Dekolor by The Angelite

VOLUME 74 ISSUE 1

JULY - AUGUST 2021

NEWS

VOLUME 74 ISSUE 1

JUNE - AUGUST 2021

1st Virtual AOY Ceremony Commences Amidst the Pandemic BY Princess Payumo

Uniformed police personnel records the second #HAUyokoNa student movement in front of Holy Angel University. PHOTO BY Brandon Patungan

Calingo reminds studes to uphold the ‘good name’ of the university BY Jay-Ar Turla

Two days after the brand-new academic year commenced, Dr. Luis Maria R. Calingo, University President responded to the 5-Point Student Appeal, reminding the student leaders to still need to uphold the ‘good name’ of their future alma mater after the 2-day protests of the student body. “Look at the situation of our students right now. Repercussions have had to unveil and be absorbed because of the delay”, Kenneth De Guzman, Holy Angel University Student Council (HAUSC) President said in light of Calingo’s long overdue response. During the HAUyokoMuna Press Conference, Abelardo Cortez Jr, CSC-

SED Chairperson said that, “Kasama ang mga nagkakaisang estudyante, panahon na para ipatupad ang Academic Framework na layong masiguro na walang Angelite ang maiiwan gaano man kamapanghamon ng sitwasyong may’ron tayo ngayon.” Moreover, the pleas of the student body were heightened in a Twitter rally where #HAUyokoMuna, #NoStudentLeftBehind, and Holy Angel University were spotted on the trending slots for a couple of hours. “Ang ginagawa namin ay hindi pampa-ingay lang o mang-aaway, gusto natin na makarinig, tumugon, at makausap ang administrasyon. Sabi nga ng

isang kasama, ‘wag tayong iwan sa ere dahil ‘di naman namin kayo karelasyon para bigla na lamang iwan sa ere,” Denisse Macalino, CEGP-Central Luzon Chairperson asserted during the peaceful mass action held in front of the university. Meanwhile, an open dialogue with the University President was requested to further discuss the appeal and meet at certain measures that will be of great interest for both parties.However, none of these were acknowledged. Crafted by the HAU Speak Now, an alliance of student councils, organizations, and publications, precipitated by the online surveys conducted by the

HAUSC, the said appeal is composed of the extension of the enrollment period, adjustment of the opening of classes, consideration of the proposed academic framework, presentation of a clear and definite breakdown of fees, and ensuring no layoff for the faculty affected by Laboratory Elementary School (LES) phase-out. As to date, the USC, CSC, and college publications and organizations are now integrating the Academic Framework Proposals to the college deans as endorsed by President Calingo to decide the appropriate design and delivery of the curriculum.

Angelites join protest vs discrimination, gender violence BY Jhon Marco Magdangal

PHOTO BY Brandon Patungan

LGBTQIA+ community and allies from Holy Angel University (HAU) took their demands to the Pride March that was held in Angeles City, last June 30. Student organizations such as Bahaghari HAU, Anakbayan HAU, and University Student Council demanded for the University to end gender-based discrimination in campus. “Ang ating mga Pamantasan lalo na ang HAU kailangan maging pugad ng safe spaces para sa atin lahat hindi lamang para sa kabilang ng rainbow community,” said Kenneth De Guzman, President of the University Student Council. Furthermore, Erron Hernandez, head of TINDIG HAU said that the advancement of LGBTQIA+ rights should go beyond the month of June, and beyond the University as well. The march was also joined by hun-

dreds of LGBTQIA+ members and allies mostly composing of student-youth organizations from different provinces in the region. The protest rally held at Angeles City marks the very first time that a Pride March was held outside the capital.

First-ever Pride campaign held on campus Other than the Pride March, student organizations also protested the month of June with webinars, discussions and activities. One of which is a roundtable discussion headed by the University Student Council along with other student leaders to discuss the SOGIESC Policy. Forums and discussions were also held by Bahaghari USC, and School of Arts and Sciences Student Council to discuss LGBTQIA+ rights.

The Angelite of the Year (AOY) XIV commenced its first virtual awarding ceremony on June 6 after a year-long postponement. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, the said event was broadcasted live via The Angelite Facebook page which was virtually attended by the AOY finalists. The AOY, the highest and most prestigious award-giving body of The Angelite, recognizes outstanding Angelites from four (4) categories: teaching, student, and student organization. However, for its second consecutive year, no non-teaching personnel applied for the said awardgiving body. Dr. Elvira David was hailed as the Angelite of the Year for the Teaching category. Dr. David is a professor from the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) and the chairperson of the Holy Angel University Teachers and Employees Union. Mr. Abelardo Cortez Jr. earned the title of Angelite of the Year for the Student category. Cortez is a fourth-year student from the School of Education and is currently the Chairperson for School of Education Student Council. The Rotaract Club of Holy Angel University (RAC-HAU) secured the title of Angelite of the Year - Student Organization category. RAC-HAU is a non-government and volunteerfocused organization under Rotary International. The final interviews from the Student and Student Organization category was held virtually via Zoom with Representative Sarah Elago of Kabataan Partylist and Board Member Moshe Lacson, President of Sangguniang Kabataan Federation of Pampanga seated as their panelists.

NEWS

VOLUME 74 ISSUE 1

JUNE - AUGUST 2021

GGN building’s accomplishment not significant in resumption of F2F classes BY McGiorge David

“It should be noted that the completion of the (Geromin G. Nepomuceno) GGN Building is independent of the preparation of the University for eventual face-to-face or hybridflexible instruction,” Campus Services and Development Offices, Executive Director Jeffrey Nepomuceno said in an interview with The Angelite. Nepomuceno added that its installation was wholly funded by the University’s reserves, not by the Operating Expense Budget funded by tuition revenue. The newly constructed building had a total cost of ₱980 million. It gathered most of the University’s Capital Expenditure amounting to ₱583.4 million in the 2019-2021 academic year with a total spending of ₱450 million allocated for its completion. Furthermore, the completion of the GGN building has no relation to the halting of promissory notes, according to Nepomuceno. “We have already discontinued the issuance of promissory notes after a great number of students failed to settle their back accounts despite the promissory note,” says Nepomuceno.

On-campus instruction

PHOTO SOURCED FROM Holy Angel University

PH media victimized by cyberattacks BY McGiorge David

Sweden-based digital rights group, Qurium, tracks several cyberstrikes against the websites of AlterMidya and Bulatlat allegedly coming from government agencies, particularly from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Philippine Army. “During the past months we have been receiving brief but frequent denial attacks against the websites: bulatlat. com, altermidya.org and karapatan.org,” says Qurium. Qurium said that one of the attacks transpired last May 18 wherein an internet protocol (IP) address linked to DOST performed a vulnerability scan against the website of Bulatlat. A unit coming from the same attacker’s IP address was from a registered “acepcionecjr@army.mil.ph Taguig Red server.” Army.mil.ph is the official domain and website of the Philippine Army. The same email was found to be editing PH media..., page 04

“Holy Angel University will resume face-to-face classes only when allowed by the Department of Education (for Basic Education) and the Commission on Higher Education (for College and Graduate School),” Nepomuceno said. Nepomuceno added that when allowed by authorities, the University will allow face-to-face instruction to those students who wish to learn on campus. Meanwhile, the official Facebook page of Holy Angel University posted that the University is now ready to welcome enrollees whether online, hyper-flexible or on-campus instruction on June 19, 2021.

HAU-USC Elected Senators resign due to personal reasons BY Brennan Manaloto

Three elected Holy Angel University—University Student Council (HAUUSC) senators under School of Nursing and Allied Medical Science (SNAMS) and School of Business and Accountancy (SBA) sent their resignation letter to the HAU-USC Office of the President last June 2 and July 22, 2021, and June 17, 2021, respectively. HAU-USC SNAMS Senator-Elect Kyla Kenzy S. Vega expressed in her resignation letter that she is one of the students who is affected by the pandemic. “I need to work to help support my family and studies. My dad is the only one supporting me to continue my studies. That is why he needs an extra hand to pay for my back accounts and entrance fee,” said Vega. She believes that the HAU-USC deserves a full-time student who can serve the student body all the time. “With my current situation and schedule at work, I can no longer balance

it,” she added. Meanwhile, HAU-USC SBA Senator-Elect Ms. Kramecila Y. De Guzman also sent her resignation to the USC Office of the President on June 17. “My mental health has been tremendously unstable these past few weeks and I worry that this personal problem of mine would be a hindrance in being an effective leader to my fellow Angelites all throughout the school year,” De Guzman stated in her resignation letter. She admitted that this was a difficult decision to make as she had already gained meaningful experiences despite their term hasn’t officially started.

Vacancy of senatorial positions It was stated under the proclamation of Article XIV Section 2 and 4 of the HAU-USC Constitution and By-Laws and the Electoral Code of 201 “Vacancy in the office of USC Senator shall be filled by the Senatorial candi-

date of the same College having the next highest votes in the most recent election.” During the election, Ms. Diana Marie T. Mendoza was a nursing student and one of the senatorial candidates under SNAMS. She was about to replace the position of Vega but has shifted under the School of Arts and Science. Hence, that makes her not qualified to take the position of the resigned USC SNAMS Senator under the 2014 University Student Electoral Code Article III Section 1, “the elective position for Senatorial position shall have three (3) Senators per college.” Since Mendoza can no longer represent her department, the USC President-elect Kenneth De Guzman researched the list of senatorial candidates under SNAMS to look for the next candidate who garnered the highest total number of votes after Mendoza, which is Mr. Francis Dalmacio. On the other hand, Dalmacio, after the vacant position, also resigned on July 21. He stated in his resignation letter that

he chose not to enroll this semester for personal reasons. Mr. Angelo David is the candidate next to Dalmacio but he was confirmed to be already appointed as SNAMS College Student Council Councilor by its Chairperson. In this regard, no one is next in line to take over the vacancy. The USC Office of the President is yet to announce who will take over the position in fulfillment of Article XIV, Section 6 of the HAU-USC Constitution and By-Laws: “should all the next ranking candidates for the same position refuse, or there are no more subsequent candidates to assume office, the President/Chairperson shall appoint a new Senator/Councilor as approved by the council. “ On the other hand, The University Student Electoral Board (USEB) declared Darwin B. Dionisio to take over the SBA senatorial position as he accumulated the highest number of votes following Ms. De Guzman on June 22.

NEWS

VOLUME 74 ISSUE 1

JUNE - AUGUST 2021

PH media..., from page 04

the Wikipedia Entry “Chief of the Army (Philippines).” “The series of attacks also included “HTTP flood attacks”, a type of volumetric Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack designed to overwhelm a targeted server with seemingly legitimate HTTP requests,” National Union of Journalists in the Philippines said. Meanwhile, AlterMidya stated that the most recent cyberattack against them was after they published an article tackling the International Criminal Court’s investigation on the administration’s ‘War on Drugs’ that transpired last June 16.

PH media under siege Last May 5, 2020, one of the country’s biggest media conglomerates, ABS-CBN was forced to shut down its operation for the second time since the Marcos’ dictatorship. ABS-CBN and Duterte have been in a feud since the beginning of his presidency. “Gabby Lopez, I paid ABS-CBN P2.8 million....You accepted my money, you never bothered to show my propaganda (political advertisements). After the elections, you didn’t return the money,” says Duterte pertaining to his campaign materials back in 2016 that the network failed to air. ABS-CBN, which was founded in 1953, employs around 11,000 employees. On the other hand, Philippine Inquirer and Rappler, two mainstream media companies located in the Philippines, were also condemned by the President. Rappler, founded by Maria Ressa, reports the administration’s war on drugs and the manipulation of popular belief through the use of fake information. “The weekend after we did that, as soon as we published the series, we got hammered,” says Ressa in a podcast with Princeton University. Later on, Rappler was accused of peddling fake news while Ressa faced multiple warrants of arrest together with Rambo Talabong, a journalist working for Rappler. Another mass media outlet that received Duterte’s angered tirades was Philippine Inquirer. “Inquirer, mga b*llsh*t kayo, pati ‘yang ABS-CBN, basura ‘yang inano ninyo. Dapat may magsabi sa inyo ngayon, mga p*tang-ina ninyo, sinobrahan ‘nyo ang kalokohan ninyo,” says Duterte in 2017 in his speech for the oath taking of government officials that transpired in Malacañang. “I will give you your dues also,” the president adds. The president later on accused the newspaper outlet of tax evasion. Members of the alternative press were not safe from the attacks. Lady Ann Salem, editor of Manila Today, was jailed together with 7 activists last International Human Rights day, December 20, 2020. Her case was dismissed last February 5, 2021 because of a void search warrant. “We were even expecting that maybe, the earliest that we can attain our freedom is after the Duterte administration,” says Salem. Manila Today belongs to the list of red-tagged publications under the Duterte administration.

PHOTO SOURCED FROM The Lifeline

SNAMS eyes limited F2F classes for vaccinated studes BY Jhon Marco Magdangal

The School of Nursing and Allied Medical Sciences (SNAMS) studies the possibility of conducting limited face-to-face classes for vaccinated SNAMS students according to the Nursing Department Chairperson, Asst. Prof. Noriel Calaguas. “The school is studying the possibility of offering some form of hybrid/limited face to face set up for all of our students. Priority will be given to courses (subjects) that truly need the physical class component to meaningfully achieve their learning outcomes,” said Asst. Prof. Calaguas. The department plans to offer limited face-to-face classes for priority courses by the 2nd semester of the school year, if granted by Commission on Higher Education, Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), and other government offices. “We are planning to minimize any profound impact/disadvantage in

a bi-modal form of instructional delivery. The university is committed to providing quality education even in these unique and uncertain times,” said Asst. Prof. Calaguas, when asked about the disadvantages for students who refused to attend limited face-toface classes. With the assistance of the Angeles City government and City Health and Gender and Development Offices of Angeles City, the department was able to have SNAMS students and faculty for vaccination. The first batch of vaccination was limited to the incoming 3rd and 4th year students, and faculty under the said department. Furthermore, the second batch of SNAMS students received their first dose of vaccine as of July 6. This batch prioritized incoming 2nd year students, as well as 3rd and 4th year students who weren’t able to get vac-

cinated in the first batch. For the next batch of vaccination, the department will still continue and maintain partnerships with the said office to evaluate the department’s needs for vaccination. Those who have received their vaccine are recognized as A1 and A4 under the revised IATF prioritization guidelines. SNAMS students or interns are considered A1, while the faculty, such as educators and office personnels, are considered A4. Currently, the department was able to vaccinate 315 individuals.

Admin on SNAMS studes’ internship According to Asst. Prof. Calaguas, programs such as Nursing, Medical Technology, and Radiologic Technology rely on the readiness to accept student rotators of the partner healthcare institutions of the depart-

ment. Also, he added that vaccination is one of the priorities for potential deployment of students in campus, hospitals, or communities. “The BS Radiologic Technology and BS Medical Technology programs are preparing their respective online preceptorship programs that would facilitate the acquisition of necessary skills remotely, until our partner hospitals are ready to receive them. As for the BS in Nursing program, we adopted a By-Phasic Clinical Skills development model that facilitates the introduction and imitation of mustknow skills, while our related learning experiences courses primarily use the unfolding case study strategy to develop critical thinking and clinical reasoning,” said Asst. Prof. Calaguas referring to the department’s plans to students who will undergo an internship under the said programs.

Declining number of enrollees urged the removal of LES BY McGiorge David

The sudden drop of enrollees pressed the University President, Dr. Luis Ma. R. Calingo’s decision to gradually remove the University’s Laboratory Elementary School (LES). “During the 2015-2016 school year, [Holy Angel University] HAU had 711 LES (Grades 1-6) pupils and 84 Grade 1 pupils. Last school year, despite our marketing efforts, HAU had 387 LES pupils (54%) and 39 Grade 1 pupils (46%),” says Basic Education department Principal, Ms. Lizabelle Gamboa. Because of this event, the University administration conducted consultations for the past two (2) years with regards to the state of and

various scenarios for the University’s Basic Education department, adds Gamboa. Gamboa assured that the University secured an agreement with neighboring schools to accept HAU’s transferring pupils while charging them not more than the HAU’s tuition and other fees. Meanwhile, the principal guaranteed the affected LES faculty of continuous teaching load. “Likewise, we also ensured that no Kindergarten or Grade 1 teacher will be displaced. Those who taught Kinder or Grade 1 last year will be assigned to higher grades this year,” says Gamboa. PHOTO SOURCED FROM Holy Angel University

NEWS

VOLUME 74 ISSUE 1

JUNE - AUGUST 2021

Financial constraints major factor for enrollees, leavers

PHOTO SOURCED FROM Jhon Marco Magdangal

WRITTEN BY Kyla Villena INFOGRAPH BY Angela Manaloto

Angelites continue to have financial problems as their major reason for dropping out and remaining unenrolled. In the current school year (SY) 2021-2022, the Registrar’s Office says there are a total of 10,764 college enrollees as of July 16, 2021. Apparently, an estimated 593 students remain unenrolled. Based on the survey conducted by the University Student Council (USC) there are five common reasons why students are unenrolled: (1) Physically, emotionally and/or mentally unprepared; (2) remaining back accounts; (3) lack of financial resources; (4) waiting for a certain schedule to arrive or busy for On the Job Training; and (5) thinking of shifting to another degree program.

Second sem enrollees downward trend Holy Angel University (HAU) has increased its first semester enrollees from SY 2019-2020 up until the current year. But there is an estimated 6.17% to 6.85% decline every second semester in SY 2019-2020 and 20202021, respectively. There are 9,153 enrollees in the first sem of SY 2019-2020 and 8,526

for the second sem resulting in a difference of 627 students. While in the following school year, a difference of 573 students was lost after the first semester.

Official “leavers” declined In accordance with the data from the Office of Student Affairs (OSA), there are a total of 24 leavers or dropout students from the University in SY 2019-2020. On the other hand, the leavers are down to 17 in SY 20202021. For both school years, financial problems remain as the main factor and common grounds of students’ reasons for leaving. According to Mr. Kenneth De Guzman, USC President, their office is working on solutions for the students who were greatly affected by the pandemic. One of these is the re-launching of HAUwak Kamay: Edukasyong Panlahat — Mula sa Masa, Para sa Bata Donation Drive. This program aims to help students with mobile data assistance. “We are conducting benchmarking with the OCES and scholarship and grants, mga program, mga kulang sa University,” De Guzman added.

Trans stude misgendered after filing harassment case to OSA BY Princess Payumo

PHOTO BY Ya jde Reyes

Rainelle Canlas, an openly out trans man and senator of the University Student Council, submitted a follow-up report to the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) regarding a discrimination case he filed last June 28. He then received a letter for a meeting to hear the complaint that he submitted. Despite this, he was addressed as Ms. instead of Mr. in the response letter. This is not the first time that Mr. Canlas experienced a similar case. In the #HAUnleashYourPride webinar, he disclosed the discrimination he had al-

legedly received from the OSA. He narrated that during his freshman year, he was told by the head of OSA to temporarily wear long sleeves or polo and “feminine” slacks until he gets his women’s uniform. He was also compared to gays and lesbians who don’t complain about the uniform they wear. “I was told that I chose to study in a Catholic school so I had to abide to their rules,” says Canlas. This transpired prior to the discrimination incident he got from his classmate which causes him to have a breakdown in the classroom.

Duterte rebukes ICC on drug war probe President Rodrigo Duterte refused to be investigated by the outgoing International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda for crimes against humanity during his war on drugs campaign. “Why would I defend or face an accusation before white people? You must be crazy,” said Duterte in a public address. He emphasized that he will readily face the investigation in a Philippine Court with a Filipino Judge. “Our laws are different, our criminal procedure is different. How are you supposed to get justice there? I will readily face a court being accused in a Philippine court before a Filipino judge,” he exclaimed. The day before Bensouda stepped down from her position, she requested to open a full investigation of Duterte’s drug war program. “I announce that the preliminary examination into the situation in the Republic of the Philippines has concluded and that I have requested judicial authorization to proceed with an investigation,” said Bensouda. She elaborated that police and other government officials “planned, ordered, and sometimes directly perpetrated extrajudicial killings.” However, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr. stated that any decision to move forward with the investigation “is legally erroneous, politically motivated.” Duterte withdrew the Philippine membership of the Rome Statute of the ICC in March 2018, just weeks after Bensouda

announced that there will be a preliminary probe underway. The withdrawal took effect a year later. “Sinabi na po ng ating Presidente, hinding-hindi tayo makikipag-cooperate dahil hindi na tayo miyembro ng ICC,” Roque said in a press briefing in Camp Crame in Quezon City. Meanwhile, Bensouda said that according to the ICC’s withdrawal system, the court retains jurisdiction over crimes that allegedly happened during the period between July 2016 and March 2019 when the country was still a state party to the treaty. The administration has, in the past, rejected all criticism of its policies and denies the killings are illegal. Thousands of civilians are known to have died under the “war on drugs” campaign. National data shows at least 6,117 killed in Duterte’s war on drugs police operation as of April 30, 2021, but international rights groups estimated it could be around 27,000 to 30,000 including the victims of vigilante-style killings.

Threats of no cooperation The withdrawal from the Rome Statute posed difficulties in the investigation as the Palace plans in giving zero cooperation with the international tribunal. “Alam din po ng ICC without cooperation from the state, napakahirap po ng case build up because all criminal cases, even in the ICC and most especially in the ICC, must present real evidence and not just

BY Dian Soliman

newspaper reports,” Roque explained in an online conference. Priya Pillai, an International lawyer with expertise in international justice and human rights, believes that cooperation from the state is crucial to the function of the court.

Prolonged Justice Amnesty International Secretary General Agnes Callamard, a former UN special rapporteur, described the investigation as a “landmark step” that could provide “a moment of hope for thousands of families” Rights group Karapatan applauded the push for the advancement of ICC, a “long-awaited step towards justice and accountability” amid a human rights crisis in the country. Human Rights Watch (HRW) research has found that unlawful killings are justified by the police through falsifying evidence. “If [the application is] approved, it could bring victims and survivors closer to seeing those responsible for their suffering finally brought to justice,” HRW Associate International Justice Director Param-Preet Singh exclaimed. The families of the victims of the war on drugs were also enlivened with the announced investigation. “I am happy because I realised that justice never sleeps,” Said Normita Lopez, one of the complainants to the ICC over Duterte’s alleged extrajudicial executions.

OPINION

VOLUME 74 ISSUE 1

JUNE - AUGUST 2021

The Pride Agenda EDITORIAL

The month of June serves as the season of protest for the LGBTQIA+ community. It is the time where people collate their wide-ranging dissents for a call to action. This year, Holy Angel University’s student formations have gathered to assert the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC), the policies initiated by the University Student Council (USC) for the betterment of the rainbow community inside the campus. Amid the resonating campaign of the student body, the University on the other hand remained silent. Showing no solidarity or even support to the activities held by the students. Priding itself as a premier Catholic University in the region, the university still has a long way to go in accepting what Pride really is and its purpose in general. It is more than just glitters, sparkles, and rainbow-colored logos - this is a struggle against a system that perpetuates discrimination and inequality. Many discrimination cases against the LGBTQIA+ community in the university do not see the light of day, while those who are made known are not served justice. Such as the case of a transman being continuously misgendered by the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) even after filing a harassment case. The identified trans man was forced to wear clothing that is not in accordance with his gender identity. At worst, he was compared to a gay man who never

he Philippines having the entitlement “the most gay-friendly country in Asia” is neither an achievement nor something to be proud of. The reported and even unreported hate crimes, discrimination, and brutality against the LGBTQ community say otherwise. According to a survey conducted in 2013, most Filipinos agreed with ‘Homosexuality should be accepted by society.’ Surprisingly, the Philippines remained to have an acceptance rate of 73% in the same study in 2019. But this response is merely a figure without any clear manifestation of its reality on the grounds. To be able to participate in the Pride March was my highlight for the month of

complained on wearing men’s uniform. Clothes, particularly uniform, must never have a gender to start with it. With these scenarios brought by a stone deaf university, there is a need for educational discussions on SOGIESC to be taught inside our campuses and for policies to be implemented as a safeguard of these rights. Doing so will break myths, stereotypes and misconceptions. To implement policies against gender-based discrimination will ensure that our fellow LGBTQIA+ students are protected inside our campus and to make the premises a safe space where they can call it - HOME. To have and practice this can extend to the gates of our university. Academic institutions claim to prepare us for life but ‘life’ has always been there. They should have greater strides towards inclusivity and acceptance as ‘life’ and ‘reality’ already takes place inside the university. Academic institutions, as a pool of diverse and varied youth, should be at the forefront of promoting the need for SOGIE awareness. Thus, the university’s campaign of “No Students Left Behind” should not be limited to academic challenges. It should also mirror the holistic development of its students as this plays an integral role to a student’s life and value. Hate and discrimination should never have room to grow in an academic institution.

Not LGBTQ-friendly June which led me to have this column. While this protest and all the events that happened for Pride month gave me realizations and had me writing that first paragraph.

The facade

“

I realized that the initiatives such as webinars and Pride March imply that we are all united in fighting for the rights of the LGBTQ community-- making us look like indeed a gay-friendly-andaccepting country. But, in a deeper sense, why do we have these movements and fight in the first place? It is because we are truly not that kind of country. The fight that we have is because of the existence of discrimination, harassment, and exclusivity which is not a manifestation of the “entitlement” given to us. In a separate survey, it was actually found out that 65% of Filipinos viewed

homosexuality as morally unacceptable. It was all about tolerance all this time and not acceptance. To say that we embrace and accept the LGBTQ community while we see it as immoral is hate and discrimination itself. This indicates that we just accept the idea but not its existence, not the life and the truth that these people live by.

Rooted in the culture More than the evident cases of discrimination, murder, and the like, the homophobia ingrained in our culture hinders the unleashing of full acceptance and understanding. Most likely, this mindset of some Filipinos being accepting to the Rainbow community is a kind of acceptance with ‘buts,’ ‘only ifs,’ ‘as long as,’ and ‘only because.’ It may show an acceptance on the surface but it unconsciously instills that to be accepted, they must live up and fulfill certain standards and roles. Supposing that they’re not funny enough, talented, and successful, in general, they will be regarded as unworthy and could suffer more con-

sequences. How conditional and transactional. If you are also to try to explain SOGIE to people, more often than not, they may equate it with just one word- kabaklaan. There is no differentiation between lesbian, bisexual, gay, trans, and other gender identities in all aspects. This is something that must be corrected because not acknowledging their true identity is a threat to their safety and protection. Furthermore, many still believe that homosexuality is a disorder that has a “cure” or will wear out in time. This even happens in real life and being portrayed in films and TV shows wherein a young gay or lesbian is being scolded by his/her parents forcing him/her to become ‘straight.’ Although, some just let them be with the belief that when these kids grow older, they will ‘go back’ and ‘re-align’ themselves. In fact, someone claimed to cure himself from being gay when he met his ex-wife. Ironically, this claim is from the president of the “most gay-friendly country in Asia.” Yes, it’s Duterte.

Learn and accept ‘Learn to accept’ can lead to a mere tolerance and so, I separated the two. We are aware that Filipinos are conservative. Our religion has a great influence on our lives and we pay high respect to what the elders have to say which are mostly based on socially constructed norms. It is crucial to unlearn the homophobic stereotypes and culture introduced to us growing up to allow genuine acceptance to foster. This is through openly educating oneself and respectfully asking questions about LGBTQ issues, terminologies, history, and suchlike, and these are meant to be shared with others. To be called an ally is not the goal. After all, this is not a label nor an identity but, it is an action. I’ll say that our country is gay-friendly when our homes, workplaces, public spaces, schools, healthcare services, and all along with its people are safe and collectively validate the LGBTQ’s lives and rights. But for now, I believe we still have a long way to go.

G/F Mamerto G. Nepomuceno Building, Holy Angel University, Sto. Rosario St., Angeles City Hotline: (045) 322-6372 • 888-8691 loc. 1490 0906-681-2943 • 0905-600-5451 • 0929-333-0381

Jhon Marco Magdangal EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | Jay-Ar Turla MANAGING EDITOR | Princess Payumo ASSOCIATE EDITOR | Cathriona Jene Ramoso, Klenia Ern Mendiola SENIOR EDITOR | Arlin Salonga SENIOR LITERARY EDITOR | Hannah Rica Pineda JUNIOR LITERARY EDITOR | Marienel Calma SENIOR ARTS EDITOR | Maria Angela Manaloto JUNIOR ARTS EDITOR | McGiorge David NEWS EDITOR | Yajde Reyes EXCHANGE EDITOR | Brandon Patungan, Yajde Reyes, Khriseanne Elizabeth Salvador, Dian Soliman PHOTOJOURNALISTS | Ayessa Agustin CHIEF LAYOUR ARTIST | Brandon Patungan TECHNICAL EDITOR | Dian Soliman ONLINE MEDIA MANAGER | Honey De Jesus, Brennan Manaloto, Precious Joy Medina, Khriseanne Elizabeth Salvador, Kyra Villena, STAFF WRITERS | Winston Adam Lejarde, Yajde Reyes, Dian Soliman, Hedy Hazelene Vasquez GRAPHIC ARTISTS | Carl Jay Cunanan EDITORIAL CARTOONIST | John Maurice Cruz, Mico Adrien Gueco CONTRIBUTORS

VOLUME 74 ISSUE 1

JUNE - AUGUST 2021

OPINION

I was betrayed by my own university

he second semester of Grade 12 is the season of hopping top-performing universities where the chosen degree is best offered through academic excellence, competent educational system, and mostly, compassionate will of serving its student body into their best interests.

Manila Boy No More In January of the said season, I was able to find the best accounting universities in the Philippines. Dubbed as the country’s three big schools – Ateneo De Manila University (ADMU), University of the Philippines (UP), and De La Salle University (DLSU) were my front-runner options as I aim for greater heights. However, entrance examinations were no longer on the calendar. I’ve delimited my hunt as my desire of being a Manila Boy lingered in fantasy. And here comes the right school for you – Holy Angel University. I’ve entered the 9th-floor blue building without any idea of the retention policy. I know it’s my fault not to explore more about my course before setting my foot on it. However, innocence will never be equated with stupidity. Hopes in Transit During my first two semesters, it feels like hunger pangs. I was full from an empty stomach. I took up a strand in Senior High School (SHS) that is not aligned

to Accountancy as my degree choices were still fluid. In my pioneering years, I was overwhelmed by accounting terms as this is a new lease. Additionally, bridging programs were not offered. Strands in SHS were blended throughout the sections. This put more agony in pursuit of becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Quali is not Quality The pandemic has deflated us in all aspects – academic, emotional, mental, social, and financial. Through these adversities, the university has managed to push through our qualifying examination to determine who will remain in the program despite the petition filed to the administration encompassing the point of demands raised by the students. In May of 2021, I was able to take the week-long qualifying examination with time constraints as there is only a month of review in between completing the current semester’s requirements and the qualifying exam schedules. Moreover, there were limited tools and a demanding custom browser that requires a speed of at least 10mbps or higher while there is a zoom live going on the other line. Furthermore, I was still mourning the death of my grandfather (grandmother’s brother) on my mother’s side and my grandmother on my father’s side. They both died on the same day. For the record, one of the toughest decisions I have ever made is to decide whose funeral I’ll attend as they have the same schedule of interment. Also, I remembered that I took up my second day of examination inside the car and cemetery. And this hurts more than anything.

A Promise Unbroken To be shifted from another course due to failed results is not worthy of any kind as there are many of us who have a fair share of failures. But what is of substance is the calls we fought throughout the appeals that have been dismissed. Also, the promise of leniency that was left unfulfilled and its anti-poor policies that triumph more than ever.

“

Nevertheless, the academic excellence of the university mirrors not only the percentage of its passing rate but the holistic development of its students. This embodies hearing the other side of the story – to be seen and to be heard.

The Myanmar Coup and Our Withering Democracy

yanmar, also known as Burma, was oppressed by a military junta for as long as 49 years. With no regard in human life, oppositions and dissenters remained subjects of egregious abuses as the stratocracy persisted. Aung San Suu Kyi, the founding leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD), has been the symbol of Burma’s democracy for years. In fact, her political party won for the first time by a landslide in 1990, but the military repudiated the elections and the power of its people to exercise their rights to suffrage. Consequently, Aung San Suu Kyi was arrested --- multiple times. It was only in 2011 when the military junta came to an end. A momentous moment for the Burmese as they finally tasted their long-wished civilian government. But last February 1, on a normal day under the despotic reign of the Duterte administration, news sparked as Myanmar lost its democracy once again from a military coup. Owing to the fact that Ms. Suu Kyi’s party gathered the majority of votes in the last 2020 Myanmar general election, the junta weaponized trumped-up allegations of election irregularities to trample the validity of the people’s plebiscite, causing an outrage in most parts of the world. Youth leaders and protesters of all ages unite as their distraught against the coup remains in turmoil. As all of NLD elected leaders ousted and as Ms. Suu Kyi faced detention for contrived charges once again, a staggering number of 700+ (and counting) individuals had died in their bloody fight for democracy

and support for their duly elected leaders. While its neighboring country endures restlessness, the fascist regime of Duterte contemplated the onslaught as an “internal matter.” In the Philippines, we are no strangers in moments like these, especially when our democratic rights are placed in the line of fire. Our nation once suffered from a dictator and an oppressor of liberty. Curating the culture of violence, Duterte’s discernment

against critics and human rights defenders is the modern-day portrayal of how a dictator or a military ruler exploited our country and the Filipino people from the past. What transpired in Myanmar is not just a cautionary tale, but a reminder of our history. Revolution is a highlight of our reality as the power of the Filipino people endure severe impertinence and maltreatment from time to time. Our ancestors revolted against the colonizers and overthrew a dictator in a different timeline for our country’s independence and freedom. As the Burmese face a coup, we too are facing adversities that challenge our democracy once more.

Carpio da trapo and her tarpo

O.M.G. Time for Results A week after, I got the results. There is a requirement of 75% as a passing rate and I got 68.19%, failed but eligible for a retake. I never considered the retake as my hopes dwindled the moment I haven’t passed my first take. From then on, I have shifted from Accountancy to Management Accounting in my graduating year. To be eligible to take the CPA Licensure Examination, there is a need to take another year for Accountancy but in other schools. Another year means another expenses, another time and effort, another adjustment, and another pressure. No one saw it coming, neither did I. The university that I thought would rescue me, will also drown me. My dreams were shattered and my plans were deferred. I was betrayed by my own university.

The longer we tolerate the severe attacks on press freedom, the weaponization of social media platforms to spread propagandas, the seemingly purposive unfurling of traitorous information by the head of our state and his blatant disregard for human rights — the sooner our democracy becomes paralyzed once again. As the Burmese continue to fight for their liberty against stratocracy, we are enduring a tyrannical ruler. As our Constitution remains disrespected by the existing administration to satisfy their apparent self-centered will, the quelling of everyone’s right to express grievances and opinions remains top priority by the rulers of both Myanmar and Philippines.

“

The Myanmar coup will never be an internal matter. Thus, the deprivation of one’s fundamental rights must be a concern amongst all of us — as it is a crime against humanity and as freedom is indispensable for everyone’s actuality. Nearing the national elections, we must brace for the worst outcome in regards with our disordered and gruesome status quo. May we be vigilant and smart enough to not let a facist or a dictator regenerate into power. Together with Myanmar, we must oppose fascism and uphold democracy at all costs. #StandWithMyanmar #OustDuterte

BALA: ang mga kaaki bat na mensahe ay maaaring manginis sa mga balahurang kulang sa pansin at mahilig mag-ingay, ngunit ang masasabi lamang sa kanila ng madlang nabubulabog, WALA KAMING PAKIELAM, TAMAAN, SAPUL!” Ang inaasahang pagtakbo para sa pagkapangulo ni Sara Carpio sa parating na 2022 ay ang pina nakakasulasok na sikreto na pinipilit na tinatago sa sambayanan. Sa kabila ng banta ng pandemya, maraming mga organisasyon ang naghihikayat sa alkalde ng Davao na tumakbo para sa pagka pangulo sa susunod na taon. Upang madagdagan ang naglalagablab na apoy, sinulsulan pa nito ang pagtakbo di umano ng kanyang patriyarka na si Rodrigo Duterte. Sa makatuwid, ang pagtakbo ni Sara Carpio sa susunod na halalan ay maaaring isang pagnanais na protektahan ang patrimonya ng kanyang ama at tulungang sanggalang si Mang Kanor mula sa mga posibleng mga kaso sa paglabag sa karapatang pantao pagkatapos ng terminto nito kung saan siya ay malamang na mapailalim. Ang kakimihan ni Carpio ay bahagi ng kapirasong namana niya mula sa kanyang ama na ginamit ng napakaraming beses noong naghahanda pa lamang ito para sa pagtakbo sa pagka pangulo noong 2016. Tunay nga naman na kung ano ang puno, siya rin ang bunga at lahat ng nasa pagitan. Sinisikap ni Carpio na maniobrahin ang kapalaran ng kanyang ama kaakibat ang kontrobersyal na ‘Run, Sara, Run’ caravan na naganap sa iba’t ibang panig ng Pilipinas. Ang isang panalo ay maaaring makatulong upang mainsulado ang kanyang patriyarka mula sa posibleng mga demanda laban dito. Kuha mo? Kahit na si Carpio ay hindi daang porsyentong sigurado, kumpyansa pa rin sa kanyang mga die hard supporters nito sa nalalapit na halalan, ang kanyang mga tagasuporta ay abala sa pagbitay ng “Run, Sara, Run” na mga tarpaulin sa kahabaan ng mga pangunahing kalsada, maging sa mga baryo at estero ay mapapansin ito. Sa pagkakataong ito, ang kanilang presensya saan mang plataporma ay maaaring mag udyok sa nakararami at mahulog muli sa matitimyas nitong mga salita. Katawa-tawa lamang kung iispin na ang “Run, Sara, Run,” slogan ay napakaraming pagwawangis kabilang na rito ang isang dalisay at taos-pusong pamamaalam sa isang namatay na palayawing aso. Datapwa’t, huwag tulutang maging hunghang at bangaw ang sarili sa mga nakatutuwang gimik na ito. Si Carpio ay mayroong mataas na tsansa at maaaring siya ang susunod na pangulo ng bansa na susundan nito ang yapak ni Pontio Pilato. Sa nakalipas na limang taon na gapok sa ilalim ng kamay na bakal ay siyang magpapatunay kung gaano

katibay ang tukod para sa mga Duterte sa kabila ng mahalay na mga kontrobersya. Lukob ng katakot-takot na mga pangyayari, hira at paninikluhod kung saan ang kargada ay pasan ng mga mamamayan. Sa kabilang dako, kung ibig talaga ng nakararami ang kasalukuyang pulutong ng mga oligarka at bagitong walang kasanayan na mga tagapaglingkod na magpapanatili lamang ng maling gawain at dahas sa bansa, bakit hindi ka mangahas na ipagpalagay na lang muli ang paghalal para kay Carpio? Nakalulungkot lamang isipin na matagal tagal na panahon at oras ang kailangang igugol upang maisaayos ang suliraning matagal ng kinahaharap ng bansa. Hindi lamang sa isang iglap ay matatapos at malulutas ang lahat ng ito, bagkus kailangan kumbinsihin ang mga botante na ang kanilang kapakanan ay ang pangunahing prayoridad at ipaglalaban sila sa bawat hakbang anuman ang kahahantungan nito. Walang katiyakan sa libong duda na kahit sinuman ang may potensyal na manipestasyon na mahusay sa pamamalakad ng isang bansa ay mapagtatagumpayan agad ito, Balikan na lang ang nakalipas na limang taon sa ilalim ng brusko at masokistang pamamahala, hampok ang moral malinaw na ang Perlas ng Silanganan ay nangangailangan ng ibang pangunang hanay keysa sa may dugong berdugo. Kung ang tunay na pagbabago ay siyang tunay na inaasam asam ng pamayanan, marapat lang na magpasiya ng maigi at maghalal gamit ang buong talino sa parating na halalan.

“

Isang namamayagpag na mensahe ang nais matugunan ng lahat ay magkaroon ng lakas ng loob na sundin ang inyong puso ngunit huwag kalimutang pakinabangan ang inyong kokote.

Ang mga tagapagtanggol ng mga inaapi ay dapat na parangalan bilang isang tagapangasiwa ng demokrasya sapagkat ang kanilang mga aksyon ay nagpapatunay kung sino sila at ipinapakita ang kanilang mga motibo at hangarin, Ito lamang ang paraan upang marinig ang iyong boses. Kailangan mong palayain ang inyong mga sarili mula sa inyong bahagi ng kamangmangan at kasakiman. Iba naman.

NEWS FEATURE

It’s lunchtime. Finally, a chance to sit down, enjoy a meal and find an accompanying form of entertainment either by clicking through TV channels or scrolling through social media platforms until one thing becomes noticeable: queer people seem to have dominated the entertainment industry, especially as comedians. Stereotypically, queer people are known to send their audiences into fits of laughter every time they come on stage. Their abilities to capture their audience with the incomparable wit and quick humor that they have has led not only their fans but their co-members as well to hang on to their every word. But as decades pass, with them continuously aiming to make their mark on other fields and industries, the LGBTQIA+ community has proven that they are more than the labels and prejudices. With the likes of Bretman Rock, Vice Ganda, Patrick Starrr, and Manila Luzon becoming household names, the LGBTQIA+ Community expands as those who are part of it grow inspired to be out of the boxes they are expected to be in.

Queer, Filipino, and Proud Queer Filipinos have taken not only the country and the world by storm as they revolutionize several industries with their hard work and talent. Meet the people serving as inspiration for those who dream of creating change in their industries and in society.

Santi for Fashion After winning as second runner up in Project Runway Ph il ippi nes Season 2

(2009), Santi Obcena went on and built House of Santi, his own atelier. Although a participant in the MEGA Young Designers 2011 and winner in the Bench-supported Ternocon 2018, Santi proves to be more than just a designer. As the quarantine began last year, Santi also began planning for something that would help lacking Filipinos: the #KaFaceMaskProject. What started as an idea to produce videos that can educate people to create their own face masks at home soon became an advocacy supported by people through donations and volunteers. Santi has also lent his genius crafts as a costume designer to films such as Temptation Island (2011), I Do Bidoo Bidoo: Heto nApo sila! (2012), and Hey Joe (2013).

Food, Friends, and Business A group of friends led by Lemon Toledo built their online food business, Bekirie Shop, with a vision of putting out healthy and cruelty-free baked goods for their future customers. Indeed, the owners are brimming with brains as they name their products beautifully and creatively. Week by week, they are able to hit their maximum number of orders with their goodies Bang Bang Lemon Loaf, If You Can Carrot Me, Blueberry than Blue Loaf, and many more. But the passionate friends do not only produce yummy treats; they also strive to create a positive, supportive, and love-filled environment as they organize charity events and donate half of their sales to those in need.

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Sam: Film Mastermind Filmmaker Samantha Lee ensures to champion queer representation in her films. As evident in Baka Bukas (2016) and Billie and Emma (2018), the film director portrayed the experiences of the LGBTQIA+ as realistically as possible. She has definitely geared another step for the community to be properly represented in mass media as Baka Bukas (2016) bagged several awards at the Cinema One Originals Film Festival and Billie and Emma (2018) was screened in the Osaka Asian Film Festival, Roze Filmdagen Amsterdam LGBTQ+ Film Festival, and other international film fests. Direk Sam is just one of many filmmakers who dreams of ending misrepresentation in the media and showing the authentic as well as other sides of their stories.

Bop with Jay Som “Bedroom pop” is how Los Angeles-based singer Jay Som describes the music she produces. But the keen ears of the music critics gave her debut album Everybody Works (2017) critical acclaim. Being the sole writer of the entire album did not hinder Som and her music to be part of the “Best Of” lists of music magazines/critics such as Billboard Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, and Rolling Stone. Her second album, Anak Ko, also received high praise and even a Grammy article. Her Filipino mother, who the experimental album was inspired from, must be proud! Indeed, these albums strengthen her indisputable 8prowess in the art of songwriting.

Rocero on the Ramp Geena Rocero shines her brightest not only as a transgender

Fil-Am supermodel, but also as a TedTalk speaker and a transright advocate. Together with Tracey Norman, she graced the cover of an edition of Harper Bazaar in 2016 as the first openly transgender models to do such. She has also reached a wide audience with her awe-inspiring and moving Ted Talk “Why I Must Come Out” with over 3.5 million views.

Del Rosario and Doble Discoveries Cristina del Rosario, a user experience and research designer, empowers people through technology. During her college years, she designed a medical device that aids in administering vaccines easily in rural areas in the country. She also worked with mechanical engineers in transporting vaccines and other medical equipment in Papua New Guinea for her undergraduate thesis. Del Rosario has pointed out that more and more LGBTQ+ scientists feel taken for granted which may lead to them moving to more secure countries — a loss that the Philippines will surely feel. Psychologist James Doble, a researcher on interpersonal relationships, noted that members of their community in the field of science have a hard time sharing their sexuality and identity with their fellow scientists unlike LGBTQIA+ artists. Doble uses this knowledge as he sat as the committee head in the premier LGBTQ+ organization, U.P. Babaylan, while completing his doctorate degree at U.P. Diliman. He is also affiliated with organizations such as Center for Open Science, South East Asian Network for Open Science (SEANOS), and

Philippine Researchers for Open Science (PROScience).

J. Neil: Truly Lit J. Neil C. Garcia, the director of the University of the Philippine Press, is a renowned poet and author whose book Philippine Gay Culture (1996, republished by Hong Kong University Press 2009) has become a true classic of queer scholarship in Asia. In one interview, the writer expressed how LGBT writers in the Philippines risk being disowned by their families as they come out through their writing. Regardless, Garcia continues to edit and publish literature such as the LadLad anthology of Filipino gay literature (1996) that inspires blooming queer writers like Ian Casocot, author of Old Movies and Other Stories (2005) and Bamboo Girls: Stories and Poems from a Forgotten Life (2018). These names are only a few of several more queer and proud Filipinos whose contributions to the country and even the world can never be denied. More so, they are continuously growing and increasing tenfold day by day. The community truly deserves far more than acceptance, but recognition and respect as well. As human beings, it is only right that the discrimination and violence against them ends now. More than the applause, what they need are safe spaces. Regardless of who they are and who they choose to be, they are worthy to be loved, respected, and seen as how they present themselves.

NEWS

FEATURE

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written By: honey de jesus

Page design by : Winston adam Lejarde

June 16, 2021 marked the last time a

prompted one of the largest protests

something Trixie calls an act of mindless

open an investigation on Duterte’s anti-

16-year-old boy, Johndy Maglinte, would

against the extrajudicial killings ongoing

violence towards her husband. Maglinte,

drug campaign to which Duterte refuses

ever get to see his family. At around

in the Philippines.

while lying face down, powerless and

to participate in.

4:30 PM, in Barangay Canlalay, Biñan

handcuffed, with nothing but his wife and

City, blood was shed when Maglinte

Similar to Maglinte’s case, his family

his child in mind, was begging for his life

and his companion, Antonio Dalit, were

and his live-in partner, Trixie, have a

to be spared, when the cops allegedly

request, Normita Lopez, the mom of

gunned down by cops during an anti-drug

different story to tell. According to them,

submerged his face down into a muddy

23-year-old drug war victim, Djastin

operation.

Maglinte did not fire gunshots against the

pool before mercilessly shooting and

Lopez, happily welcomes the possible

cops. Trixie even admitted he was indeed

killing him.

probe. She believes this is a step closer

The cops in question and as well as the official report by The Philippine

involved in illegal drugs, nonetheless did not acquire any firearm.

hearing

about

the

ICC’s

towards justice for the death of her son. “Grabe nga po ‘yung ginawa nila

National Police (PNP) Calabarzon state

sa asawa ko. Wala pong kalaban-laban

that both Maglinte and Dalit engaged

“Wala pong baril ‘yun, hindi po

in a gunfight with the arresting officers

yun marunong maghawak ng baril...

in Laguna, ultimately leading to their

Yung kasama niya may sakit, hindi nga

unfortunate deaths.

makatayo paano makapagbarilan ‘yun?”

A few days after the incident, the

His mother, Cristina Maglinte, insisted on

PNP claims they have identified the cop

ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo.

suspected of killing Maglinte without

This is not the first time cops make

Upon

such a claim. On the night of August

“...kung

dito

natin

kakasuhin

‘yung tao, ginawa po nilang baboy.” Trixie

Duterte, walang mangyayari. Kasi isa pa,

told Rappler in an interview.

presidente siya. Lahat mamamanipula niya. Lahat magagawa niya para hindi

disclosing the cop’s name.

siya makasuhan o makulong,” Lopez says. Djastin was killed last May 2017 for

16 2017, during a “one time, big time

Trixie also added that Maglinte and

operation”, 17-year-old Kian Delos Santos

Dalit were not killed simultaneously and

As Maglinte’s family awaits justice,

was accused of firing shots at the local

that Dalit was killed first. Maglinte was

Trixie is in charge of their one-year-old

cops of Caloocan City to which the cops

believed to have gone in Dalit’s house,

son and is currently pregnant with their

To think that citizens believe they

retaliated and ended up killing Delos

alongside an unnamed man, to deliver

second child. Johndy Maglinte, gone too

cannot rely on our own administration

Santos.

medicine. He witnessed the killing of

soon, would never be able to witness the

is proof of neglect and questionable

Dalit, provoking the cops to ruthlessly kill

birth of his newly born child nor be able to

governance.

the 16-year-old boy as well.

see his family ever again.

Later, it was revealed on CCTV that

allegedly resisting arrest amidst a police operation.

Delos Santos was instead, dragged into

lawyer

Carlo

Brolagda

emphasized in Rappler’s Law of Duterte

a dark alley, wherein several people

The cops demanded that Maglinte

witnessed, before being helplessly shot

and the unnamed man kneel before

in the head and killed by three Caloocan

them. Cristina said someone was able to

policemen.

record the encounter but only voices can

These cases are among the rough

be heard. This raises many questions as

estimate of 20,000 others based on

“Tama na po, may exam pa po ako

the PNP says there is a lack of evidence

government reports, making the presence

bukas!” was what Delos Santos allegedly

to prove that Maglinte was executed and

said as he begged for his life.

not killed during the alleged gunfight.

Land podcast,

A state-sponsored murder

police

brutality

“This

the

Philippines crystal clear.

not

mere

negligence,

someone is making it happen, it’s statesponsored murder.” Duterte’s last year of presidency is approaching. Can the ICC finally put a stop to this before his term ends? Will

The cops lied. It was a brutal murder after all.

The

unnamed

man

fled

from

the scene, leaving Maglinte with the cops. What happens next is

Three years later, these nine words still ring in the ears of many. The murder of Kian Delos Santos

On June 15, 2021, the International

Criminal

Court (ICC) Prosecutor, Fatou

Bensouda, requested

justice finally be served?

FEATURE

“Hustisya para kay Joseph Canlas!”, iyan ang isa sa mga panawagan na dumagundong sa araw na iyon. Naalala ko pa nang sinimulan ko ang pagsigaw habang nasa labas kami ng opisina ng Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luson (AMGL). Katumbas din ng nagkakaisang tinig ay ang paghikbi ng mga bata sa komunidad na iyon nang mala-

man nila ang mabigat na balita. Tiyak na marami sa amin ang hindi namalayan ang pagpatak ng luha bawat pagsambit ng salitang hustisya.

LUPA Taliwas iyon sa pangkaraniwan na senaryo kung saan matatagpuan siyang mahigpit ang hawak sa mikropono habang umalingawngaw ang boses s a

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lansangan. Kilala sa iba’t-ibang pangalan, Jose, Joseph, JC, Dada, ngunit higit na mas kilala bilang isang magsasaka at lider-aktibista sa Gitnang Luson. Sa panlabas na anyo, siya ang tagapangulo ng AMGL at bise-presidente ng Kilusang Magsasaka ng Pilipinas (KMP) ngunit para sa malawak na hanay ng masa-- isang kaibigan, ama, lolo, at kasama. Bago pa man tinahak ni Ka JC ang landas ng iilan, may pangalan na siyang nabuo sa ngalan ng pakikibaka. Sa lalawigan ng Arayat kung saan siya ipinanganak at lumaki, binuo niya ang Anakgubat kasama pa ang ibang lokal ng Arayat na nais ipatigil ang paninira ng likas-yaman dito

para sa turismo. Mga kapwa lokal na residente ang kasama niya rito at sa maraming pagkakataon ay . Sa kahusayan magsalita, nahalal din si Ka JC bilang barangay kagawad sa limang okasyon, likas na siguro sa kanya ang tumulong sa kapwa at sa mga inaapi. Sa loob ng 13 na taon ay nagsilbi siya bilang kagawad ng kanilang lokal na pamunuan. Kalauna’y umupo siya bilang Forester sa Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) mahigit kumulang apat na taon. Maari niya sanang piliin ang pagpapatuloy bilang parte ng gobyerno ngunit napagpasyahan niyang makiisa sa laban ng malawak na hanay ng masang Pilipino.

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KARAPATAN Makikita siya madalas na tagapagpadaloy ng pulong ng mga magsasaka at tuwing kailangan ng mga kompyutasyon ay siya ang unang makakasagot. Likas na malaki ang personalidad ni Ka JC ngunit ramdam pa rin namin bilang mga kasama niya ang mas malaki niya pang puso sa paglilingkod. “Mulat sa lahat ng bagay at responsableng ama at lolo,” iyan ang simple ngunit malaman na pasabi ni Jen, ang kaisa-isang babaeng anak ni Ka JC. Hindi naging hadlang ang kanyang pagiging aktibista sa pagiging ama at asawa. Repleksyon din iyon ng puspusan niyang pakikibaka para sa tunay na reporma sa lupa. Binansagan ni Ka JC na parang kalamay na hinahati-hati at kinakamkam ang mga lupain sa Gitnang Luson. Sa pagraratsada ng Build, Build, Build sa rehiyon, 65,000 na mga lokal mula sa 12 na baryo, pati ang halos 18,000 na mga katutubong Aeta ang mawawalan ng tirahan. Nagsilbi ang AMGL bilang organo ng paggiit ng karapatan para sa lupa at kabuhayan at pangangampanya para sa mga karapatan na ito. Tulad na lang ng Welgang Bayan sa Hacienda Luisita noong 2014 hang-

gang sa kasalukuyang land grabbing sa 75,500 hectares ng lupang ninuno sa Mt. Abo at iba pang karatig probinsya tulad ng Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Zambales. Tuwing may pagkakataon ay nakikilahok din si Ka JC sa mga aktibidad ng mga kabataan at iba pang batayang sektor. Binabahagi ang kalagayan ng uring magsasaka, may ilang beses na rin siya naging tagapagsalita tuwing mga forum at roundtable discussions. Hindi sapat ang isang pahina upang ilahad lahat ang naging karanasan niya sa buhay na inalay niya sa ngalan ng pakikibaka.

HUSTISYA Umagang-umaga, papasilip pa lang ang araw ng mga oras na iyon. Andon na rin ang lagim na hatid ng estado at kapulisan. Pinasok, binusabos, plinantahan, yinurakan. Iyan ang buod ng naging iligal na pag-aresto kay Ka JC noong ika- 30 ng Marso sa opisina ng AMGL. Kasabay nito ay ang pagkahuli rin kay Pol Viuya, ang tagapangulo ng Workers Alliance in Region III (WAR-III), sa

FEATURE 10 kanilang opisina sa Tarlak. Pareho silang plinantahan ng mga armas at sinampahan ng gawa-gawa kaso. Sa loob ng higit dalawang buwan sa piitan, marahas na kondisyon at kapabayaan ang niranas ni Ka JC at maging si Ka Pol. Bilang may edad na rin na may diabetes at hypertension, kinukunsidera siya bilang bulnerable sa COVID-19. Para sa mga naiwan, walang bangungot ang katumbas ng lagim ng riyalidad. Ang primaryang dahilan ng pagkapatay ni KA JC, at ng marami pang bilanggong pulitikal, ay ang kapabayaan ng estado. Nagluksa ang masang-api’t pinagsasamantalahan sa pagkawala ni Ka JC, isang kamatayan na mas mabigat pa sa Bundok Arayat. Hindi na siya matatagpuan sa ilalim ng tirik na araw sa lansangan ng Rotonda Angeles City. Hindi na rin maririnig ang malakas na tinig sa tapat ng opisina ng DAR. Kundi matatagpuan si Ka JC sa piling at alaala ng mga masa, kung saan may pang-aapi, mayroong pakikibaka. Sa pinakasulok-sulukan ng mga tagpi-tagping kaba-

hayan ng mga maralitang lungsod, sa mga pagtitipon ng mga manggagawa t’wing tanghalian, hanggang sa mga madilim na umaga para sa mga magsasaka sa kanayunan. Sa pagitan ng mga balita sa radyo, telebabad, at lathalain ng mga pahayagang pangkampus---may panawagan para sa hustisya, karapatan, at kalayaan. Ayon sa Human Rights Watch sa taong 2019 ay mahigit 27,000 na ang bilang ng mga extrajudicial na pamamaslang. Hindi pa kasama rito ang mga nasa kasalukuyang biktima ng patuloy na kapabayaan ng estado. Milyon-milyon naman ang magkakaisa at titindig upang singilan ang administrasyong Duterte sa inutang nitong dugo at buhay. Walang humpay ang paggiit sa hustisya tulad ng walang humpay na pakikibaka ng sambayanang Pilipino para maisakatuparan ang isang lipunan na pantay-pantay.

FEATURE

2gether, pass or play?

Whether you’re queer or just

huge crush on him.

VOLUME 74 ISSUE 1

JUNE - AUGUST 2021

Written by Khrisanne Salvador Page design by Maria Angela Manaloto also set during the pandemic and

looking for some ‘kilig’ series

Since then, Thai BL drama

also sharing information on how

or swoon-worthy same-sex re-

series continued to gain popu-

we can combat the virus. This

lationship shows, the Boys’

larity in the Philippines including

only added more to the story and

Love (BL) and Girls’ Love (GL)

TharnType, I Told Sunset About

hit closer to the hearts of the com-

series can be quite addicting

You, and Dark Blue Kiss as some

munity.

to watch. Here are some shows

of the most popular ones. This

The success of Gameboys led

you can try.

jump-started the idea of having

other filmmakers to embrace BL

Pinoy BL series.

stories and put them out as series

The BL series has now become more and more popular in the mainstream media. The rise of the new genre in the Philippines started during the first quaran-

Coming out and coming home

Soon, Gameboys under the

tine months, although it has been

IdeaFirst Company, the first Pinoy

around other countries for quite a

BL series, was released. Game-

while already.

boys shows a rather traditional

A light start

courting phase but with same-

including Hello Stranger, Quaranthings, and Gaya sa Pelikula (GSP) as some of the most popular ones.

To redeem our story

GSP under Globe Studios is

sex couples. A streamer, Cairo

worth a mention as the crew cast

2gether the Series, a Thai

(played by Elijah Canlas), caught

the main character who is actually

BL series, appealed to a lot of

the attention of an out gay man,

a part of the community. Howev-

the gays falling in love with a

Gavreel (played by Kokoy De San-

er, Juan Miguel Severo, the writer,

straight man as one of the char-

tos), who then studied his game

admitted that it was challenging to

acters, Tine (played by Win Met-

moves to beat Cairo on one of

cast queer actors because of the

awin), asks a gay man, Sarawat

his streams and possibly win his

“systematic homophobia”. GSP

(played by Bright Vachirawit), to

heart too. Gameboys also tackled

is a favorite as it showcases a lot

be his pretend boyfriend to evade

coming out to your family and the

of symbolism and experiences of

another gay man, Green (played

possible reactions you get from

those parts of the community.

by Gun Korawit), who has a

them or even how you would react yourself.

It’s

Perhaps you’ve heard of the ‘prom scene’ wherein

Karl

FEATURE 12

VOLUME 74 ISSUE 1

JUNE - AUGUST 2021 (played by Paolo Pangilinan) and

demand to showcase the story of

want. As we are used to gays and

Vlad (played by Ian Pangilinan)

Gavreel’s best friend and ex-girl-

lesbians being just the best friend

get to experience what most gays

friend in Gameboys, Pearl (played

or having side roles for comedic

in the community weren’t able to

by Adrianna So), a social media

purposes, BL and GL series are a

due to pressure to conform in a

influencer who shares her ideas

big leap for the LGBTQIA+ Com-

heteronormative society that dis-

and debunks a lot of stereotypes

munity’s goal to a proper repre-

courages them to display these

and misconceptions surrounding

sentation on the mainstream me-

actions in school events and other

girl-to-girl relationships and even

dia.

public places. It was an emotional

polyamory. A courting competi-

We are yet to see a full repre-

night for those who watched this

tion between Karleen (played by

sentation of the entire communi-

as they felt that they were able to

Iana Bernardez) and Alex (played

ty, especially that the SOGIE Bill

redeem their story.

by Rachel Coates) shows that the

is not yet fully implemented. Let

GSP recently released a 3-ep-

cliche love triangle does not only

us continue our call to end gen-

isode Gaya Sa Pelikula Special:

happen with heterosexual rela-

der-based discrimination, PRIDE

Ang Pagbawi ng Ating Kwento

tionships.

remains a protest more than a

where they showed some be-

BL and GL series not only

celebration and tiny representa-

hind-the-scenes, interview, and

deliver a new angle that focus-

tions are just a small win for the

audition footage, the ideas of

es on the LGBTQIA+ community

community.

those behind the camera as they

and showing that their stories are

We all have our stories but

discuss the stories behind every

worth sharing too, they use the

only a few are shared. However,

symbolism. While trying to tell a

spotlight to shine while educat-

like the series, our stories may

story, GSP also ought to spread

ing the viewers about how it is to

inspire and spark something in

awareness and educate the view-

be them, how they feel, and even

the viewers’ hearts and minds.

ers about euphemisms and being

how scary it is for them to be who

As the fight continues, more and

true to who you are.

they really are.

more stories will be out, they may

For the girls too

After Gameboys, the num-

ber of BL series only grew and it

One point, the fight continues The LGBTQIA+ Community

has been an upward trend since

has expressed great joy and ex-

then. The IdeaFirst Company

citement on various social media

even produced a GL series titled

sites that they are now closer to

Pearl Next Door due to popular

achieving the representation need

they

and

have happy endings and they may not, but they are our stories. Now, would you mind if we grab some popcorn before you share yours?

LITERARY

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Espektro Caged by Kyra Villena

Walking in a crowded room Where everyone is new Unfamiliar faces, personalities— It feels odd to be you. Walking down the streets Feels like walking in a cage. Walking with handcuffs, Walking with limitations. This is supposed to be a free nation, Why does it seem like I’m in a locked-up situation? Where everything needs to be censored. All eyes are looking at you, ready to judge and spread the news. Potentials, talents are chose to be buried. Because of fear—fear to be called by names, Fear to be avoided by some people, Fear to be rejected by society. Why do we need to fight for our freedom? When it is already given to us. We deserve to be free from the judgment of others, So as from our own judgments of ourselves.

Finally, You Are Free by Brennan Manaloto

Looking up the sky, the flames burning bright, Reflected in the rainbow light. Speechless how you keep holding your hand, Trying to show the world what you truly understand. How can you be yourself When you don’t know how to be different? Trying to be composed and not scared, In hopes of living freely in the moment. The more you try to threaten yourself and hide, Chaos and pain will surely collide. You are like a butterfly trying to fly freely, Still struggling how to be free. Fly and command them as they follow blind, Let your value submerge in their mind. You keep hiding in a fort that is cold inside, Even though you have nothing to hide. Give yourself a chance like the raindrops, Oh, the feeling of being free never stops. Let your wings ignite your flames, To show the true color that you claim.

ni Khriseanne Elizabeth Salvador Pula, gaano karaming dugo pa ba ang kailangang dumanak? Walang habas na pagbabato ng masasakit na salita’t mga sapak Bakit hindi pa rin tanggap kahit kadugo’t sariling anak? Kung kasing-kasarian ang binibigyan ng bulaklak Kahel, ang kulay ng damit na isinusuot sa kulungan Mga inosenteng walang hangad kundi ang kanilang karapatan Kasalanan nga ba ang pagiging totoo sa kasarian? Bakit ang bagsak nila ay sa bilangguan? Dilaw, ang teyp na marka ng mga karumaldumal na karahasan Sa mga lugar na saksi sa pakikibaka’t pakikipagsapalaran Para sa mga kapatid, hindi magsasawang manindigan Iba’t ibang mga kulay ngunit iisa ang ipinaglalaban. Luntiang higit ang damo para sa mga heteroseksuwal, Lubos na pinapaboran ang mga itinuturing na normal. Mga huwad na pagtanggap, talagang nakaduduwal Hindi sapat ang pagkunsinti kundi buong suporta’t pagmamahal Bughaw, hindi ba’t simbolo ka ng kapayapaan at kalayaan? “Pag naglantad, bakit tila kidlat na ika’y biglang tatamaan Nagpapakatotoo lamang at walang tinatapakan Pikit mata, takip tainga sa usapang pangkarapatan” Lila tulad ng mga ubas na kay tagal hinintay bago inumin Hanggang maging kulay morado bago simsimin. Pero gaya ng alak, ilang dekada bago makamit ang mithiin, Sama-sama natin itong salubungin na may punong baso’t panalangin. Hangga’t ang pula ay naihahalintulad sa dugo kaysa pag-ibig, Hangga’t ang kahel ay isinusuot ng mga inosente na pinili lamang umibig, Hangga’t ang dilaw ay patuloy na binabalot ang mga lugar ng pakikibaka, Hangga’t ang luntiang damo ay mas matingkad para sa iba, Hangga’t ang bughaw ay simbolo na ang ating uhaw ay hindi pa napapawi, Hangga’t ang lilang alak ay hindi pa naitatagay para ipagdiwang ang ating pagwawagi, Hindi matatapos ang ating pakikipagtunggali Hanggang ang tunay na kalayaan ay atin nang nabawi.

Repainted Masterpiece by Brennan Manaloto Life has taught you how to be strong, But you keep learning how to be weak. Scared to look for yourself, Trying to find what you truly seek. You were like a seed, planted to grow, In hopes of seeing a bright tomorrow. Found yourself in the emptiness you’ve made, Yet trying to escape as the darkness invade. You were once lost but never far, Thought you were damaged and defeated. You believed that you will thrive, prosper, and grow, Like a masterpiece, you were repainted.

Free

by Precious Medina Hiding in gloom, Swallowed by fear. Suffocating atmosphere In a lonely darkened room. Finding the light To advance into this fight Where souls are free Where souls are happy. Acceptance is the key To journey into equality. In every division of chapter Everyone’s existence matter. A thousands of unspoken words Will not be unheard anymore For I will be free, For I will be me.

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ni Arlin Salonga “Pasensya na. Ganito ang puso ko.” Pinagmasdan ko ang inaalay mong kalooban. Matingkad ito sa kaibuturan, ngunit nababalot pa rin ng itim, ng kadiliman. “Pasensya na. Sa pagsasama ng lahat ng kulay, nabuo ang kawalan nito.” Piniling ko ang ulo patagilid. Tanging mga mata ang sumusunod sa’yo na kanina pa nagsasalita. “Pasensya na. Ang inaasahang katauhan ay maskara lamang.” Ito siguro ang dahilan ng iyong pagtangis gabi-gabi. Sa tuwing nasisilip ko ang iyong namumugtong mga mata, lumalakas ang kagustuhan na ika’y tabihan. Dahil alam kong walang himbing kahit sa iyong mga panaginip. “Pasensya na. Hindi ito ang inyong inasahan. Ang hinuhulmang bato ay lumaking isang mariposa.” Hanggang ngayon ay walang imik ang dalawang pigurang kanina mo pa kasama. “Pasensya na. Alam kong mahirap itong tanggapin kaya hindi na iyon ang hihingin. Kahit inyong pag-intindi na lamang ay sapat na para sa akin.” Katahimikan. Maging ako’y nagpigil ng hininga. Tumayo si Ama. Inaasahan kong yayakapin ka niya. Ngunit tiningnan ka lamang niya saka siya umalis. Nanatiling nakaupo si Ina. Ilang minuto ang dumaan. Dumampi ang kanyang kamay sa iyong balikat... ngunit naglakad din siya palayo. Ikaw ngayon ang naupo. Sa sahig nakapako ang tingin. Paulit-ulit ang paghingi ng pasensya sa hangin — kahit hindi naman dapat. Nagpasya akong lumapit. Hindi lubusang mahinuha ang pangambang mayroon ka, pero tanging lumbay sa akin ang hatid ng iyong kalungkutan. Isang yakap. Sinalubong ng iyong naluluhang mga mata ang akin na puno ng pagtanggap. Isang ngiti. Kung walang ibang magsasabi, hayaan mong ako ang bumulong sa’yo at sa mundo: “Proud ako sa’yo... Ate.” Ako ang magsisilbing araw para sa iyong bahaghari.

LITERARY 14 Banaag ng ‘yong lilom sa alapaap ni Hannah Pineda Kaulayaw sa kapanahunan na nagdaan, simbuyo ng damdamin hindi mapawalan Kalipon ng kaibuturan, hindi malimitan magpataka sa karilagan Sa saligan ng balangaw na pinanggalingan, mapusyaw na kulay mo pinagpipitagan Sa lilim ng bahaghari minsan pang muli ika’y masilayan Iba-iba man ang panulukan, pinangungunahan pa rin ng agamagam Sa pagdatal ng ‘yong diwa, hinahanap-hanap sa pagtigmak siglang malamlam Sabuyan mo ako ng ‘yong paggiliw, tutungayawin ko ang kahulilip ng walang pamamaalam Kasinlaya man ng hiningang humuhulas, pangungumpisal ng pagtudla’y mahayap at maparam Ligaya na ‘yong ayin ay aking dadamhin, salungat man sa karamihan ito’y lilipakin Matitimyas na pagsatsat, natudla na siyang tunay na mapanudyong tatanggapin Mawatasan nawa sana na hindi lubhang kagyat na katiganin Siya namang aking mamarapatin sa pagsapit ng bukangliwayway kakandiliin Buktot man ang sumugal sa alanganin, huwag lamang sana ipagkait kung mamarapatin Lululin man aking kahalangdon, pag-aatubilin pilit isasantabi maiparating lamang ang sasambitin Pawang ligalig ang nararamdaman na siya namang hahatulan ng haramihan huwag sikilin Lipos ng pagsinta kung palalayawin, mapakali lamang ang isipang nabimbin Sandamakmak na atas ang hindi maihayag sa tuwing kaagapay Nananalangin na sa bawat paglubog ng kapanahunan dilim huwag umagapay Mawaglit man sa tanaw asahan na susuungin ang sansinukob asahang ang siyang paggabay Pahintulutan lamang igugol, ang kaingatang kalakip ng pagsintang ito’y tunay na dalisay.

TA L AGA NG hindi na mapipigilan ang paglusob ng Trese sa mga puso ng manonood hindi lamang sa Pilipinas kundi pati na sa buong mundo, mula nang ilabas ito noong Hunyo. Bukod kasi sa pagtataglay ng Mitolohiyang Pilipino, ito ang kaunaunahang animated series na galing sa kabuuan ng Timog-Silangang Asya na binuo, sinuportahan, at pinondohan ng Netflix (Puyat, 2021). Dahil dito, natuklasan kong hindi birong sampung taon o higit pa ang ginugugol ng mga comic artists at animators upang kumumpleto ng serye—bilang printed comic book man o napapanood na anime. Halimbawa na rito ang Hagibis (1946)[ A Philippine mythology action-adventure comic series (Komikero Komiks Museum, n.d.)] ni Francisco V. Coching[ January 29, 1919 – September 1, 1998 (National Commission for Culture and the Arts, n.d.)] (National Artist for Visual Arts, 2014) na nanahan sa Liwayway Magazine ng labinlimang taon, ang first tradigitally [A technique combining celluloid (or cel) and

computergenerated animation (Asis, 2017).] produced full-length animated film na Urduja (2008)[ A film adaptation of the legendary Pangasinense warrior Princess named “Urduja.”] nina Antonio Tuviera at Michael Tuviera na 13 years in the making (11 years of pre-production and 2 years of actual production), at syempre ang 16-year journey ng Trese (2021) nina Budjette Tan at Kajo Baldisimo from comics to Netflix.

Sopistikadong Aswang

Hindi ko maiwasang isipin, habang kasama ang mga kaibigan sa Discord, kung ilan pa kaya sa iba’t ibang dako ng mundo ang kasabay naming nanonood noong mga oras na ‘yon? Ilan kaya sa kanila ang namangha at nagkaroon ng interes sa ating mitolohiya? Ilan kaya ang naniwala sa kung paanong pinakita’t pinakilala sa serye ang ating mga aswang? Bago maka-engkwentro ang mga saliksik at kwentong aswang nina Allan Derain[ Writer and researcher focusing in Philippine mythology, currently teaching Creative Writing at Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) (Ateneo de Manila University, n.d.)], isa rin ako sa mga Pilipinong nasakop sa ideyang panakot lang ang mga ito, paraan ng pandidisiplina. Ngunit nung ako’y pumailalim pa sa mga babasahin gaya ng antolohiyang May Tiktik sa Bubong, May Sigbin sa Silong (pinamatnugutan ni Sir Allan), doon ko

nala ma ng sopistikado pala talaga ang pagiging aswang. Hindi biro ang mga detalye na nasa likod ng paglikha nito. Halimbawa, pagbukas pa lang nung libro, sa “Mga Paunang Tala Ukol sa Agham at Etika sa Likod ng Programa ng Manananggal ng Sociedad Científica” ni Alvin B. Yapan, naisakatha ang manananggal sa pamamagitan ng pagtingin dito sa lente ng taksonomiya at ebolusyon bilang Homo insecare kung saan nangyayari ang “pagtatagpo ng landas ng ebolusyon ng mammal at ng insekto.” Hindi tao, hindi hayop, may sariling kasaysayan at identidad na malayo sa imahinasyong popular kung saan sila’y inihihilig sa mga paniki. Nag-iiba-iba rin ang kwentong aswang depende sa rehiyong pinagmulan nito. Ayon kay Frank Lynch[ 1921-1978. A Jesuit priest who served as the founding director of the Institute of Philippine Culture at ADMU (International Bulletin, 1979)], may tatlong klase raw ng pagiging aswang: (1) Namamana, (2) Nahahawa, at (3) Matinding kagustuhan na maging aswang. Bawat isa sa mga paraang ito, may kanyakanyang kaparaanang sinusunod, at mahalagang malaman na hindi lang si Lynch ang taong nagsaliksik sa ating mga aswang. Gayunpaman, may kakaibang katangian ang aswang na makikita sa mga sulating ito: ang kakayahang magbagong anyo—na s’yang “pinaka-tumimo” o tumatak kay Edgar Samar[ Writer and

resea rcher specializing in Philippine comics, also currently teaching Creative Writing at ADMU (Ateneo de Manila University, n.d.)][ Kanyang banggit sa webcast na “Usapang Aswang at iba pang Kwentong Bayan”] mula sa lahat ng naratibong aswang sapagkat kaya nitong gumawa ng “pagdududa sa isa’t isa… dahil hindi mo alam kung sino ang aswang at kung sino ang hindi...” Sa puntong kahit si Alexandra Trese malilito pag nagbalatkayo ang aswang bilang isang anghel at humanay sa mga tunay. At siguro, dito nagiging totoo ang sabi ni Mihk Vergara[ Isa sa mga manunulat ng Trese ] na “[Trese] She’s in all of us.” Kung hindi lito, ay walang alam sa sariling mga kwentong bayan. Sa halip ay mas alam pa ang nangyari sa Odyssey at mas kilala si Prometheus kesa kay Gugurang. Tuloy, gaya ng makikita sa serye, naging lunsaran na lang ng kwento ang ating mga aswang, mga pagsubok at pansuportang karakter lang para kay Trese. Maitutulad sa pagpapakita nila ng Kamaynilaan bilang background: maganda at pamilyar sa paningin ngunit hindi lubusang kilala. Hindi na sila itinuturing bilang mga nilalang na may sarili. Kapuna-puna rin ang paggamit ng mga salitang “tribo” at “angkan” sa serye na kahit lapatan pa ng creative license ay hindi uubra kung historikal at kultural na aspeto sa konteksto ng Pilipinas ang paguusapan. Lalo pa, gaya ng banggit

ng Trese team sa dokumentaryong Trese After Dark, kwentong sariling atin daw iyong palabas. Sa kanyang essay na “Why there are no tribes in the Philippines” pinaliwanag ng antropologong si Dr. Jesus T. Peralta na bilateral ang sistema ng ating kinship kung saan pareho nating kinikilala ang tatay at nanay na ating pinagmumulan. ‘Di gaya sa Kanluran, na s’yang pinagmulan nung salita, na unilineal lamang ang pagkakamag-anak kung saan patriyarkal ang pagkilala.

Talentadong Aswang

May mahabang kasaysayan ang pagkuha sa mga artista sa telebisyon bilang voice actors sa mga animated films at series. Simula sa pinakaunang animated film sa bansa, ang Adarna: The Mythical Bird (1997) na binosesan nina Regine Velasquez at Martin Nievera hanggang sa pinakaunang Pinoy animated TV series na Barangay 143 (2018-present) kung saan tampok naman sina Julie Anne San Jose at Ruru Madrid. Sa Trese, makikita sa mga social media platform na marami ang pumuna at “na-put off” sa voice acting (VA) ni Liza Soberano bilang Alexandra Trese dahil daw walang emosyon at hindi bagay ang boses nito sa karakter. At habang ako rin ay malungkot na sumasangayon sa mga komentong iyon, inihayag naman ng Pinoy VA talent na si Inka Magnaye sa kanyang

VOLUME 74 ISSUE 1

JUNE - AUGUST 2021 tweet na: “Don’t get me wrong, when I say her [Liza’s] voice fits the role, I mean it does talaga and I bear no hate towards her at all!” Pero hindi lang ito ang dahilan kung bakit nag-trend kahit sa Facebook ang nasabing tweet kundi dahil sa pagbahagi n’ya ng opinyon sa VA dito sa bansa. “At the same time, moving forward, I really do wish animated films would give the PH VAs a chance. The same thing happened with Hayop Ka.” Dagdag ni Inka. Dito, naglabas ng maikling statement ang Rocketsheep Studio na s’yang nasa likod ng kilalang animated films na Hayop Ka (2020) at Saving Sally (2016), na may panimulang: “The hot take that our local animations should cast Voice Actors instead of Celebs is incredibly ignorant to the reality of the state of Pinoy Animation. The reason why we have to cast Celebs is simple, money... you know that elusive thing people need to make art?” Mahihinuha sa pag-aaral na The Perforation in Philippine Animation Industry: Original Content Full Length Animated Films (2017) ng mananaliksik na si Love Cabrera Asis, na bagaman noong 1950s pa nagkaroon ng animation sa bansa, kinilala pa lamang ito bilang isang ganap na industriya noong 1980s at inabot ng anim na taon bago nasundan ang first Pinoy full-length 3D animated film na

RPG-Metanoia (2010) samantalang late-90s pa lang ay naglalabas na ng ganito sa Kanluran. “There is so much to talk about the problems of unsuccessful animated films. This can even lead us into different topics such are education, support, economy, finance, technology and resources. Each problem is linked to the other.” Konklusyon ni Asis. Sa ganitong siste maaari nating maipagtugma na ang problema sa VA ay hindi lamang nasa voice talents kundi sa kanilang direktor din, ang problema sa animation ay ‘di lang nasa animators kundi lalong higit, sa resources na mayroon sila, at ang cultural inaccuracies ay ‘di maaaring isisi lang sa manunulat kundi sa kakulangan din sa ating sistemang pang-edukasyon. Isang malaki ring pagsugal sa parte ng producer/s ang pagkuha sa mga artista dahil malaking halaga ang kaakibat nito pero walang kasiguraduhan ang pagbalik. Gaya na lamang ng nangyari sa animated film na Dayo (2008) na pinagbidahan nina Nash Aguas at Pokwang na umabot lang sa 5.6 milyong piso sa box office[ A measure of how popular and financially successful a movie or actor is (Cambridge Dictionary, n.d.)] subalit ginastusan ng 58 milyong piso para mabuo (Asis, 2017). Muli, isa itong malinaw na manipestasyon ng kakulangan ng suporta sa industriya. Pero kung talento na lang din ang pag-uusapan ay marami tayo nyan, sabi nga ni Inka, “Support ALL Filipino talent. I promise you, WE ARE WORTH IT.”

Mala-anghel na Aswang

Marahil ay hindi ko nga nahanap sa Trese ang “mayroon” na nais kong pumuna sa kawalan ng tamang pagkilala sa ating mga aswang at talento. Ang pagkakaroon kasi ng pagkilalang ito ay malaking hakbang tungo sa dekolonisasyon at pantaypantay na oportunidad para sa lahat ng talentong Pilipino. Isa iyong hudyat ng pangmalakihang

pagkilala sa kulturang totoong atin at pagtungo sa progresibong hinaharap ng Filipino artistry. Pero hindi ibig sabihin ay kasalanan ng mga tao sa likod ng serye o ng mismong serye. Hayan nga’t may gumawa at naglapat pa ng mga alternatibong voice acting at soundtrack para sa serye, na sa aking palagay ay isang pagpapakita ng don’t-settle-for-less na katangian nating mga Pilipino. Limandaang taon na ang lumipas mula noong lumuhod ang aswang sa harap ng kahoy na krus at pinalitan ng mga banal na imahe. Pero hangga’t may mga cultural workers, mga historyador, at mga alagad ng sining na sinisindihan ang ilaw sa kanyang dadaanan, hindi naman imposible na makabalik ito sa kanyang tirahan. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit kailangang dapat kapit-bisig na itaguyod ang cultural accuracy at resources (para sa mga pananaliksik at production funding) upang magawa at mapagyabong ang likhang sining ng mga Pilipino. ‘Yung tipong sa sobrang ganda ng pagkaka-katha ay maninibugho ‘di lang ang mga anghel kundi pati na ang Diyos ng mga ito.

SANGGUNIAN Asis, L. C. (2017, February 16). The Perforation in Philippine Animation Industry: Original Content Full Length Animated Films [A research published online]. dlsu.edu.ph. Retrieved July 7, 2021, from https://www.dlsu.edu.ph/wp-content/ uploads/pdf/conferences/ar ts-cong ressproceedings/2017/paper-46.pdf Ateneo de Manila University. (n.d.). Kagawaran ng Filipino. admu.edu. Retrieved July 9, 2021, from https://www.ateneo.edu/ ls/soh/filipino/faculty/samar-edgar-c-phd Ateneo de Manila University. (n.d.). Kagawaran ng Filipino. admu.edu. Retrieved July 9, 2021, from https://www.ateneo.edu/ ls/soh/filipino/faculty/derain-allan-alberton-phd Barangay 143:

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launched via Zoom and published live on

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& Ateneo University Press. (2021, June 21).

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Usapang Aswang at iba pang mga Kwentong

K., Yuson, T., Olivas, J., Vergara, M.,

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event]

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28-29). Creative Futures 2021 [A free online

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36). Ateneo de Manila University Press. Yuson,

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Producer).

NEWS

The Philippines of today is an accumulation of all the accomplishments and failures of the legislators of the past and present. From Hen. Aguinaldo to Rodrigo Duterte, history itself is a testament to how powerful and influential the Chief Executive of the nation is. As the 17th Presidential Election draws near, it’s important to be reminded of how significant this event is in the country’s history beyond the spectacle that entails it. Through the years, the election period has become a patalbugan of campaign materials and strategies amongst political candidates and parties. The era of digital media also gave birth to the rampant spread of false information and other electoral discrepancies. It became a popularity contest and an ego-showdown that lead to the distorted view of the election. During the election period, Filipinos would often wake up to

jingles singing praises to the political candidates and be forced to see or watch several campaign materials in the public and digital spaces. It is also considered normal to witness candidates throwing malicious claims against one another in hopes to sway the masses. The rise of social media also gave public figures another avenue to expand their reach and influence public opinion towards their interest. These are common scenes that truthfully signify the start of the election period in the country. The upcoming election would be more important and interesting as several legislators struggle to maintain n equilibrium with the growing diverse registered voters. As of June 2021, COMELEC, Commission on Elections, surpassed their 4 Million target number for newly registered voters and will soon reach 60 million registered voters by the end of September. A

large number of Filipinos eligible to vote will serve as a challenge to every Presidential candidate. However, aside from earning the highest number of votes, the incoming President would soon be governing over several key issues that the country is facing today. The pageantry and clutters of campaigns are merely background noise to the real intention of the season. Today, the fight in ending the ongoing health pandemic sheds light on several societal issues that have been poorly addressed for the longest time. Aside from the fame and power that a government position holds, elected political figures are expected to provide legal and justifiable solutions/actions to key issues that will lead to a positive impact on the country and the people.

Here are some crucial issues that need to be addressed by the government in the following years:

The Economic Status The country’s economy suffered the most during the height of the pandemic. With long and strict community lockdowns in place, businesses struggle to remain afloat and profitable. The 4.2% shrink in the economy during the 1st Quarter of this year is undeniably unfortunate compared to the country’s economic growth at 6.4 percent in the 4th Quarter of 2019, as recorded by the Philippine Statistics Authority. Additionally, the World Bank decreases its GDP forecast for the Philippines in 2021 — from a 5.5 percent projection down to 4.7 percent. The downfall of the economy is also stemmed from the number of unemployed or laid-off Filipino workers during the pandemic. The closure of businesses and the restrictions of the pandemic led several to lose their source of income. As the community lockdown continues, the number of Filipinos sinking in poverty increases. In a report by the World Bank, about 2.7 million Filipinos will suffer the collapse of the economy.

Debts, Debts, and Debts Amidst the Bayanihan Heal as One Acts, the country’s debt has surpassed the Billion mark and amusingly reached the Trillions. As of April 2021, Rappler reported that the national debt is at a record high of P10.99 trillion. These are accumulations of loans from domestic and foreign banks in hopes to resolve the financial constraints brought by the pandemic.

Health Care The pandemic revealed the overlooked and systematic flaw of the health care system of the country. Aside from overworked and underpaid medical practitioners, several hospitals lack the basic equipment, facilities, and bed capacity to support the Filipino people. This was heavily felt during the COVID-19 surges. Prior to the pandemic, several medical institutions are already understaffed and

underequipped. In 2017, World Health Organization records that the ratio between medical doctors to the population is at 6:10,000. Aside from this, the gap between the rich and poor is also heavily felt in the health care system of the country. Despite the advancement of urban areas and global cities, several remote barangays have limited to no access to competent health institutions. According to data synthesized by Rappler, about 7 out of 10 Filipinos die without seeing a doctor. To further aggravate the situation, for the past years, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has been the center of corruption controversies. In a country with an overwhelming number of people living in poverty, Filipinos are highly dependent on the universal health care system for their medical expenses. The current administration has alloted the Department of Health a total of P172.37 billion budget for 2020 however the rollout of the Universal Health Care Law is yet to be felt by the Filipino masses.

Education Prior to the introduction of flexible learning, Filipino students are subjected to enroll in public schools with insufficient classrooms, equipments, and other materials. The increasing number of enrollees is not proportionate to the facilities schools have to offer. In a report by Manila Bulletin in 2019, schools in the National Capital Region often experience overcrowding in schools with students sharing a classroom with another section. Aside from this, the lack of faculty employees is also a major issue in most schools. The unavailability of learning materials, comfort rooms, and adequate facilities are also common scenes in public schools. Now, as flexible learning continues, several students from poverty-stricken families struggle to adapt to the needs and demands of the medium. According to the Department of Education (DepEd), about 4 million Filipino students were unable to enroll for the School Year 2020-2021, the first year of flexible learning. Aside from this, the World Bank reports that the Philippine’s education system is in crisis as poor learning results were observed among Filipino students, a claim that the DepEd immediately denied.

West Philippine Sea Despite the country’s win against the People’s Republic of China in the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016, the territorial dispute continued to grow worse as more than 200 Chinese vessels are identified in the Julian Felipe Reef. The foreign country remains adamant about the international’s court ruling and instead claims its non-existent right to the entire West Philippine Sea. They have built artificial islands, prevented Filipino fishermen from entering the territory, impede oil exploration activities, and caused major marine biodiversity destruction in the disputed lands. Recently, US-based think tank Simularity exposed that the Chinese ships are dumping human waste and sewage in the disputed WPS causing severe environmental damage. The Chinese embassy was quick in denying the accusation and continues to remain adamant in their stand that the 2016 Arbitration is nothing but “a piece of paper.”

Human Rights Violations Since the takeover of the current administration, the country has been a hotbed for several human rights violations. This is following the violent rampage of Duterte’s war on drugs that killed nearly 8,000 alleged drug suspects. In a report made by Human Rights Watch, attacks against activists, community and indigenous leaders, human rights defenders, and journalists have also drastically increased. About 160 political activists since 2016 and some were redtagged and killed by the country’s military force. Another Human Rights concern is the presence of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC). The organization endangers the democratic right of the Filipino people by discriminating against political activists and activities as an act of terrorism. Additionally, NTF-ELCAC’s credibility continues to remain in question as they have labeled several individuals as communists without concrete evidence including Olympic gold medalist, Hidilyn Diaz. Furthermore, Human Rights experts also express concerns regarding the passing of the AntiTerror Law. The controversial law is targeted at eliminating any factions or individuals who “endanger someone to damage public or private property and certain other actions.” The vagueness and possible abuse of the said law raise several human rights violations. Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio stated that

the ambiguity of the law invites the prosecution of innocent rights-holders. The law terrorizes any individual without any concrete pieces of evidence which have been a rampant practice in Duterte’s War on Drugs that stole thousands of lives. As of the writing, Senate President Tito Sotto and Anti-Terrorism Law sponsor Senator Ping Lacson have officially declared their candidacy for the presidential and vice-presidential seat while Presidential Daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte remain tight-lipped on her definite 2022 election plans despite the public’s persuasion for her to assume her father’s current post. Senator Manny Pacquiao has recently made news as his spokesperson expresses the world-renowned athlete’s desire to run for the presidency despite the ongoing conflict between him and his current political party. Vicepresident Leni Robredo frequently clarifies that she is still in the decision-making process regarding the election while President Duterte continues to go back and forth on him running for the vice-presidential seat. In a recent survey by Pulse Asia, the father and daughter tandem, Sara Duterte and Rodrigo Duterte, leads as the public’s top prospect to win the election followed by Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno and former Senator Bongbong Marcos. However, as the filling of candidacy is still months away, several factors could still influence the upcoming election. In Philippine politics, whoever is the ruling party will polarize the entire bureaucracy from the executive, legislative, and even the judiciary. As it stands, the current political climate categorizes legislators as allies, enablers, and opposition of the Duterte administration. The accumulated efforts and actions of political figures to and against the current government will become a solid testament to what will be expected from them in the happenstance that they win the election. In other words, the deciding factor on how the key issues will be addressed and on what the country and its people would become going forward relies on the outcome of the election. After t h e election, will the government continue as it is or will a new governance serve the Filipino people better?

HUMOR 18

VOLUME 74 ISSUE 1

JUNE - AUGUST 2021

m o

Ke ri ,

, kalurky, lo ka

(1) “Kaya” or “can” in English basta pinag-uusapan dito yung kapasidad mo ganern na pwede din pangsupport (2) pwede din itong yung tipo ng “okay” na medyo pilit at tumatango na lang para matapos na ang usapan

Basically, ang ibig sabihin lang naman nito ay (1) “go” o “ “alis.” (2) Pwede rin itong pangsuporta o pang-encourage.

Inis. Irita. Gigil. Pwede rin naman nababaliw sa tuwa o sa inis. Pwede rin naman sabay. Ayan, kapag di mo na rin naiintindihan sarili mo... eto na yun.

Chika

CHAKA

eniku ng b lo ba n g g n a

Hanash

Dito tayo, mga mare! (1) Minsan eto ang almusal ng mga chikadora nating kapitbahay, aner— tsismis, mga sabi-sabi lamang (2) ang utang mong kwento sa mga kaibigan mo (3) magkwentuhan.

Pangit. Hindi ka-aya aya. Ganun ka-simple. Disclaimer lamang: word ito na nagdedescribe ng tao, bagay etc at hindi ung mismong tao, tao na ipinalit sayo ng ex mo o ang kaaway mo… pero pwede rin. Ikaw bahala.

Wit, witchke li b

LIFE GOES ON by Hedy Pico

May milyones building sa Oli?

rfresh me um s

Ano man ang ginagamit mo dyan, ikaw pa rin ang pipiliin niya sa arawaraw. Charot! So, nakuha mo na ba ang ano meaning niya? Joke. Biro. Hindi totoo. k?

ongg ac a, b io gg n u

Extravagant, flamboyant, impressive, stylish, or (more generally) excellent ang meaning ng salitang ito mula sa Oxford English Dictionary. Korek! Isa na nga itong Philippine English term. Ang

lo a

o b

o a, g rabel or s G

ls, Keribo o be m ri e K

Eme s,

Isa siyang term na tumutukoy sa better half mo pero madalas pangasar at pang-inggit yan… wala ka kase niyan!

aring, Che na Ch , t , o

o h C

Char, Ch a r

Jowa

TOP 10 GAY LINGO

SINULAT NI Princess Payumo DIBUHO NI Hedy Pico

Mula sa wit hanggang sa pinakamahabang witchkelibangbang pa yan, ang ibig sabihin lang naman nito ay HINDI.

(1) mga kaganapan o events ito in general (2) pwede din gamitin ito kapag ang daming sinasabi ng taong tinutukoy mo mapa problema man yan, chika, reklamo at kung anu-ano pa.

sabi dito, sabi doon

bagong

tayong

Dinaig n’yo pa ang axie infinity, ang mahal ng exchange rate.

398M Dolomite Beach, kulay abo na?

Pagod na tatay digs n’yo. Alalay lang, malapit na.

Duterte-Duterte sa 2022?

Hidilyn Diaz masyado raw mapaghangad bago sumabak sa Olympics?

Sabagay sino nga naman ang magaalaga sa tuta kung wala yung amo, edi si Inday!

Nang mag-uwi ng ginto, biglang #ProudToBePinoy naman. Ito talaga ang tunay na mga pabigat eh.

Delta Variant after COVID-19?

Ano? GCQ with heightened restrictions na naman?

Aba teka lang muna. Back to sardinas na naman ba ito?

Duterte vs Pacquiao? Rendon vs. Kiko 2.0 ba to? Talpakan na.

Oli, bingi’t bulag sa 5-Point Student Appeal? Mas malala pa pala kayo kay Tasha sa Ang Babaeng Walang Pakiramdam.

Taray! Dinaig pa natin ang mga pulitikong napalaya agad mula sa kulungan ah?

“We have taken away the misery of public commuting”- Duterte, SONA 2021 Alam ba niya anong ibig sabihin ng salitang misery? Iharap nga natin sa salamin nang malaman niya.

R E V O C E H T ABOUT DEKOLOR celebrates the vast range and diversity of gender hues and styles in this towering laundry of a society where judging people by what they wear has become the norm. With the use of muted colors in a constricted space, the design explicitly reimagines and closely knits together the LGBTQIA+ community inside Holy Angel University on one of its Wash Days, breaking the misbeliefs on “cross-dressing” and gender-specific clothes.