NEWS DEMOCRAT | 17
TOMO LXIX, BILANG II NOVEMBER 2021 -JANUARY 15, 2022
#RememberThe58:
12th RATTLE FOR JUSTICE. Studentjournalists hold their calls to end impunity, serve justice, and continuously uphold and defend press freedom during the 12th year commemoration of Ampatuan Massacre, where 32 journalists were slain.
WORDS BY NORENE CANTOR & PHOTOS BY PAOLO JAMER
BY DANRIE JOSH GARCIA
Over 40 representatives from various progressive and campus publications gathered at Plaza Quince Martires, Naga City on November 23, 2021, to stage a candlelight vigil and protest, remembering the 58 victims of the Maguindanao Massacre. Led by College Editors Guild of the Philippines–Bicol, along with other school pubs including The DEMOCRAT
stud journs, progressive orgs in Naga commemorate Ampatuan Massacre
of the University of Nueva Caceres (UNC), ThePILLARS Publication of Ateneo de Naga University (ADNU), The Naguenian of Naga City Science High School (NCSHS), The Naga Collegian of Naga College Foundation (NCF), The Spark of Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges, and The Seafarer’s Gazette of Mariners Polytechnic Colleges recalled the Maguindanao Massacre as the “bloodiest and deadliest single event for journalists”. CEGP Bicol Regional Coordinator Abby Bilan expressed her hope that the Maguindanao massacre will not happen again in the upcoming 2022 elections. “Ang Ampatuan Massacre ay ang pinakamalalang election-related killings sa history ng Pilipinas, at hindi lamang sa Pilipinas, maging sa buong mundo. Nananawagan kami na sa nalalapit na 2022
elections ay hindi na maulit ito, na hindi na magkaroon ng patuloy na panggigipit lalong-lalo na sa administrasyong Duterte na magkaroon ng mapayapa at malayang pamamahayag ang bawat journalists at media workers sa ating bansa,” she said. She added that utilizing propaganda and data as weapons to deceive the public needs to come to an end. Meanwhile, Berlineth Nymia Montes, News Editor of The Democrat and a member of CEGP CamSur, called out the Duterte administration’s continuous harassment of the press. “Nobyembre na at sa karakas ng administrasyong ito, sigurado tayo na tumataas pa ang bilang ng mga mamamahayag na humaharap sa ganitong klaseng sitwasyon. Maaari ring tumindi pa ang bilang at karahasan sa ating hanay
Bar Examination in 1912 without having taken a formal law course. According to Maria Theresa Fajardo, director of the Scholarship and Grants Office, the Guevara family ought to produce aspiring lawyers in the future just like their late father, hence, putting up a scholarship program in honor of their father’s legacy as a remarkable lawyer. The scholarship program is exclusive to Juris doctor students. “At first, I thought only one student would be selected as the recipient of the scholarship program, but the UNC was fortunate enough to have four law students to receive the scholarship,” said the SGO Director. She also added that the family of the late Judge Guevara was swayed by the easy process through the Scholarship and Grants Office in organizing the scholarship program at the university and decided to increase the number of scholars that will benefit
from the JGBG Scholarship. The SGO was able to secure the scholarship program even though the interview with the scholars took place in a virtual setup. Meanwhile, recipients extended their gratitude for the opportunity. “JGBG is indeed a blessing in disguise, it came at the right time when I was already on the verge of hitting my rock bottom in law school, particularly in financial matters. It really became a beacon of hope which rekindled my faith that ‘God really provides.’ JGBG is helping me, as it already helped me so much in easing the burden of my financial worries at law school. I am immensely grateful to my benefactors for choosing me in this humbling privilege,” Mortega shared. The JGBG Scholarship will cover the tuition fees of the scholars until graduation under the condition that they will follow what was agreed upon in the contract.
JGBG scholarship adds up to UNC’S scholarship programs; 4 J.D. studs chosen as scholars BY JEAN AQUINO
Four Juris Doctor students, namely Jesuphat C. Mortega, Lexi Alena O. Velasco, Mia F. San Lorenzo, and Carlo Jayfer N. Caparres of the University of Nueva Caceres, were chosen as recipients of the newly installed JGBG Scholarship after they passed the screening process of the scholarship program The JGBG Scholarship was named after the late Judge Guillermo B. Guevara, a well-known law professor and graftbuster during the late President Ramon Magsaysay’s term. He also passed the
dahil sa darating na eleksyon–matatandaan na ang massacre ay nangyari sa panahon rin ng eleksyon–at higit kailanman mas kailangan nating palalimin ang kanaisang maging tagapagmulat ng taumbayan at patibayan ang pinanggagalingan ng ating mga isinusulat,” she said. She added that the commemoration of the massacre is fueling the courage to write against any kind of violence, anomaly, and fallacy of this administration. Montes, along with CEGP, vowed to tirelessly call for an end to harassing the media and bring those who attempted to silence the media to justice. The Ampatuan Massacre took place last November 23, 2009, six months before the 2010 Philippine general elections.
