subjected the libel to continuous and online public viewing. Still, the Revised Penal Code (RPC) states that libel cases can only be enforced within a one year period. Aside from this, the complaint was addressed against Maria Ressa as CEO and Editor in Chief (of Rappler), Reynaldo Santos Jr. as the article author, and Benjamin Bitanga as Chairman, Owner, and/or Publisher of Rappler. Bitanga is neither of the mentioned positions. Instead, he is a shareholder of Rappler’s parent company. Sources cite that the complainant’s lawyers may have incorrectly or deliberately dubbed Bitanga as the Chairman, Owner, and/ or Publisher of Rappler. Arrest irregularities In a television program, Ressa expressed her concern over the time of her arrest. “The officers had 10 days to serve it. They didn’t have to serve it after court was closed yesterday. They did not have to detain me, in fact that’s an infraction of my rights. This case that is ludicrous to begin with, is actually a case where I have
the right to bail. It’s not debatable,” she said. Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo, who also guested in the show, claimed that Ressa was simply asking for special treatment from other arrested persons, since arrest warrants must be executed immediately. In another media program, Ressa voiced the unconventional experience of her arrest. “The big picture is I posted bail six times in two months and that is not regular,” Ressa declared. She argued that the warrant was ambiguous because it did not include her information sheet and monetary amount for bail. To counter, Panelo reiterated that Ressa only wanted special treatment. He also dismissed her statement on the peculiarity of her bail. “If you were charged six times, then you will post bail six times,” he said. Panelo also denied the Malacañang’s involvement in the case and mentioned that the cyber libel case was not an issue on press freedom because it was filed by a private complainant, not the Malacañang or the government as a collective whole.
P a t r i o t i c Y o u t h or C h i l d S o l d i e r s ? ?
By Shan Porras
The Past The Reserved Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) is a program that trains and prepares college students for military service. It was previously a mandatory program for all college students as of the National Service Training Program, but on Jan. 23, 2002, Republic Act 9163 or the National Service Training Program Act of 2001 was signed into allowing college students to choose between ROTC, Literacy Training Service, and Civil Welfare Training Service as part of their required National Service Training Program. ROTC was made optional because of numerous cases of corruption, assault, power-tripping, and even murder. According to a Philstar Global article, one Twitter user said that students would pay their officers so that they would not need to attend training. Furthermore, A UST cadet Mark Chua was found dead after exposing the corruption in the ROTC program. Mark Chua, along with fellow cadet Romulo Yumul, made public the corruption in the university’s ROTC program. Chua’s body was found floating in the Pasig River, wrapped in a carpet, hands tied, and face covered with masking tape, nearly a month later. House Bill 8961 The re-implementation of mandatory ROTC for senior high school was encouraged by President Rodrigo Duterte even during his time as a presidential candidate, saying that it would augment Philippine forces to repel Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea. The president again voiced his determination to make ROTC compulsory on November 22, 2018 during the anniversary of the Army Reserve Command in Cavite. “I likewise encourage Congress to enact a law that will require mandato-
ry ROTC for Grades 11 and 12 so we can instill patriotism, love of country among our youth,” Duterte said. It appears there are many in agreement with the incumbent president, as House Bill 8691, the bill mandating ROTC for grades 11 and 12, is not far from its implementation. According to an article from Rappler, the bill will most likely be passed in May later this year when the senate sessions reopen. According to the bill, ROTC will be mandatory for all grade 11 and 12 students in all senior high schools in public and private educational institutions. This would also entail that training will be required from both males and females. Under HB 8961, ROTC’s program of instruction would be composed of three main goals: namely, to enhance the student’s discipline, leadership, respect, creativity, values and nationalism, to provide students with basic military training for national defense preparedness or civil-military operations, and to educate students about human and civil rights, law enforcement, disaster risk reduction and management, and the development and improvement of health, education, and other important sectors in the nation. Support and Resistance Many politicians and groups are not in agreement with the re-implementation of ROTC. Makabayan bloc lawmakers slammed the development, saying mandatory ROTC has a “long history and culture of abuse, corruption, and impunity.” Furthermore, Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago stated how the President and congress is not doing anything to rectify or fix the problems caused by the K to 12 program, but instead forcing students to undergo ROTC which is a “hotbed of abuses.” The Gabriela Women’s Par-
ty also condemned the hurried voting of the bill. In a statement given to ABS-CBN News, “We were ready to inquire if there was indeed any investi- ROTC Cadets training in the mud as part of their gation conducted over the slew usual exercises - Photo by ROTC Facebook of rape and sexual harassment randum of agreement with the DND cases perpetrated by ROTC offor the implementation of mandatoficers, and if anyone has been held ry ROTC. He also said that they have accountable for the abuses against already identified the modules to be young women,” it said. “Unfortunateused and the initial list of schools for ly, the House leadership wanted the implementation. In a statement to the dirt to be swept under the rug with Rappler, Umali said, “We interpose the hasty approval of the measure on no objection. We are okay with the second reading.” concept of allowing our senior high The re-implementation of ROTC is school students going through some still in hot debate as Congress has yet form of ROTC program, where love of to resume session and it has not been country and good citizenship will be finalized, but a few key issues arise the primordial objectives, instilling it with its implementation as many sein the minds of our students, even if nior high school students are still there is a military component trainunder the age of 18 and ineligible for ing.” officership in the reserve force. FurBut he also stated that the DepEd thermore, mandatory ROTC would would only support the program as violate the Philippines’ declaration of long there were no provision requirthe Optional Protocol to the Convening students less than 18 years old tion of the Rights of the Child on the to be part of the reserve forces of the involvement of children in armed conmilitary. As for the DND, its chief flict, which forbids the forced training for legal affairs Norman Daanoy said of children for armed conflict. bringing back ROTC will not lead to However, the Department of Nathe training of young soldiers. tional Defense (DND) and the DeThe return of mandatory ROTC has partment of Education (DepEd) are created waves in the political landboth supportive of the implementascape of the nation with parties being tion of ROTC, as the DND has been divided on whether it should really in continuously communication with be implemented. Numerous political DepEd as they are undertaking the parties have stated that the implenecessary preparation and initiatives, mentation of the program might possuch as constant engagement with sibly be against children rights and the Department of Education, Comunethical, however the lack of nationmission on Higher Education, and alism that plagues the youth is also a Technical Education and Skills Develgrowing concern in the country today. opment Authority, including the upTherefore, the government needs to dating of relevant data, and preparing be careful about its next action, and the training staff. if mandatory ROTC pushes through, Furthermore, Education Undersecthey must be careful in the way it is retary Tonisito Umali stated that the implemented. DepEd has already drafted a memo-
EDITORIAL
HOLD THE LINE FOR PRESS FREEDOM
HI-LITES editorial board Editor-in-Chief Liana Apostol Associate Editor Tricia Alcantara Managing Editor Dominic Aumentado News Editors Angelo Naorbe Nicole Tong Feature Editor Camyl Fernandez Probe Editor Jana Maxine Tan
Editorial Cartoon by Lilac Fameronag
Last Feb 13, Rappler CEO Maria Ressa was arrested at the news outlet’s headquarters in Pasig. The arrest happened shortly after 5 o’clock in the afternoon, making it impossible for Ressa to post bail within the day. The arrest was made on the grounds of cyber libel, specifically the 2012 article by Reynaldo Santos, Jr. that mentioned businessman Wilfredo Keng and his alleged criminal record. Shortly after this story broke, The Philippine Star deleted a 2002 article on Keng after the latter “raised the possibility of legal action”. Keng filed the complaint in 2017. Though the NBI originally junked the complaint due to its lapsed prescription and its lack of basis, they revived the case in March 2018, recommending the prosecution of Rappler to the DOJ. Facets, Hi-Lites, La Stampa Tomasino, The Animo, and The Magnificat believe that the arrest of Maria Ressa is a blatant attack on fierce and fearless
journalism, an attempt by the The administrational degovernment to take down one of fense of Duterte’s presidency has its harshest watch dogs. a pattern of conducting outwardly superficial manhunts against Their attacks against Res- its vigorous critics, which estabsa are personal and have no le- lishes a ripple effect to the sociegal basis. It is important to note ty. Rappler’s turbulent history with the current governing body of The silencing of journalthe Philippines. Ressa and her ists and other workers in the team have been openly critical of media poses a significant threat Duterte’s administration. In re- to the Philippine’s democracy as turn, Duterte has also conveyed a whole. When the guardians of his disdain towards the news truth are jailed solely for fulfilloutlet on several occasions, even ing their duties, it does not bode calling it “fake”. well for the state of the nation. Furthermore, the article in question was published on the website four months before the enactment of the Cybercrime Prevention Act or RA 10175. We believe the article should not even be considered for a case under this law due to this fact. The DOJ argued that the law was still in effect due to the article being re-published in 2014, but the article was only re-edited, and the edits made were technical in nature, specifically in punctuation and capitalization. Therefore, the viability of the case as a whole is questioned.
Ressa shall stand the test of justice within the boundaries of law regarding her own case. We will continue to hold the line and fight for press freedom. If the government continues this blatant war with its own people who strive to tell the truth, then we have a condemnatory humanitarian problem to fight before things get worse. True press freedom exists when we are able to speak truth to power.
If we don’t fight for it, who will? If not now, when?
Art and Layout Editor Theresa Largo Sports Editor Vito Martin Broadcast Editor Lilac Fameronag Chief Photojournalist Clarisse Cabinta Social Media Editor Shawnn Nadurata Contributors Bea Alejandro, Stella Arenas, Carey Baisas, CJ Caruncho, Maxine Cuartero, Jasper Fausto, Rebecca Filasol, CJ Forlales, Lanz Galvan, Marcus Garcia, Sabina Guerrero, Thristan Ison, Tina Jao, Justin Jimenez, Lexi Lagamon, Gwen Latoza, Nat Mariano, Andrea Medina, Celestino Mendoza, Katrina Moñozca, Kimi Pantasonas, Ferdynan Perez, Shan Porras, Sophia Sibal, Voltaire Sto. Domingo, Jana Tan, Shawn Tongson, Jacob Ugsimar
Moderators Ms. Caroline Laforteza Mr. Enzo Pisig
h