The Manila Collegian Volume 33, Issue No. 4 by The Manila Collegian

State-sponsored attacks, red-tagging endanger Filipino workers NEWS | 03

Devil of All Earth THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES - MANILA VOLUME 33 ISSUE NO. 4 | APRIL ISSUE | MAY 3, 2021

CULTURE | 06

Resolving the Weakness of “Twitter Activism” by “Touching Some Grass” OPINION | 11

EDITORYAL | 02

LAKAS NG MANGGAGAWA

editoryal

VOLUME 33 ISSUE NO. 4 THE MANILA COLLEGIAN

Officer-in-Charge: Tammy B. Habal | Associate Editor for Internals: Christina Michaela D. Cambiado | Associate Editor for Externals: Bianca Ysabelle M. Baldemor | Managing Editor: Pauline Mae F. Magsino | Assistant Managing Editor: Natasha Beatrice D. Carolina | News Editor: Angela Vanessa V. Manuel Features Editor: Shanin Kyle C. Manuel | Culture Editor: Gwyneth C. Cruz | Graphics Editor: Vince Julius V. Balaga News Correspondents: Ma. Rowz Angela F. Fajardo • Sean Gere V. Pascual • Elaine Joyce C. Diaz • Rochel M. Floron IV | Features Correspondents: Irish Jem R. Bantolino • Danna Carissa R. Gonsalves • Marianne Zen Therese O. De Jesus | Culture Correspondents: Sophie Mireille R. Echivarre • Mikaela Marie Santillan | Illustrators: Justine Vince A. de Dios • Abigail Beatrice O. Malabrigo | Layout Artist: Trevor Phoenix Lomotos

Lak as ng Manggagawa NGAYONG TAON AY ang ika-119 anibersaryo ng Araw ng Paggawa sa bansa. Ginugunita ito upang paalalahanan ang ipinaglabang karapatan ng mga manggagawa para sa matiwasay na pakikitungo sa kanila lampas sampung dekada ang nakalipas. Bago pa man ang pandemya, nakararanas na ng iba’t ibang suliranin ang mga manggagawa. Ilan rito ay ang pagkakaroon ng mababang oportunidad upang makapagtrabaho, mababang sahod, kakulangan sa seguridad sa pinapasukan, hindi kaaya-ayang mga kundisyong panggawa, diskriminasyon, at pagmamaltrato ng mga nakatataas. Nang dahil sa mga ito, samu’t saring mga pagkilos ang ikinasa ng mga manggagawang Pilipino upang ipanawagan ang kanilang mga hinaing. Noong 2018, matatandaang nagsagawa ng strike ang mga manggagawa ng Nutri-Asia sa Marilao, Bulacan bilang pagtutol sa kontraktwalisasyon, ilegal na pagkaltas sa sweldo, sapilitang overtime, at

harrassment sa mga miyembro ng unyon. Kahalintulad nito ang isinagawang kilos-protesta ng Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (PISTON) at kaakibat na mga transport groups noong taong 2017 dahil sa planong jeepney phaseout kung saa’y mapupwersang mangutang ang mga tsuper ng panggastos sa e-jeepney na inilunsad noon ng gobyerno. Hindi rin nalalayo rito ang pakikibaka ng mga magsasaka sa kanayunan. Sa kabila ng kanilang mahalagang papel sa seguridad ng pagkain sa bansa, nananatiling kalam ang kanilang sikmura dahil sa mga huwad na reporma sa lupa at malapyudal na pamamalakad ng mga panginoong maylupa sa mga lupang-sakahan. Nakaangkla sa pagsusumikap ng proletaryo ang pang-arawaraw na gawaing pang-ekonomiya ng bansa, ngunit natitiis sila ng gobyerno’t patuloy pa rin ang pagbabalewala sa kanilang mga batayang pangangailangan. Pinalala pa lalo ng pandemya ang kanilang kalagayan bunsod ng malawakang

layoff ng mga employer bilang tugon sa pagbagsak ng ekonomiya. Ang iba nama’y napipilitang lumipat sa online na set-up kahit na mahirap makabili ng mga kagamitan para rito. Bagama’t limitado lamang ang pisikal na trabaho, kailangang makipagsapalaran sa labas ang mga manggagawa upang may pagkuhanan ng panggastos sa pang-araw-araw. Malubhang naapektuhan din ang mga sektor ng kalusugan at edukasyon dahil kulang pa rin ang suportang nakakamit ng mga kawani ng mga nasabing institusyon mula sa estado. Kahit hindi sapat ang mga ibinibigay na benepisyo upang protektahan ang sarili mula sa COVID-19, patuloy pa rin ang trabaho ng mga healthcare workers at frontliners. Imbis na ibsan ang kanilang pagod, mababang sahod at delayed na hazard pays ang kapalit ng kanilang mga pagsisikap; manipestasyon ito ng militaristikong atake ng administrasyong Duterte sa isang pangkalusugang krisis. Noong 2020, nagprotesta ang All UP Worker’s Union upang

pabilisin ang pamimigay ng P500 daily hazard pay o ang special risk allowance para sa mga empleyado ng Philippine General Hospital (PGH). Katulad din ng mga healthcare workers ang kaguruan dahil salat din sila sa suportang dapat ay natatanggap mula sa Kagawaran ng Edukasyon (DepEd). Nang dahil sa mga samu’t saring problemang dapat sana’y inasahan na ng pamahalaan tulad ng mabagal na internet connection, naapektuhan din ang moda at kalidad ng edukasyon. Maraming mga estudyante ang tumigil sa pag-aaral, habang ang karamihan naman ay napipilitan na lamang tapusin ang mga aralin sa kabila ng krisis sa kasalukuyan. Sa kabuuan, iniisip na lamang ng karamihan sa mga manggagawa’y ang pagtitiis sa kanilang sitwasyon. Nasasabi na lama’y “Wala nang magagawa, wala namang may gusto noon,” at patuloy na lamang iniaahon ang sarili upang mabuhay. napipilitan na lamang sila sa kung anuman ang ibigay sa kanila. Sa katunayan ay napilitan na rin ang ilan na mamalimos sa

kalsada para bilang panlamangtiyan lamang. Matagal nang namimihasa ang gobyerno sa ganitong bulok na sistema sa kabila ng mga mababango nitong pangako, at patuloy pa rin ang paggatas nila sa mga manggawa nang walang sapat na kabayaran. Hindi natutumbasan ang pagod na kanilang ibinubuhos. Hindi rin mawawala ang patuloy na harassment at redtagging sa ilang mga kasapi ng mga unyon at pangmasang organisasyon, na ang tanging ipinaglalaban lamang ay ang kanilang mga karapatan bilang manggagawa. Sa bawat taong lumilipas, hindi dapat nalilimutan ang tunay na esensya kung bakit ginugunita ang Araw ng Paggawa. Bagkus, panahon na upang bigyang pansin ang panawagan ng mga taong tunay na pumapasan sa ekonomiya ng bansa. Dinggin ang pagtaas ng PHP 750 daily minimum wage! Ibigay ang hangaring PHP 10,000 ayudang suporta! Uring manggagawa, hukbong mapagpalaya!

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VINCE DE DIOS

Ang pagsusulong ng solusyong medikal ay hindi lamang kinakatawan ng mga manggagawa sa pagamutan. Bitbit din ito ng bawat manggagawang Pilipino sapagkat lahat ng kanilang mga pagsusumikap ay may layuning makapaghanapbuhay, makapagpabuhay, at magbigay ng buhay. Nakaangkla ang kanilang lakas-paggawa sa buhay ng sambayanan, at gayundin ang buhay sa lakas-paggawa. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit hindi kailanman malulutas ng militaristikong pamamaraan ang mga suliraning matagal nang nagpapahirap sa buhay ng sambayanan. At hindi rin kailanman magiging trabaho ang pagiging aparato ng estado. Wala itong pinagkaiba sa isang bayarang kriminal.

@mkule

CARTOON | CHRISTINA MICHAELA CAMBIADO

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VOLUME 33 ISSUE NO. 4 THE MANILA COLLEGIAN

State -sponsored at tack s , red-tagging endanger Filipino work ers By Alexandra Kate Ramirez and Christel Castro THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC left the labor sector vulnerable, affecting at least 10.9 million workers in the country. As different labor unions form to forward the demands and welfare of Filipino workers, heightened state-sponsored attacks, red-tagging, and harassment of workers remain as the sole solution of the government for their concerns. WORKERS DURING PANDEMIC

The COVID-19 pandemic brought a surge of problems in the labor sector of the country. The extensive lockdowns, with little to no monetary support from the government, led the Filipino people to suffer further in this time of crisis. A survey conducted by the Philippine Business Coalition for Women Empowerment and Investing in Women analyzed the impacts of COVID-19 on the work and personal lives of private-sector employees. More than 60% of the participants in the survey reported that their jobs were severely affected by the lockdowns. Due to the implementation of Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) from March to May 2021, workers experienced reduced hours and pay, while some were forced to leave their jobs or take unpaid leaves. Aside from this, the survey reported that 6 out of 10 families lost income as companies and businesses were starting to shut down. Furthermore, a study conducted by the International Labor Organization reported that one-quarter of the total employment population in the Philippines, accounting to 10.9 million workers, are vulnerable to job disruptions because of the pandemic. Jobs of 7.2 million more workers are further disrupted due to the digitalization of their works. Workers from manufacturing, transportation, and food and services were the most affected.

GOV’ TS RED-TAGGING SPREE

Amidst the rabid crackdown on activists and progressive institutions, the Duterte administration did not spare workers who tirelessly clamor for their rights. The government’s security forces have been targeting unions under labor group Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (Sentro). Various workers were invited to police-led seminars—initially said to be about COVID-19 prevention— that blatantly red-tagged Sentro, claiming that the union was a legal front by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA). According to Sentro, photos of union leaders were being flashed in these seminars, which

began in October, and Sentro organizers were being branded as representatives for the CPP-NPA. “The widespread crackdown no longer discriminates. It creates a chilling effect on the workers. Once you are red-tagged, harassment follows,” said Sentro secretary-general Josuhua Mata. Meanwhile, in the state-run Philippine News Agency (PNA), Presidential Communications Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy on April 7 wrote in a column accusing that both the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) and Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) were created by communist rebels to undermine and infiltrate the government, schools, and medical facilities through underground organizations. As if red tagging was not enough, instances of fake NPA surrenderees allegedly from the labor sector also arose. Last January, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) aired doubts over the legitimacy of the alleged surrender ceremony held by the police at Camp Bagong Diwa for supposed 30 members of the NPA. The group assailed police claims that the surrenderees were from the labor sector, adding that these acts impinge on workers’ rights to express concerns on their welfare. “This is a total fraud! How did a worker spending 8 hours and more for almost a full week in production become a NPA?” KMU chairperson Elmer Labog maintained. Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan then blasted the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) and the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) for branding, vilifying, and harassing government employees in the wake of the COVID-19 surge. He added that the intelligence officials might only be attempting to justify their multibillion-peso intelligence funds. “Mayroong four million Chinese nationals na pumasok dito since 2014, tapos yung tinututukan nila yung mga empleyado ng gobyerno? Bakit ganun? Yung maliliit, dinidiin nila. Pero yung dambuhalang nananakop ng Julian Felipe reef, ano na?” Pangilinan said in line with Duterte’s negligence amidst the recent Chinese incursions at the West Philippines Sea.

ART | TREVOR PHOENIX LOMOTOS

REFUTING BASELESS ACCUSATIONS

The ACT subsequently denounced Badoy’s relentless accusations on COVID-19 frontliners while the Philippine government neglects the needs of the public and ‘squanders away people’s money on the likes of Badoy. The group added that attacks on the organization are attacks on its legitimate concerns and causes its advocates—all of which are democratic rights that the Duterte regime not only failed to ensure but also violated. “[Undersecretary] Badoy accused us of ‘destroying the government from within’ without a modicum of proof other than that we’re supposed to be fronts of CPPNPA-NDF. Meanwhile, our public school teachers slave away, risk their health and safety, sacrifice what little they have—all to ensure that millions of youth have access to education,” said ACT in a statement on Sunday, April 11. Also targeted by Badoy, the AHW stated that to be red-tagged by a government official is a ‘shameless insult and an unwelcome statement’ as medical frontliners risk their lives on a daily basis amidst the national health crisis and the government’s botched pandemic response. Consequently, the group on Saturday, April 10, urged the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the Office of the Ombudsman to conduct an investigation on Badoy for violating the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Government Officials and Employees. Furthermore, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on March 24 filed Senate Bill (SB) No. 2121 in the wake of the rising cases of red-tagging under the Duterte regime. As he noted the prevailing culture of impunity, the bill accordingly aims to define and criminalize the act of red-tagging that utterly endanger the lives of dissenters. Any person who would be guilty of red-tagging shall be penalized by imprisonment of up to 10 years and shall suffer the accessory penalty of being perpetually banned to hold public office. “The measure will likewise serve as a reminder to the government of its primary duty under the Constitution ‘to serve and protect the people,” Drilon added.

PROTECTING THE LABOR SECTOR

Union leaders in the country were visited by the police from November 2020 to March 2021. Apart from red-tagging the union leaders, the police also claimed that members of the union were asked to “pay for dues” that will be used to fund the CPP-NPA. In an interview in 2020, Defend Jobs Philippines spokesperson Thadeus Ifurung marked red-tagging and state-sponsored attacks as a desperate move of the current administration. He said that it causes alarm as it sends a dangerous signal in terms of the safety and rights to self-organization and freedom to join and form unions of workers. Furthermore, Ifurung raised the demands of the labor sector, reaffirming that the current militaristic and fascist approach will never be accepted in dealing with dissent. He asserted that there is no room for military and police personnel in civilian and government offices. “Fighting for regularization and for a national minimum wage for government workers and employees were just and legitimate calls and must not be equated to crimes and act of terrorism,” said Ifurung.

“Instead of red-tagging unions in the public sector, the government could have just addressed and resolved these issues once and for all.” The unemployment rate in the Philippines in October 2020 was 8.7%, almost double the rate from October 2019 at 4.6%. With the worsening plight of unemployed workers and the current health crisis, labor groups continue to call for an increase in the daily minimum wage to Php 750.00. Currently, the highest minimum wage is in Metro Manila around Php 500.00 to Php 535.00 daily. Aside from this, in the recent implementation of ECQ in the NCR Plus area, only 80% of the low-income population was covered by monetary aids. Eligible citizens were given only Php 1,000 cash, while families can only receive a maximum of Php 4,000.00. Aside from its slow distribution, Bayan Muna member Thata Alindogan argued that the aid given is not enough to cover the expenses — especially for those displaced from their jobs. Moreover, Alindongan reaffirmed that the government should hear the people’s plea to have P10,000 assistance and not a mere P1,000 aid.

MAGNA EST VERITAS ET PREVAELEBIT

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VOLUME 33 ISSUE NO.. 4 THE MANILA COLLEGIAN

Des pite t hreats , UPM-PGH communit y pant r y cont inues to provide By Ysabel Marie S. Vidor THE INCREASING NUMBER of COVID-19 cases further worsened the sufferings of the Filipinos to make ends meet. After a year, strict lockdowns with no sufficient aid for Filipino families seems to be the only solution the government can propose. With these, the masses chose to work amongst themselves to provide mutual aid by distributing food and other essentials in the form of a community pantry. WHAT PANTRY IS ALL ABOUT

This sense of generosity started when Ana Patricia “Patreng” Non of the Maginhawa Community Pantry took the initiative for the establishment of the community pantry. In hopes of creating a ripple of kindness, numerous communities then collaborated and gathered funds to establish the same pantry in different areas. Bangon Bayan, a non-profit organization, gathered funds to ensure that the pantry reaches Manila. Now, it is located specifically at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) with students from the University of the Philippines - Manila (UPM) as volunteers. Anyone who needs access to basic resources such as food, water, and face masks are encouraged to acquire as many goods as they need. As part of this solidarity action, individuals who are capable of sending help are also encouraged to donate to these community pantries. With the slogan “Magbigay ayon sa kakayahan, kumuha batay sa pangangailangan,” the UPM-PGH community pantry aspires to inculcate the value of generosity to the people. According to the organizer, the establishment of the pantry also serves as a message concerning the negligence of the state to provide sufficient ayuda

for the people. Due to the economic effects of the pandemic, millions of Filipinos lost jobs and are unable to provide for the family. “We must highlight communalism primarily that we cannot get by with the government’s culpable and conscious inaction,”Barbara Donato, UPM-PGH community pantry organizer argued.

ATTACKS FROM STATE FORCES

In the second week of April, policemen gathered information from volunteers and donors regarding the contact number of Non, the organizer of the Maginhawa community pantry. She was also asked about which organization she is affiliated with. On the Quezon City Police Department’s (QCPD) Facebook page, community pantry organizers are being linked with the communist party. The UPM-PGH organizers, however, extremely condemn this act of red tagging by policemen. For them, red tagging is being done because the state views the public’s political dissent as a threat. “Red-tagging has long been existing because this administration is afraid of educated people, more so to the social cooperation of these communities,” Donato expressed. “The state should [also] defund and abolish the NTF-ELCAC, their budget is much needed for the haz-

ONE COMMUNITY, ONE PRIDE

UPM to launch virtual pride event By Miraflor Anacio IN CELEBRATION OF the University of the Philippines - Manila (UPM) Pride Month, various online activities are scheduled for May 5 to 19, including four installations of Rainbow Speaks. The pride month celebration aims to further educate the UPM community on the current situation of gender minorities, especially the LGBTQIA+ community. It also makes inclusive calls for human rights, promote grassroots causes, and unite all UPM organiza-

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tions toward a call of intersectional equality. Joven Jacolbia, Bahagsari Chairperson, said that they wanted to reclaim space and reunite the whole UPM community in call for equality, highlighting the spirit and service of the UPM community which includes the heroes of the Philippine General Hospital, National Institutes of Health, and the School of Health Sciences and other satellite units. “Throughout the UPM Pride, members of the UPM community

PHOTO | HABAGAT FARRALES UP Manila Universit y Student Council and Tulong Kabataan- Metro Manila led the One Taf t Communit y Pantry initiative located at Escoda St. corner Taf t Avenue. People may acquire fresh vegetables, cooked meals, canned goods, biscuits, and other essentials among others in the said pantry. ard pay of our health workers,” she concluded.

SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE

Despite threats of red tagging and the persistence of the government to require permits, the UPMPGH organizers believe that the community pantry should still be

continued as this seems the only defense Filipinos have. “The people from the community help each other to get by with just so much, while the government who has a lot of resources cannot do anything but to police those who do better than them, which just goes to show how they incomptent they are” Donato highlighted.

The UPM-PGH organizers can attest that the pantries are advantageous to Filipinos as it entrenched the culture of “Bayanihan.” They believe that pantries have created a way for those who want to help others but have no idea how. Moreover, the value of social cooperation was proven to be powerful once again.

will be recognized alongside various grassroots organizations and their causes. In the end, we want to emphasize that all minorities are together in the fight for genuine equality,” Jacolbia expressed. Often having limited spaces where they can express themselves, Bahagsari reiterated the need for the strict implementation of the Manila Anti-Discrimination Ordinance and UP Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) Policy in UPM. As fitting as this year’s pride theme, One UPM for Human Rights, the organizers reminded that spaces can not be safe for LGBTQIA+ and their allies if it will remain anti-student, anti-faculty, anti-staff, and ultimately inhumane. Moreover, the organizers reiterated that pride is and has always been a protest.

ILLUSTRATION | CHAMIQUE FRANCISCO

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VOLUME 33 ISSUE NO. 4 THE MANILA COLLEGIAN

ATIN ANG PINAS Multi-sectoral groups echo “US-Tsina layas!” over territorial incursions at West Philippine Sea

In early April, Gavin Reef, one of the seven artificial islands built by China in the West Philippine Sea, was spotted with a nearly-completed four-storey complex . Witnessing the transformations in the disputed area, Filipinos are urging the administration to take concrete actions to assert the country’s sovereign rights. PHOTO | CHIARA ZAMBRANO

By Angela Vanessa Manuel FOR OVER A month, hundreds of Chinese vessels were seen occupying specific maritime features in the West Philippine Sea, which is within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). In an online press conference held on April 7, spearheaded by the Atin Ang Pilipinas Coalition, multi-sectoral groups condemned the recent invasions which they dubbed as territorial incursions, while demanding the Duterte administration to lay out concrete plans and actions to protect the country’s sovereignty.

ABANDON PH SEAS

On March 20, The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea informed the public that around 200 Chinese maritime militia vessels were occupying the Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea. In addition, a few hundred more were scattered around other reefs. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has since then filed a diplomatic protest with Beijing and demanded the withdrawal of the said vessels. According to the Chinese Embassy, the vessels seen were just fishing boats that had taken shelter at the reef due to bad weather. However, fisherfolks, along with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, responded that they were not fools to believe the Embassy’s statement. Instead, they were keen to remove the Chinese presence in the West Philippine Sea. Lorenzana then reminded China to refrain from conducting activities that disturb regional and international peace and security. “Panawagan ng PAMALAKAYA, US-Tsina layas. Amin ang Pinas. Tayo ay magsalita. Ang mismong embahada ng Tsina rito, palayasin natin! Totoo, wala tayong malakas na armas. Totoong hindi natin kayang makipagsabayan sa laki ng Tsina. Pero totoo rin na ang Pilipino ay handang mamatay, handang ipaglaban ang kaniyang kalayaan, ang kanyang soberanya!”

COLLEGE BRIEFS

Students continue to push for academic ease, ligtas na balik eskwela By Natasha Carolina THE UNIVERSITY OF the Philippines Officer of the Student Regent (UP OSR), along with University Student Councils (USCs) from allover the UP System submitted an urgent appeal for a systemwide

ex plained Tata Pido Gonzales, Vice Chairperson emeritus of Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) This week, the Armed Forces reported that they once again spotted illegal man-made structures in Pagkakaisa Banks. Due to this, the government increased the deployment of Navy, Coast Guard, and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessels in the area to patrol and assert the country’s sovereignty.

UPHOLD INTERNATIONAL LAW

In 2016, the United Nations-backed (UN) international arbitral tribunal ruled to uphold the Philippines’ sovereign rights over the waterway, invalidating Beijing’s South China Sea claims. It also ruled that China’s island-building activities on several reefs in the Kalayaan Island Group violated the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which caused devastating and long-lasting damage to the marine environment. However, China firmly and continuously rejects the ruling. In relation to this, Anj Tadena from For Our Farmers PH said that

academic ease to the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs (OVPAA) last April 12, 2021, noting that the burden of adjustments and negotiations mustn’t fall on the instructors and students. Reiterating similar concerns last year, students urged the administration to recognize the impact of the surge in cases on students and faculty, highlighting the urgency of prioritizing health and well-being as total cases exceeded one million and hospitals operating at full capacity. Students admitted that they are starting to lose interest in studying due to the difficulties of online classes. Due to challenges like un-

to giving up the country’s sovereignty. China’s degradation of the Philippines sovereignty is alarming, noting that this intrusion will have a negative effect on the country’s agri-fishery sector and on the entire food security. “We are joining this call to protect our very own fisherfolks. They should feel secure in our very own waters. The government owes them that,” Tadena maintained. Vaccines and sovereignty On April 4, Surigao del Sur Representative Robert Ace Barbers emphasized that Philippine territory was neither for sale nor trade. He furthered that any portion of the Philippines’ territory is not an exchange and certainly not equivalent to China’s donation of COVID-19 vaccines Earlier this year, China donated about one million shots of the CoronaVac, which was developed by the Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech. To the public’s surprise, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo echoed the same sentiment stating that the Palace’s acceptance of China’s donation of COVID-19 vaccines does not equate

THE HIDDEN AGENDA

stable internet connection, as well as excessive and heavy workload, the number of students suffering continue to rise. “We, as the premier state university of the Philippines, must spearhead the provision of academic policies that do not compromise the general welfare of the students in the practice of academic freedom,” UP OSR furthered. In the letter that the OVPAA wrote in response to the call for academic ease, they implemented the following policies: no to stringent deadlines, lessen academic requirements, no required attendance for synchronous classes, genuine reading break, and no fail policy or drop. Initially, students were relieved

upon the announcement of the implementation of the five-point policy. Not soon after, students from across the UP System felt frustration as requirements and synchronous classes are already to a minimum, making the response not as effective as hoped for. Moreover, calls for the government to start working on the safe and gradual holding of face-to-face classes in schools still persist as the online set-up of learning continues to bring only problems. “We all know na we can do better than we currently are. We are more than the zoom meetings, gdocs talks, we deserve more of the univ life. Hindi tayo para ganito lang,” a UPM student said on pushing for safe face-to-face classes.

During the conference, the groups were united in calling out President Rodrigo Duterte for his neglect of the issue and complacency in dealing with China. The groups stood firm in saying that what the country needs right now are concrete plans and not mere words from the Chief Executive. Jerwin Baure from, Chairperson of AGHAM UP Diliman, said that the Chinese Embassy’s act of belittling the country’s lawful right over the West Philippine Sea is unacceptable. He then challenged Duterte to demand the Chinese ambassador to apologize for the incident or if not, let them be expelled from the country. Subsequently, Student Christian Movement of the Philippines (SCMP) National Spokesperson Kej Andres spoke about the underlying reason over Duterte’s aggressive attacks towards the masses. “Matagal nang pinangagambahan ng mga human rights advocates na ang pagyurakan ni Duterte sa human rights sa Pinas ay upang mapadali ang pagpasok ng impra-istruktura, ng investment,

Totoo, wala tayong malakas na armas. Totoong hindi natin kayang makipagsabayan sa laki ng Tsina. Pero totoo rin na ang Pilipino ay handang mamatay, handang ipaglaban ang kaniyang kalayaan, ang kanyang soberanya. TATA GONZALES

at pagpapa-utang ng Tsina at US na lalong sasakal sa soberanya at kinabukasan ng sambayanang Pilipino,“ Andres asserted. International groups from neighboring countries in Asia, such as the Asian Democracy Network, Feminist’s Liberation Thailand, and Alliance Canada Hong Kong, also pledged their support to the FIlipinos in opposing the totalitarian regime In the end, they echoed that neither the Philippines nor the Filipinos are for sale.

MAGNA EST VERITAS ET PREVAELEBIT

Not only was the livelihood of the Filipino fisherfolks affected, but also their safety and right to the waters were compromised—robbed before their very own eyes. Their cries and demands were falling to the deaf ears of Dutreus, but not to the masses.

Devil of all

Earth

By Christina Cambiado and Gwyneth Cruz

In a forbidden fruit lies a tremendous power fastened by greed, in which a man is consumed by his desire to surpass God. DUTREUS WAS LOVED by everyone for he was a man of principle and words. He was not afraid of anything – his flawed yet humane personality was what made the people admire him. However, when put into position, his façade began to wither, his skin reeked of a horrid stench, his beliefs embraced toxicity and misogyny, and his lips formed a sinister smile which invoked fear and violence to his people. He was blinded by the need to hold more power and authority and succumbed to his craving amplified by the voices of his cronies. In exchange of his desire to wield force, dominance, or influence over his fellow people, he sold three souls. Dutreus did not hesitate to betray the country that welcomed him with open arms just to satisfy his personal motive.

OF AUTONOMY: THE SOUL OF THE ROBBED The legacy of their ancestors are carved upon the mountains and seas and in a flicker of a hand, everything is lost. After blatantly calling out China for its aggressive and Nazi-like stunt before World War II to the whole world and winning the case before the Hague International Tribunal, the Philippines was once again being stripped off of its own territory. It was reported that Filipino fishermen were being harassed and barred from entering the traditional fishing grounds—a power struggle in favor of the ones who should be backing off by now. China’s shameless and confident stride was a result of Dutreus’ incapacity to publicly address that the losing country must uphold the verdict and that any sign of noncompliance would immediately mean further international recourse. However, it seemed that the Philippine military was busy with evidenceless accusations directed to individuals whom they perceived as threats. The government was so busy tolerating the manipulative behavior and covering up the empty assurances of the president who was an out and proud bootlicker. Engaging with him was so simple that China did not break a sweat—the bravado he first showed as the mayor of Davao was nothing but a show. His ego was only applicable to those who were apparently weaker than him in terms of status. With Dutreus’ indifference, more and more Chinese militia vessels were swarming in the Municipality of Kalayaan and the Philipine exclusive economic zone

(EEZ). This was clearly an impediment to marine life and navigation, a breach in the exclusive right of the Filipinos to benefit from the rich resources housed in the EEZ. China was attempting to reign through sheer force powered by numbers, an attitude of a child who kept on pushing his answer even if there was a required one, very pitiful, indeed. Not only was the livelihood of the Filipino fisherfolks affected, but also their safety and right to the waters were compromised—robbed before their very own eyes. Their cries and demands were falling to the deaf ears of Dutreus, but not to the masses. People were joining campaigns, advocacies, and organizations regarding the matter and they would neither stop nor falter until their efforts were seen and their voices were heard, until they managed to get back and secure what was rightfully theirs. It was supposed to be ours, and yet it seemed like we were the ones begging for the rights that we already won over. Our president was supposed to ride a jetski all the way to where China’s vessels were situated as a promise of possession, but he cancelled at the last minute and proved how much of a pushover he was when China was involved. Dutreus was supposed to be the protector of the fisherfolk and yet he was the first one to turn his back and serve China the way he should be serving the citizens of his very own country.

/ culture 06-07

Dutreus’ pact with the Devil in exchange for an apple of dominion over millions of Filipinos should be his greatest mistake. By striking this deal, he was no longer a human, but a monster himself who would not even flinch as he slowly killed and offered the poor, exploited souls for his own selfish reasons—an enemy of the people. However, the power vested in him will never last and soon, the apple would be consumed and his reign would perish. Only then, we could hope that this cycle of leaders with insatiable longing for the forbidden fruit should end.

OF FREEDOM: THE SOUL OF THE CHAINED Their pursuit of freedom does not end with the absence of pain and melancholy; For as long as they live, bounded in chains— their struggle shall ever continue. As if being stripped off their rights to harvest in the lands in which they sowed and to fish in the seas they own was enough, the people have yet to suffer in the hands of a devil in the guise of a leader—for as long as he possessed the wicked fruit of limitless power. Amid the ravaging pandemic, the Filipinos faced no choice but to be a part of this rotten administration in

OF JUSTICE: THE SOUL OF THE OPPRESSED It is the darkness which gives them comfort, the dangerous which breeds food in their stomachs— the desperation which makes them feel dead and alive at the same time.

order to somehow reach the freedom from hunger and to live in peace. These poor souls were being compelled to endure the lack of support and protection to the virus, alongside making a living. The current government officials—indulging in their palace stenched with riches from the overwhelming debt that should be paid by the people—had seemed to create a deliberate plan to make matters worse for everyone, as if continuing to work in unsafe conditions was not the pinnacle of all threats. They probably orchestrated the heightened income losses, the number of people dying, and the marginalized groups who were to face immense hunger and abuse, while deeming this nightmare as mere entertainment. Dutreus and his pipsqueaks had always preached about the wonders brought by this nation’s modern day heroes, all the while pushing them to become modern day slaves.

“Buhay pa naman kayo,’’ encouraging words of this avaricious strongman would never be enough to replenish the people’s thirst for freedom to live in a prosperous and safe country. The scantiness of figures and voices that combat against Dutreus was most likely the outcome of his extensive crackdown of those who oppose his power. Intimidation and harassment await the vulnerable masses who dared try to call for a better state of affairs. The deafening silence of the people amid inadequate access to basic human rights could never signify peace and harmony. The prevailing illusion that the Filipinos had already attained emancipation would remain as our reality for as long as the tyrant Dutreus and his predecessors stayed in position. Once the people realized and actualized their collective strength to get rid of false kings, only then they would truly be free from the grasps of the dictator.

It was so easy to side with the “just follow and do not complain” narrative knowing that the ones who were bent on advocating that were experiencing all the privileges. It was so easy to judge and speak to the poor that “it was their choice” when they did not even have options to begin with. It was so easy to say “stay at home” when people had all the resources they needed— they were exempted from the long hours of walking until their legs became numb and their feet full of blisters, from the all day peddling until their voices cracked and their stomachs grumbled, from the delivery of items back and forth until their bodies hurt from exhaustion, and from the incessant evaluations and assessments of different patients until their hearts broke because there were people whom they could not save. This pandemic could be handled properly if only the government took action immediately, if only they had established the protocols when the cases were manageable, if only they had set aside their hunger for politics and fondness for military personnels and instead focused on boosting health and medical services. People would not have to cling on desperate measures

or suicidal deeds as efforts of salvation for their daily necessities and cure for their appetites. People would not have to go through all the unnecessary pain to earn enough money to get through the day. Not when Dutreus was in his lair unbothered, sleeping soundly inside his mosquito net, and the Filipinos were dropping like flies one by one. Not when he was boasting about his urine schedule, and the Philippines had already become a mass grave of unattended compassion and concern. Not when he and his associates were freely walking, like they did not violate the law and the ordinary citizens were meant to be prosecuted even in the tiniest misconducts. Not when the Philippines had already reached a million cases and Harry Roque was still romanticizing that the regime was managing the new variants well. Dutreus was given the highest position as the leader of the country, and yet, in order to stay in power, we, the citizens, especially the poor, had become his scapegoats. And nothing was more terrifying than the fact that when we wanted to stay alive, the president wanted us dead.

ILLUSTRATIONS | CHAMIQUE FRANCISCO

PAGE DESIGN | VINCE JULIUS BALAGA

08 spotlight

VOLUME 33 ISSUE NO.. 4 THE MANILA COLLEGIAN

Over 100 Years Since It Started: Today, UP Disappoints but Doesn’t Surprise An Anthology of Students’ Pent-up Emotions and Bottled-up Frustrations By Bianca Ysabelle Baldemor and Danna Gonsalvez

“The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) commended five Philippine universities for being included in this year’s Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings.” THAT WAS THE headline from The Manila Bulletin which bore the news that sparked reactions from Iskolars ng Bayan across all UP constituent units just a few days ago. Even though assessments like this may tend to subscribe to contestable standards, it’s alarming to see the overall mood of the student populace

being “disappointed, but not surprised.” It’s as if UP’s students themselves feel that their university’s non-inclusion in this list is somehow well-deserved. The limelight now shifts onto the vexing question: What happened? It’s time for Iskos and Iskas to swallow a very, very bitter pill—this being the realization that with the way UP’s administration acts today, their beloved university’s long-lived and esteemed reputation is slowly bound to tarnish away. With the advent of the global pandemic, combined with the government’s poor response to the national education crisis, what was once a source for “Nationalist, Scientific, and Mass-oriented” education, is now, apparently, gradually shifting to a “Colonial, Commercialized, Fascist” one.

“Bahay, Eskwelahan. Pahinga, Aral. Linya’y nabura.” - GE Different places for different activities—that is the way it has always been. Our domiciles serve as pillars of refuge and security, whereas our schools serve as areas of professional learning and development. This was the case until a grand upheaval came in the form of lockdown protocols that have not only changed the modes and platforms for day-to-day operations but have ensigned socio-spatial functional distinctions to the bin. Numerous students recount professors who “assume that students are now freer just because everything can be accessed with just one click.” Stemming from that problematic mindset, some professors are now guilty of assigning enormous amounts of readings and requirements that simply cannot be accomplished within reasonable hours. Such behavior could be tolerable if only students were robots who only worried about their academics despite the pandemic. This is not the case—and it’s simply not what UP students are supposed to be. As long as the over-glorification of toxic academic fatigue persists, UP students will only continue to feel like hollow learners for whom the idea of “ample rest” in the confines of their own homes is reduced to a mere illusion. For a university that claims to prioritize honor and excellence, this is ironic.

“Living yet seeing how others die.” - Alyssa Daguimol Even amidst the global pandemic and worsening health crisis in the Philippines, the national government and even the University itself, still pushes students to be “productive” in order to contribute to the realm of the academe and society. It can be said that, as a whole, the administration, in its relentless pursuit of the toxic online set-up, has revealed its commercialized face. Although the University’s rationale in proceeding with online education is understandable, an even deeper, more relevant question is posed: “Is learning really all that worth it in the end if, in our efforts to prioritize the pursuit of knowledge in times of crises, the students’ well-beings are compromised instead?”

“Walang kuwenta kung estudyante nama’y naghihirap.” - Brandon Ortiguerra Damage, dysfunction, and constant suffering are what await students today. Besides the fact that UP has already heard grave news of students committing suicide and infected students passing away, the existing inequality gap also dichotomizes the situation greatly. For students who cannot afford the costs of online schooling—the only option is to withdraw, while for those who can afford the costs—the only option is to sacrifice a healthy mental state. One would have thought that in an institution as so-called “liberating” as UP, educators would see students not as mere robots, but as actual partners in the learning instead. With this, Ortiguerra asks a crucial question: “In these times of suffering, and as partners in learning, shouldn’t we, [students], also be taken cared of?”

@mkule

“Requirements, pin lang.” - Lloyd Este

Requirements now overwhelm th mounting national crises. As it is, of the students’ alienation. What u tion has now transformed into an o amounts of works submitted rather experiences that took place behind has settled upon UP students—one t ing students with no choice but to na ing with daily deadlines. Compliance for grades that, as much as students tably determine their futures—howe eyes of the administration, the resol choosing between modes of assessm Pass or Fail?” Although it must be sa among faculty staff, many in UP stil er social issue resides—one that des discussing the challenges of an onlin

“Dehumanisasyon: sisidlan.” - LYF

Drawing from Paulo Freire’s “Ped ful student writes: “In this pandem dehumanizing education systems. I mental well-being, affective empath ing separated from us. Authorities (w education systems) want us to acce to turn a blind eye to observed injus with schoolwork because they are t activism.” —And it manifests when made to scream louder than nationa A numbing effect has pierced th order to focus, students now have t thoughts. Worse still, is their havi

ILLUSTRATION | ELAINE DIAZ

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VOLUME 33 ISSUE NO. 4 THE MANILA COLLEGIAN

PHOTO | ANALY LABOR

To begin with, education in the Philippines has always been a privilege and not a right. And now that the policy of “distance learning” is implemented, the neoliberal character of education has become crystal-clear. By failing to recondition its standards towards popping this accessibility bubble, the UP system leaves its students behind with the current online setup.

PHOTO | ABS-CBN NEWS

napasa out of compliance na eban

he minds of UP students on top of the online education is a representation used to be an outcomes-based educaoutput-based one, as it puts prime on r than the quality and actual learning them. A sweltering fog of uneasiness that is blinding and disorienting; leavavigate through their days by complye with these deadlines serves as a basis s would love to claim otherwise, ineviever unforeseeable they may be. In the lution for this existing issue is a simple ment. “Asynchronous or Synchronous? aid that there does exist those outliers ll fail to understand that a much deepsperately needs to be addressed—when ne education setup.

Ang mag-aaral bilang isang

dagogy of the Oppressed,” one insightmic economy, students are subjected to In my perspective, the dimensions of hy, and political agency is forcibly bewho are not just limited to those within ept the new normal without question; stices. They want us to be preoccupied threatened by the potential of student pending, oppressive requirements are al news. hrough the heart of every student. In to drastically compartmentalize their ing to devoid themselves of all feel-

ing-- feeling for their family, for their country, for their immediate futures, for their fellow students, and even for themselves. Education now is dehumanizing in the sense that as infections creep closer and closer to home, students find no escape. In locked rooms and secluded corners of the household, they sit cramped and plugged into devices for classes they barely understand. Only a limited time is available for students to grieve their losses and introspect on their uncertain futures, because just as life stops for no one, apparently, so does UP education.

“Hindi lamang dapat utak ang hinahasa.” - Irving Cordova UP has, in its rights and responsibilities, codified its commitment on the ideals of Social Responsibility—“to serve the Filipino nation and humanity, and relate its activities to the needs of the Filipino people and their aspirations for social progress and transformation, and provide venues for student volunteerism.” However, the distance learning setup of the UP system continues to employ its same numerical assessment standards in place, which is based on output orientation for student evaluation. The student body is expected to be able to grasp theoretical concepts, spur intellectual discourses based on their field of expertise, and produce high-caliber outputs that wouldn’t be possible if not supplemented with self-learning. The sought-after “perspective transformation” ends up being placed out of context: While prioritizing education amidst pandemic is not entirely the problem, the externalities of putting the same stringent academics in place further alienate the student from internalizing the grave reality of the atrocities within the pandemic.

“Neoliberal education? schools : mall :: student: consumers.” - BTFB Numerous mini-testimonials from toiling UP students observe how similar commodified education and mall consumerism are to each other in ways that have been made most apparent nowadays. Just like how it is in malls, where high-quality stocks are not unlimited and only those who have the luxury of time and resources to get ahead of the curve are able to attain them, so does the accessibility and learning quality of UP education only become available to those with privileges.

“World rankings bago dangal at husay.” - MYM Standing by the “Honor and Excellence” adage, the University has long been in pursuit of facilitating successful careers and responsive citizenship for bright students across the country. Its reputation for seeking effective public service has been its unique value proposition, alongside its renowned adherence to ideals of academic freedom and social responsibility. Since time immemorial, the trademark #ServeThePeople has been an ascribed doctrine among the Iskolars ng Bayan. However, in the midst of today’s pandemic, all of these tenets in UP’s reputation are at risk of disappearing altogether. More than a year has passed since the first lockdown and quarantine rules were set up and still, the toxicity of online education persists. A year has passed and everything is still set at square one, only now, karma has cast its revenge upon the institution. Back then, as students clamored for mental health breaks and more concrete support responses, the administration merely let out publicity statements announcing its inclusion in the “2020 World Rankings.” Now, the University finds itself excluded from a 2021 global list of impactful universities, and consequently, at the receiving end of students’ trash-talks on social media. What the administration fails to understand is that mere adjustments in modes of assessment are not the solution, because the problem is not so simple. More than an issue surrounding mere preferences, the problem is multi-faceted. It deals with issues surrounding material inequality, state neglect, mental and physical healths, and (possibly) utterly miserable home environments. Thus, the mere act of choosing between modes of learning and pass-orfail systems is not enough to curb the students’ worries and guilts—worries about not being able to keep up, and on the other, feelings of guilt toward the many who are given no choice but to be left behind. Instead, what the University needs to exemplify now is the same old adage it has been lecturing to its very own students for over a century: Honor and Excellence. As co-learners, UP students now beg the following questions: “Is it truly honorable to exhaust students’ mental and physical healths for the sake of so-called excellence? Is it truly honorable to pursue mere world ranking labels at the expense of an entire generation’s worth of burned out young adults” One year after the initial onset of the pandemic, the renowned UP has disappointed, but not surprised. Now students wonder whether it must really all go down from here—or if students can still hope for the University to turn it around and revive its collective, service-oriented spirit once again. For this, only the administration can provide an answer.

MAGNA EST VERITAS ET PREVAELEBIT

10 op-grfx

VOLUME 33 ISSUE NO.. 4 THE MANILA COLLEGIAN

Lola Patola i-spluk mo na beh

NI..PA... NPA! | GIAN CATIBOG & TREVOR LOMOTOS

PANAWAGAN PARA MGA

ISKOLAR NG BAYAN

@mkule

opinion 11

VOLUME 33 ISSUE NO. 4 THE MANILA COLLEGIAN

SCRIBBLE

Resolving the Weakness of “ Twitter Activism” by “ Touching Some Grass” Sol Banaag AT A TIME filled with dejecting realities and hopelessness, I could say that the masses try to alleviate the bludgeoning struggles other people face in one way or another. This idea manifests well on the internet; sometimes, I would wake up and see informational Twitter threads with thousands of retweets and likes first thing in the morning. Recently, I saw multiple people—some of them not even from the Philippines—retweeting and talking about the crackdown two activists from Anakbayan have faced. On my side of Twitter, everyone was alarmed at how the state could twist the pure and essential purpose of swab testing to serve their own fascist narratives. This shows in a wider scale too, similar to what happened in the entirety of Stan Twitter at the last week of May 2020, when the issue of George Floyd’s death enraged the internet and left it in flames. What used to be a Twitter timeline filled with Kpop content underwent a 180-degree change; for days, no one posted the usual fancams nor kpop-related photos. Instead, petition and donation links, informational threads and infographics, news updates, as well as tweets that expressed disgust and rage at the racist system and the entire existence of the police force percolated the entire timeline. It was a

radical moment, so to speak; in the years I spent on Stan Twitter, I witnessed something that has never happened before. The drastic shift in the direction of how Stan Twitter operated aided in bringing other issues into light as well. Along with the Black Lives Matter was the amplification of the #NoToABSCBNShutdown and #JunkTerrorBill calls, which were the most crucial calls back then. The phenomenon catalyzed Filipinos’ assertion of their rights; we voiced our anger at the oppressive system that was obviously desperate at cracking us down. These social issues spread like

MEMOIR

On dreams and service Elle

“ HINDI KA AAHON sa hirap kung nasa Pilipinas ka lang” “Mag-abroad ka na lang pagkatapos, mas mataas sweldo” “Mangarap ka nang mataas, mag-abroad ka” I grew up believing that to dream high is to aim for a job outside the country, where leaving is the only way to achieve a good quality of life and get further. Looking at statistics and surveys, 52.9% of the Filipino youth prefer to work overseas due to higher salary, pursue a different career, experience other cultures, and learn new skills. I came from a province and barangay where most of my neighbors and relatives are living abroad, thus, empty houses and balikbayan boxes are a common sight. Since then, I have always dreamt high for myself and my family. In 2018, I entered UP with optimism, confidence… and a privileged mindset. Indeed, UP will break and change you. From a me-centered perspective, I became more passionate and service-oriented towards our country and the people.

If there is something that breaks my heart, it is seeing far-flung communities being underserved in terms of health care facilities, access to quality education, and other opportunities. I want to become a doctor-to-the-barrio (DTTB) where I can serve and make a difference, even if it’s a road less traveled. My degree program allows me to understand and experience serving in communities through our fieldwork and subjects on health social sciences, medical anthropology, medical sociology, and behavior change. With the heart to serve the marginalized, I immersed myself in community service projects and programs— to interact with people from different sectors. However, extremes are dangerous and hurtful. Unconsciously, I have been developing a mindset where I started questioning peo-

wildfire on the internet, which works in a kind of mechanism explained by the Cognitive Dissonance Theory by Leon Festinger. In a nutshell, it first starts with a person’s pure desire to amplify a certain call, which leads to the existence of social pressure that catalyzes some kind of action on the internet. The call serves as the cognitive dissonance—the inconsistency in one’s belief or opinion about something. This disturbance causes stress to people—the social pressure—which pushes them to cope on it. In this case, people react to the social pressure through joining the amplification of the call, which could be motivated by two things: either the social pressure fuels them with courage or inspiration, or they simply are just moving along with the new internet norm. This makes it seem like organizing within the walls of Stan Twitter is plausible, but in hindsight, it is evident that this is far from being effective. They may do a great job as they partake in amplifying calls, but they lack the imperative aspect of consistency. Social issues spread like wildfire, but they do fizzle out as they either get blocked by new and interesting content, or the social pressure that first propagated them to move eventually gets muffled out. “Twitter Activism” is weak and faux especially when one acts not because they are fully concerned about the issue, but because

ple leaving the country for better opportunities and looking at it as a disservice. Perhaps, I took loving my nation as the same as remaining and serving within the country. After introspection, I realized that perhaps, Freud is indeed right. Our unconscious desires can manifest in our behaviors—the same way that the dreams that I buried deep inside started to manifest in the form of unchecked anger and disappointment. More than that, here’s the truth: “I also want to pursue better education and opportunities outside the country.” Thus, I started doubting whether I truly am dedicated to what I held on to the past years. And yet, I came across an article entitled “Skip Telling Our Kids To Dream High’’ written by Daryl Pasion. It says that we must teach our children to dream deep which will give them roots to grow. Tell them to have dreams fueled by emotions and desire, ones that have depth. Keeping this within my heart, I realized that service is not limited to one form. I can pursue better opportunities and still serve my country. Because then, I realized that my dreams are fueled by my desire to come back and become better to serve my country. Ones that are now rooted in an intense emotion to serve the marginalized and reach the far-flung areas of our country. However, not everyone is the

they are compelled to since it appears to be the new internet norm, so to speak. Most importantly, we also have to criticize the fundamental foundation of these kinds of internet spaces; Stan Twitter is built on bourgeois tendencies, and thrives on proliferating these. This is clearly seen in the recent “Twitter Activism” event where people attempted to boycott the game Genshin Impact. While calling out the company Mihoyo due to its questionable acts on Indigenous People is commendable, it is also disappointing that people seemingly forgot about the issue once they were presented with new content. Furthermore, they could have channeled their energy in donating and amplifying the issues Indigenous People face instead. Indeed, social media such as Twitter has helped in widening the reach of activism; it enables crucial social issues to spread like wildfire. But how do we keep the fire burning? The answer is simple—it is, as the internet slang says, to go touch some grass. Activism should not be constrained by the walls of the internet nor should it die down once the pixels of one’s screen fade to black. It is imperative to get in touch with the masses at the grassroots level, to listen to their struggles and amplify them with pure intent. Joining local mass organizations or even the simple act of listening in educational discussions do help.

The people do try to fight back the oppressive system we are encapsulated in; it is, however, more effective when it’s done at the grassroots level.

Social issues spread like wildfire, but they do fizzle out as they either get blocked by new and interesting content, or the social pressure that first propagated them to move eventually gets muffled out. “ Twitter Activism” is weak and faux especially when one acts not because they are fully concerned about the issue, but because they are compelled to since it appears to be the new internet norm, so to speak.

Check your privilege. Check your mindset. Fight for a change. Fight even if it’s uncomfortable. Dream for those who cannot. Dream for the people. Lastly, dream deeper, for it is these emotions that will fuel you to move forward.

same. You see, I believe that Filipinos, especially the youth, have this burning passion and love for our country. Filipinos are not inherently inferior; they are deprived of support and opportunities to pursue their dreams, and are pushed to look for jobs that can serve food on the table. And now, I don’t blame people leaving the country for better opportunities abroad. After all, we all want the best for ourselves. Others may want to come back and serve the country, but not everyone. This belief that home only deprives us of attaining better living conditions will continue to prevail unless socioeconomic and political conditions in the country will change. People—even the most passionate ones—may leave. So, what can you do? Check, fight, and dream.

In 2018, I entered UP with optimism, confidence... and a privileged mindset. Indeed, UP will break and change you. From a me-centered perspective, I became more passionate and service-oriented towards our country and the people... I want to become a doctor-to-the-barrio (DTTB) where I can serve and make a difference, even if it’s a road less traveled.

MAGNA EST VERITAS ET PREVAELEBIT

lathalain

Sentensyang Kamatayan Kina Amang Ni Shanin Kyle Manuel MALIWANAG NA MALIWANAG ang mga ilaw na nakapalibot sa kanyang himlayan, habang pundido ang natatanging bombilya sa kanilang barong-barong. Namumukadkad ang hile-hilerang korona ng patay, ang ilan ay donasyon pa ng mga kandidato. Samantalang walang nakapansin ng mga nalalantang tanim na gulay sa munting hardin ng yumao. Ipinaskil ang mga pangalan ng hindi nangulila sa ataul na kailanma’y hindi narinig ng Amang noong siya’y nagsusumamo. Sa saglit na nalagot ang hiningang noo’y nanlilimos, ngayon lamang ibinigay ang awa. Aaktong para ding napag-iwanan gayong sila rin naman ang nagpataw ng sentensyang kamatayan. “Condolence ho, mula kay Mayor,” untag ng isa sabay alok ng pa-picture. Sa kasulok-sulukan, nandoon naman ang mga kuwentong barbero. Pinagtatalunan ng mga usisero ang sanhi ng pagkamatay ng Amang. Tatlo ang natira matapos ang mahigit kalahating oras na paghihinuha: COVID-19, pagkagutom, o labis na katandaan. Ngunit walang nagtanong kung ano at sino ang nagdulot ng mga ito. Walang nag-usisa kung bakit oras-oras ay may matatandang nagiging abo. Puro pagtanggap at panaghoy, walang panggagalaiti. Walang nagalit.

Sana hindi na lang siya pumila G a bi-gabing hinehele ni Mang R o l a ndo ang m g a

barong-barong sa Lungsod Quezon, gamit ang paulit-ulit na bersong, “Balut! Balut!” Bitbit ni Manong ang mga panindang balut, penoy, kropek, at iba pang mga pulutang Pinoy. Ngunit isang araw ay tila wala nang kumakanta sa eski-eskinita. Ang hele’y napalitan ng pagdadalamhati ng mga kaanak sa balitang binawian na ng buhay si Mang Rolando. Tuwing alas tres ng madaling araw ay naglalako na si Manong. Gayunpaman, ibahin mo ang araw ng Biyernes—na kakabukas lamang ng isang community pantry sa kanilang barangay. Hindi na nga siya nag-atubili pa’t itinigil muna ang pagbabalut para pumila rito. Katulad ni Mang Rolando, marami-rami rin ang nagtiyagang pumila sa pag-aasam na bukas-makalawa’y maitatawid ang gutom. Isang kabalintunaan nga lang na sa tulad niyang naglalako na ng pagkain ay kailangan pang lusubin ang bunton ng tao, makapaghain lamang sa hapag. Tiniis ni Mang Rolando ang matinding sikat ng araw. Pumila nang iilang oras para sa batayang pangangailangang hindi na niya dapat pinagpapaguran. Sa huli, ang pagod ay nauwi sa trahedya. Nang nagkumpulan ang mga usisero’t usisera, ang unang bintang ay sa mga nag-organisa ng pantry. Ano nga raw ba kasing dahilan kung bakit dinudumog ang programang nag-aalok lamang ng pagkain. Bakit nga ba ibinunton pa ang sisi sa tunay na nagmamalasakit? At sa kabilang banda’y wala namang naglakas loob na magtanong kung may kasapatan ba ang balut at ang oras-oras na pagsisikhay ni Manong para makaraos. O kung naging maagap ba ang gobyerno sa pamamahagi ng tulong. Walang nagalit kung bakit madaling araw pa lamang ay may matandang pumipila sa pantring alas otso pa dapat nagbubukas. Ang iyak ng kaniyang anak ay hindi na dapat pumila pa si Mang Rolando. Sana nga, kung hindi lamang siya ipinagsawalang-bahala.

Ang Kawawang Cowboy

“Hindi na namin siya pina-check up pa sa ospital,” kuwento ni Aling Yayay sa kamag-anak habang pinaglalamayan ang kamamatay lang na asawa. “Wala ring mag-aasikaso, at baka magka-Covid pa!” Hindi rin nalaman ng kanilang pamilya ang tunay na sanhi ng pagkamatay ni Mang Boy. Mula sa luma pang diagnosis ng doktor, mayroon daw hyperthyroidism, pneumonia, at rheumatoid arthritis si Manong. Sa ganap na alas-singko ng madaling araw, bigla na lamang kinapos ang hininga ni Mang Boy. Ngunit sa sandaling nag-aagaw-buhay na ang asawa, piniling pumirmi ni Aling Yayay sa kaniyang papag. Saglit na ipinikit ang kaniyang mga mata, na para bang matagal niya nang ti-

nanggap na ito rin ang kahahantungan—na matagal na silang walang laban. Mayroong hindi maiiwasang mabilis at nakakikilabot na pasaheng kamatayan sa buhay ng isang maralita. Kung walang maglalakas-loob tumulong, tila wala nang magagawa kundi yakapin ang punyal ng kamatayan. May pagsisisi rin si Aling Yayay na hindi man lang niya narinig ang huling salita ng asawa. “Mahigit isang taon na rin nang magkaroon siya ng problema sa pagsasalita. Hindi mo na siya maintindihan,” untag niya sa kasama. Karugtong naman ng marubdob niyang salaysay ang pira-pirasong kuwento ng masasayang ala-ala. Noong malakas pa ang pangangatawan ni manong, kabisadong-kabisado pa raw nito ang kanta ni Fred Panopio na “Kawawang Cowboy.” Hinihimig saw ito ito noon ng asawa na para bang isinasalaysay ng matanda ang kaniyang talambuhay. Silang lahat ay hindi cowboy, ako’y nagiisang palaboy. Ang aking kabayong dala may butones pa.

Uring manggagawa, hukbong mapagpalaya!

Lahat ay nagtirik ng kandila habang ang iba’y taas-kamaong nagpupugay, tanda ng parehong pagdadalamhati at pagkagalit. Tanong nila sa sarili, bakit hindi pa rin kayo nagagalit? Ang pang-wakas na salita ng yumao ay tao rin naman kami. Ngunit sa dulong pahina ng kaniyang istorya ay itinuring siyang tila malala pa sa hayop—dinungisan at pinagbabaril nang walang habag. Kalaunan ay isinama ang pangalan sa listahan ng mga “nanlaban,” na para bang ornamentong nagpapakintab sa motto ng ahensiya: “to serve and protect.” Iyon marahil ang kanilang bersyon ng Happily Ever After. Linggo nang ipinapataw ang dimakatwirang sentensyang kamatayan sa BAYAN leader ng Cavite na si Ka Manny. Kilalang-kilala ang yumao sa kagitingan nito sa pakikibaka. Nagsimula ang kaniyang pagkamulat nang maranasan niya ang hindi katanggap-tanggap na pasanin ng isang manggagawa—sa ilalim ng dayuhang negosyante. Matapos no’n ay dinala niya ang karaingan sa kalsada at nakipamuhay kasama ang masang api. Sa bawat mobilisasyon ay kinakanta niyang ang himig ng pagpapalaya at pag-asa. Walang pag-iimbot niyang tinanggap ang hamon ng pakikibaka, bagama’t may banta itong karahasan at kamatayan sa dulo. Ipinakita ni Ka Manny ang tunay na manggagawang hindi magpapapiit sa sistemang mapang-api. At sa huling hininga’y hindi niya isinuko ang labang sinimulan. Maging sa kabilang mundo, marahil ay isinisigaw niya pa rin ang pananambitang “Uring manggagawa, hukbong mapagpalaya!” *** “Titigan mo na, hangga’t hindi pa nagiging abo,” wika ng nangulila sa kaniyang bisita. Maging sa huling lamay ay dumalo ang mga usisero’t usisera. Sa gitna ng kanilang panalangin, ibinubulong nila ang mga linyang “Mabuti na rin at nagpahinga na siya,” “Gano’n talaga’t matanda na,” o ‘di kaya’y “Ipagpasa-Diyos na lang natin.” Pawang nagpapahiwatig na wala nang puwang sa lipunan ang paglisan ng matandang uugod-ugod at walang pananggalang sa gutom, sakit, at dahas. Hindi ba sila nagagalit? Isang malaking pagpapaumanhin sa bawat nabigong Amang—na kailangan ninyong indahin ang sakit na pinalala ng pagtalikod at pagsasawalang-bahala. Hindi man lang kayo nakapagbitaw ng maayos na pamamaalam.

ILLUSTRATION | CHAMIQUE FRANCISCO