the
Hillside Echo THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF FILAMER CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY INFORM . INSPIRE . EMPOWER
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Angeli Queen D. Develos ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Ysabelle Ann B. Besorio Michael Jay A. Demingoy NEWS EDITORS LITERARY EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR PHOTOJOURNALIST ADVISER
MANAGING EDITORS
Alyza V. Pamillaran Joshua B. Solis Thoen Ann S. Socobos Jimil Faith P. Caputero Vanessa Glenise B. Usison Czarelle F. Luces Kexia Jill P. Señerez Leo Art Diosep E. Borres
CONTRIBUTORS Alma M. Olay Nick Andrei Desales Daren Xyra P. Silubrico
COVER MODEL COVER PHOTO CREDITS
Ken John B. Casabon EFE Jane D. Panaguiton Joshua B. Solis Marko2311 from pngtree.com Bagir Bahana from unsplash.com
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The Hillside Echo is the official student publication of Filamer Christian University and is publishing thrice every academic year. For more information and comments, please contact our editors or simply email us at thehillsideecho@gmail.com. Copyright © 2020 No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission from the publication.
from the editor Sa hardin ng halimuyak at kariktan, inagaw ang aking tingin ng bulaklak na maladugo ang talulot at tila lumiliwanag at nang-aakit. Nang lapitan at haplusin, ako’y nasugatan ng nakakubling tinik na binalot sa huwad na ganda. Sa mga nagdaang taon, maligaya pa nating sinalubong ang bagong taon, buo ang pamilya’t sama-sama sa hapag-kainan, maayos ang paligid at tanging ingay ng mga paputok ang bumubulabog sa tahimik na gabi. Pagpasok ng taong 2020, nagbago ang lahat. Ang dating siksikan ngayon ay limitadong upuan ang maaring upahan, maging ang mga lansangan ay naging bakanteng daanan. Ang mga platapormang hinaluan ng mabulaklak na salita ay nalalanta na, idagdag pa ang mga problemang mas pinasidhi ng COVID-19. Naglantaran din ang bulok na sistema ng pamamalakad, umalingasaw ang mga pinakatago-tago at napapanis na ang ‘puro pangakong’ solusyon. Ang magasin na ito ay naglalaman ng mga kuwentong gumulantang sa mundo—higit na nakakatakot kaysa sa pandemyang kinakaharap. Ang mga nakapaloob na mga pangyayari ay nagpabagabag sa himbing ng pagkakatulog at nagtanim ng alinlangan at pangamba sa tao at lipunan.
Angeli Queen D. Develos Editor-in-Chief
about the cover The COVID-19 pandemic gave rise to a series of problems that come one after another while leaving traces of damage and distress. These problems are being endured and fought with by the man in the cover. Behind every mask are the pandemic’s consequences which are impossible to cover. Although his battle is not yet over, his strength remains unconquered by the challenges he was forced to face. VOL. LXXXII VOL. LXXXII 1
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CONTENTS 04
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Koronang Tinik: Paghahari ng Delubyo Hindi inaasahan ng lahat ang kanyang pagdating. Mistulang panauhin sa isang pagdiriwang na pinagkaitang mabigyan ng paunlak. Nang dahil sa nakagigimbal niyang presensya, dagliang naputol ang kasiyahan at ito’y napalitan ng alinlangan.
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Lingkod at Karangalan: Pagpupugay sa Frontliners Isang nakakamatay na virus ang mabilis na kumalat sa buong mundo, ang kumitil ng maraming buhay, nagdala ng pangamba sa bawat pamilya at naging banta sa komunidad ng mga frontliners.
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11 Pahayagang Bilangguan: Ang Kapalaran ng Malayang Pamamahayag Anong kapalaran ang naghihintay para sa malayang pamamahayag? Yakap ng rehas, habag ng kasalukuyan o tulay ng katwiran?
14 Putik at Pag-asa: Binhi ng Kinabukasan Sa pagdating ng pandemya sa ating bansa, nabungkal ang katotohanan na kung sino pa ang nagtanim ay siya pa ang walang aanihin at kakainin—tila nalubog ang mga paang hinatak ng realidad.
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New Normal: Dalangpan kag Kabalaka Ang virus wala lang naglapnag bilang pandemya kundi bilang isa man ka realidad nga nangin repleksyon sang kadam-an.
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25 Red Lipstick: Ready-To-Wear Rights Red attacks wait not so far ahead once silence is peeled. The courage and freedom that were put on by brave men and women were painted red by baseless accusations.
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BL Domination: Are we really doing it right? The issue with how media depicts the struggles of the LGBTQIA+ community boils down to how it is created.
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Galeria
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Roundtable The Hillsiders shared their thoughts and opinions about this statement: The COVID-19 Pandemic has stirred a lot of issues worldwide. State one current issue and explain your stand about it.
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Paradigm
Mental Health The pandemic and its associated stress and anxiety have negative impacts on our mental health. As fears and changes become more overwhelming, so does the mental health consequences that affect people in all walks of life.
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#BlackLivesMatter: A Tragic Pattern of Injustice With countless lives whose dreams were put to sleep by racism, Breonna, George, and Jacob shared the same tragedy. Racist hands made these tragic patterns that the #BlackLivesMatter is trying to end.
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KORONANG TINIK:
PAGHAHARI NG DELUBYO
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uluyan nang napasailalim sa monarkiya ng isang estrangherong nilalang ang santinakpan. Nakapatong ang koronang sagisag ng kapangyarihan habang taglay ang hindi pangkaraniwang anyo na sadyang ikinubli sa mata ng kanyang mga nasasakupan. Tunog pa lamang ng kanyang pangalan ay nakakapanindig-balahibo. Sa halip na bigyangpuri, ang naturang estranghero ay kinasisindakan at pilit iniiwasan ninuman. Mga Salita THOEN ANN S. SOCOBOS
FREEPIK
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THE HILLSIDE ECHO MAGAZINE
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ang maging hudyat ang paglaganap ng kanyang impluwensya, unti-unting nagbago ang sistema ng pamamalakad sa mga lupaing kanyang nagagapi. Habang nilalamon ng katahimikan ang bawat bakanteng eskinita at mga lansangan, napuno naman ng hagulhol at pangungulila ang mga tahanang nawalan ng mga minamahal sa buhay. Natakpan na ng plastik at tela ang mga mukhang dati’y naaaninag kahit nasa kalayuan. Dala ng pangamba sa monarko, napilitang magsara ang ilang sektor ng negosyo at industriya, marami ang nawalan ng hanapbuhay at idagdag na rin ang ingay ng mga sikmurang kumakalam.
PAGBABALAT-KAYO NG DINASTIYA
Hindi inaasahan ng lahat ang kanyang pagdating. Mistulang panauhin sa isang pagdiriwang na pinagkaitang mabigyan ng paunlak. Nang dahil sa nakagigimbal niyang presensya, dagliang naputol ang kasiyahan at ito’y napalitan ng alinlangan. Nagmula ang bisita sa Wuhan, Tsina at unang nakilala noong Disyembre 2019. Kakaibang panauhin na puwersahang sumasakop sa bawat lupain, nagpapalawak ng teritoryo at buhay ang kapalit kapag nagpadaig. Hindi dapat pagkatiwalaan at patuluyin sa tahanan ang hindi nakikitang kalaban—ang COVID-19. Ganap na ika-11 ng Pebrero, ipinahayag ng World Health Organization (WHO) na ang kasalukuyang sakit na kumakalat ay opisyal na pinangalanang coronavirus disease o kilala sa tawag na COVID-19. Ang sakit ay pinananiniwalaang nakuha sa mga hayop na ibinebenta sa pamilihan ng Tsina. Ito ay nagdulot ng malalang pneumonia sa ilang tao sa bansang China at tuluyang kumalat sa iba pang mga bansa. Samantala, ang pinagmulan ng naturang coronavirus ay patuloy pang inaalam at pinag-aaralan at maging ang lunas nito’y nasa kalagitnaan pa rin ng pakikipagsapalaran. Sa loob ng maikling panahon, tinatayang umaabot na sa higit 100 na bansa ang nalusob hanggang sa tuluyan nang idineklara ng WHO na “pandemic” ang COVID-19 dahil sa malawakang pagkalat nito sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng daigdig.
ANG EMPERYO NG KALABAN
Sa pagpapatibay ng kanyang kaharian, animo’y isa siyang maninira na dahan-dahang pupunteryahin ang kanyang walang kamalay-malay na biktima. Patalikod at tahimik lamang ang kaniyang pagkilos upang hindi maramdaman ng sinuman. Maaari niyang gamitin ang naunang biktima upang maghasik ng kanyang lagim. Halos hindi magkamayaw at mahulugan ng karayom ang mga pagamutan sa kaliwa’t kanang pag-aasikaso sa tumataas na bilang ng nabibiktima. Kung sinuman man ang hindi mag-iingat ay unti-unting manghihina hanggang sa maubusan ng hininga. Kung kaya’t ganoon na lamang ang pagkukubli ng bawat indibidwal upang makaligtas sa bagsik ng estrangherong nilalang na dulot ay kapahamakan at kamatayan. “Once ka lang magtanggal ng mask, once ka lang magpabaya, ang dami mong pwedeng maapektuhan,” pahayag ng isang sikat na YouTube vlogger at artista na si Alex Gonzaga matapos nagpositibo ito sa COVID-19.
VOL. LXXXII
Ayon sa Department of Health, naipapasa ang COVID-19 ng tao-sa-tao sa pamamagitan ng pagsagap ng mga maliliit na talsik ng laway mula sa pagsasalita, pagbahing, o pag-ubo ng isang taong positibo sa naturang sakit. Matapos malantad sa nasabing virus, ayon sa WHO, ang mga karaniwang sintomas na dulot nito’y lagnat, pagkapagod, at ubong walang plema. Ilan sa mga pasyente ay nakararanas ng sipon at baradong ilong, pananakit ng lalamunan, o pagtatae. Habang isa lamang sa anim na pasyente ang nagkakaroon ng hirap sa paghinga at nagiging malubha ang kalagayan. Gayunpaman, may ilang mga indibidwal ang hindi nakikitaan ng sintomas o walang nararamdamang sakit. Kadalasan ang mga may mahihinang resistensya ang madaling kapitan ng nasabing coronavirus. Nagiging mabilis naman ang paglubha ng karamdaman lalo na ng mga matatanda o taong mayroon ng kondisyong medikal tulad ng high blood pressure, problema sa puso, o diabetes.
ANG DAGOK AT PANSAMANTALANG LUNAS
Habang tumatagal, lumalawak at lumalaki ang epekto ng pagdating ng malupit na estranghero. Napuno na ang silid sa mga bahay-pagamutan at bawat indibidwal na dumarating ay walang kasiguraduhan kung muli pa bang makakauwi sa kanilang mga pamilya. Ang mga doktor at nars ay unti-unting nabalot ng telang pananggalang upang protektahan ang kanilang mga sarili at matugunan ang bawat pangangailangan ng bayang pinangakuan. Hindi natatapos sa mga pasyenteng napupunta sa mga ospital ang pananamantala ng sakit. Ito ay makikita rin sa kabuhayan ng mga bansang kanyang ginagapi. Sa lupain ng Pilipinas, tinatayang umabot sa limang milyong Pilipino ang nawalan ng trabaho, ayon sa Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), ang industriya ng kalakalan ay humina at bumagsak ang ekonomiya hindi lamang ng nasabing bansa, pati na rin ang ibang panig ng mundo. Upang maibsan ang bilang ng mga nasasawing buhay, may mga pangkalusugang protokol at regulasyon na ipinapatupad ang pamahalaan. Pinapayuhan ng Kagawaran ng Kalusugan ang publiko na gawin ang mga panukalang proteksiyon gaya ng madalas na paghuhugas ng mga kamay, pag-iwas sa paghawak sa mata, ilong, at bibig, pagtatakip ng tela o tisyu sa tuwing umuubo at bumabahing. Kasama rin dito ang pag-iwas sa mga matataong lugar, pagpapanatili ng isang metrong distansya at pag-iwas sa pakikipagsalamuha sa taong may lagnat o ubo. Pinapayo rin ng kagawaran ang pananatili sa bahay at kung may nararamdamang lagnat, ubo, at hirap sa paghinga ay kailangang magpakonsulta agad— ngunit tawagan muna ang health facility at siguraduhing ang impormasyon na ating naririnig o nababasa ay totoo at mapagkakatiwalaan. Ito ay ilan lamang sa mga pinakamabisang paraan upang maprotektahan ang sarili mula sa COVID-19 lalo na’t hanggang sa kasalukuyan, wala pa ring gamot o bakunang natutuklasan. Gayunpaman, marami sa mga sintomas ang maaaring magamot base sa kondisyon ng pasyente. Ang suportang pangangalaga para sa mga taong nahawaan ay lubos na epektibo sapagkat maraming pasyente na rin ang naitalang gumaling dahil dito. HSE
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Ang coronavirus ay pamilya ng mga virus na nagdudulot ng iba’t ibang klaseng sakit, mula sa karaniwang ubo’t sipon hanggang sa mas malulubhang impeksyon.
SINTOMAS
LAGNAT
UBO’T SIPON
PAGIKSI NG
PAANO MAIIWASAN ANG SAKI
UGALIING MAGHUGAS LAGI NG MGA KAMAY
IWASAN ANG CONTACT SA MGA HAYOP
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LUMAYO AT TAKPAN ANG BIBIG AT ILONG SA TUWING UUBO O BABAHING
THE HILLSIDE ECHO MAGAZINE
SOURCE: DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (PHILIPPINES) | GRA
Sa mga malubhang kaso, maari itong maging sanhi ng Pneumonia, Acute Respiratory Syndrome, problema sa bato, at pagkamatay.
S NG SAKIT
G PAGHINGA
PAMAMAGA NG LALAMUNAN
PANANAKIT NG ULO
IT DULOT NG CORONAVIRUS?
UMIWAS SA MGA TAONG MAY SINTOMAS NG UBO AT SIPON
UMINOM NG MARAMING TUBIG AT SIGURADUHING LUTO ANG MGA PAGKAIN
APHICS (SYMPTOMS) DESIGNED BY studiogstock/Freepik
VOL. LXXXII
AGARANG KUMONSULTA SA HEALTH FACILITY KUNG MAY SINTOMAS NG UBO’T SIPON
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JANE D. PANAGUITON
LINGKOD AT KARANGALAN:
PAGPUPUGAY SA MGA FRONTLINERS Nakakubling panganib ang nakaambang ngunit walang kasiguruhan kung sino ang matatamaan. Nababalisa sa posibleng mangyari at bawat isa’y nakatutok sa bawat balitang makapagbibigay ng kaunting lunas sa kabang nararamdaman. Sa bawat pagdaan ng mga araw, nadadagdagan ang mga kaso, kapalit nito’y bigkas ng mga panalangin na kusang namumutawi sa mga bibig. Ang daing ng mga pusong humihingi ng kapatawaran sakaling maibsan at marinig sa kaitaasan ang usal ng naghihingalong mundo mula sa sakit ng katawan, sikmurang kumakalam at hindi pagkapantay-pantay ng karapatan. Mga Salita ALYZA V. PAMILLARAN
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THE HILLSIDE ECHO MAGAZINE
JANE D. PANAGUITON
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sang nakakamatay na virus ang mabilis na kumalat sa buong mundo, ang kumitil ng maraming buhay, nagdala ng pangamba sa bawat pamilya at naging banta sa komunidad ng mga frontliners. Para sa mga taong nakakulong man sa responsibilidad at sinumpaang tungkulin para sa bayan, ang makapagbigay ng ligtas na pamayanan at makalapat ng lunas para sa may karamdaman ang siyang una nilang isinasaalang-alang kahit buhay man nila ang nakataya. Ang bawat laban, kapalit ng buhay na kanilang maisasalba.
TAGASURI NG MGA PASYENTE
Hindi biro ang kaba sa bawat pagsalang sa harap ng mga hinihinalang pasyente kasabay ng pagkuha ng dugo at pagkokolekta ng oropharyngeal at nasopharyngeal swabs para sa gagawing pagsusuri ng SARS-CoV-2 o “severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2” na kadalasang sanhi ng COVID-19. “It’s really hard for us since we are in the frontline. We need to be extra vigilant in our work because we’re facing an unseen enemy that spreads rapidly and thus require extra caution on every procedure that we do or perform,” pagsasalaysay ni Jane D. Panaguiton, isang Medical Technologist sa Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital.
“Para sa mga taong nakakulong man sa responsibilidad at sinumpaang tungkulin para sa bayan, ang makapagbigay ng ligtas na pamayanan at makalapat ng lunas para sa may karamdaman ang siyang una nilang isinasaalang-alang kahit buhay man nila ang nakataya. Ang bawat laban, kapalit ay buhay na kanilang maisasalba.”
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PERFECTO F. CABRERA JR.
May iilang pasyente ang may nakitaan o nararamdamang sintomas ng COVID-19 ang dinadala sa nasabing ospital kung saan may naitala ring kaso ng mga nagpositibo. Sa walang kapagurang pag-aalaga sa mga pasyente, sila’y gumagaling mula sa virus. Bilang isang medical technologist, sila ang nagsasagawa ng Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction o RT-PCR sa mga indibidwal upang malaman kung ito ba ay positibo o hindi sa COVID-19. “Being in the medical field during this pandemic is also more of a privilege because you get to practice being selfless and you get to serve other people which is really the core purpose of our profession and being,” dagdag pa niya. Sa kabila ng init mula sa pagsusuot ng personal protective equipment, pagod sa palagiang pagantabay sa mga pasyente, samahan pa ng pangungulila sa pamilya, hindi matatawaran ang kanilang tapang at puso sa pagbibigay-serbisyo.
TAGAPAGTAGUYOD NG KALIGTASAN
Sa dagok na hindi alam kung kailan makakaahon, walang sinuman ang pinili upang maghari. Ang pagsupil sa kalaban ay hindi sa isa nakasalalay, kundi sa lahat na nagiging isa. Kung ang iba ay nakakatulog
ng maayos at mahimbing sa lalim ng gabi, ang sa kanila ay tanging idlip ang siyang pahinga. Ang bawat umagang inaabangan at pupunuin ng hindi maisip na gagawin hanggang abutan ng dilim na muling babalikan ang kamang tila kani-kanina lang iniwanan. Ito ang kalimitang sitwasyon ng iilan subalit ang bawat paghigop ng kape sa umaga hanggang gabi ay isang lakas na bubuo sa sinumpaang tungkulin ng ating mga frontliners. Makikita sila sa bawat kanto, sa bawat checkpoint at nagpapatrol para sa ligtas na pamayanan at nagpapatupad ng kautusan at panuntunang pangkalusugan. “Adlaw-gab-i kami dira sa crossing sang Hermano, may ara kami checkpoint kag guinsarhan man namon ang San Lorenzo kag Casandra kag ang gasulod-guwa nga tawo guinapangayuan namon sang quarantine pass kag guinapangitaan sang face mask,” paglalahad ni Ronaldo Bartolo Jr., isa sa mga barangay tanod ng Punta Tabuc, Roxas City. Marahil ang lahat ay nakakaranas ng takot lalong-lalo na kung mawalay sa pamilya sa ganitong sitwasyon ngunit kakaiba ang pangamba kung saan ang proteksiyon na dapat ay para sa iyong pamilya ay sa iba mo nagagawa. “Homesick talaga ang mahirap
PERFECTO F. CABRERA JR.
kapag malayo ka sa pamilya mo lalo na’t buntis ang asawa ko at maliit pa ang isang anak ko. Nakaranas din ako ng depresyon dahilan sa iniisip kung paano na lang sila kung magkakasakit ako,” pagsasalayay ni Patrolman Perfecto F. Cabrera Jr., isang pulis na naka destino sa Malay Police Station. Ayon pa sa kanya, naging doble ang kanilang pag-iingat sapagkat hindi nila alam kung sino ang unang aatake, ang virus ba o ang tao.
IISANG KAHILINGAN, IISANG PANANAMPALATAYA
Ang kanilang paglilingkod ay may kaakibat na hangarin. Sa panahong ito, paghahanda at patuloy na pagsunod sa mga abiso at alituntunin ng mga awtoridad ang tanging maiaambag ng mamamayan. “Most important of all is your spiritual care–do not lose the devotionals, the reading of God’s words and prayers. May ara loving purpose ni tanan, so take heart ah, these temporary sufferings are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. Keep praying,” dagdag pa ni Panaguiton. Ang laban na ito ay hindi lamang sa aspetong medikal, lakas at armas kundi pati na rin ng mga dyanitor, kahera, parmasyutiko, tindera, gobyerno at maging ikaw—kasama ka sa bawat laban. HSE
JANE D. PANAGUITON
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THE HILLSIDE ECHO MAGAZINE
PAHAYAGANG BILANGGUAN:
ang kapalaran ng
MALAYANG PAMAMAHAYAG
Mga Salita ANGELI QUEEN D. DEVELOS at CZARELLE F. LUCES
H
igit isang dekada na nang maganap ang isa sa pinaka-karumal-dumal na krimen sa bansa at sa industriya ng medya—ang Maguindanao massacre. Limampu’t walo ang pinatay na kinabibilangan ng 32 mamamahayag at tinatayang umabot naman sa 112 tao ang sangkot sa malabangungot na tagpo sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas. Pangunahing suspek ang pamilya Ampatuan na kalaunan ay nahatulang guilty sa salang limampu’t walong bilang ng murder. Nangyari ang masaker sa panahon ng pagpa-file ng kandidatura para sa halalan 2010. Ika-5 ng Mayo nang maghain naman ang National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) ng cease and desist order laban sa ABSCBN matapos mapaso ang prangkisa nito. Inulan ng batikos at pagkondena ang naging hakbang ng NTC na ipatigil ang operasyon ng ABS-CBN, ang pinakamalaking kompanya ng media entertainment sa bansa, sa panahong kinakailangan ng mga Pilipino ang lehitimong impormasyon sa gitna ng kinakaharap na pandemya (COVID-19). Hulyo 10 nang tanggihan ang apela ng ABS-CBN sa pagrenew ng kanilang prangkisa matapos ang 12 pagdinig sa Kamara. Nag-ugat naman ang kasong cyber libel laban kay Maria Ressa at sa dating mananaliksik ng Rappler na si Reynaldo
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Santos Jr. sa isang ulat patungkol sa reklamo ng negosyanteng si Wilfredo D. Keng, na pinangalanan noon ng Rappler bilang sangkot sa mga iligal na gawain at may-ari ng SUV na ginamit ni dating Chief Justice Renato Corona sa impeachment trial nito. Hinatulang guilty si Ressa at Santos sa kasong cyber libel noong ika-15 ng Hunyo taong 2020. Iilan lang ito sa mga “di umano’y” paniniil sa karapatan ng malayang pamamahayag. Kaliwa’t kanang mga haka-haka na maaaring ikabit sa walang humpay na pakikipaglaban para sa malayang pamamahayag na maaaring maging banta sa bawat “kritiko”, pahayagan, mga manunulat at maging karaniwan. Anong kapalaran ang naghihintay para sa malayang pamamahayag? Yakap ng rehas, habag ng kasalukuyan o tulay ng katwiran?
MALAYANG PAMAMAHAYAG, KALAYAAN AT KARAPATAN
Ang kalayaan ng mga mamahayag ay ang kalayaan ng pakikipagtalastasan at pamamahayag sa iba’t ibang pamamaraan kasama ang ilang medyang elektronik at mga naiilathalang materyal. Kahit na ang ganitong kalayaan ay nagpapahiwatig ng kawalang hadlang mula sa mas mataas na estado, ang pagpreserba nito ay maaaring makamit sa pamamagitan ng konstitusiyonal o ibang legal na proteksyon.
Artikulo III, Seksyon 3, Ikatlong talata ng 1987 Konstitusyon ng Republika ng Pilipinas na nagsasabing, “Hindi dapat labagin ang pagiging lihim ng komunikasyon at korespondensya maliban sa legal na utos ng hukuman, o kapag hinihingi ang naiiba ng kaligtasan o kaayusan ng bayan ayon sa itinatakda ng batas.”
niya. Ang bawat artikulo ni Jake na pinopost online ay hindi “basta” lamang artikulong napapanahon, ito’y naglalaman ng pangangatwiran, kamalayan, kaalaman at tapang na maaaring ikatuwa o ikagalit ng iba. “If the government complains about people complaining, can they be considered terrorists, too?” TANIKALA NG KASARINLAN madamdamin niyang tanong. Ayon Matatawag bang kalayaan kung rin sa kanya, ang mamamayan ay ikaw na mamamayan na dapat inaasahang makilahok sa pambayan pinaglilingkuran ay magiging kalaban? at pampolitikong Katanggapaspeto ng bansa. tanggap pa ba “Activists ang mga dahilang forward the causes pilit na lang and plight of the ibinibintang? Ang dispossessed and kasarinlan ay hindi marginalized lamang sa talim sectors,” usal ng sandata at ni Jake. “We all pagdanak ng dugo want what is best ang basehan— for the country. papel, panulat Ang pananahimik at mga kataga —JAKE BUENVENIDA sa gitna ng ay maaaring kabaluktutan makapagbibigayay siyang magtutulak daan para sa opresyon,” daan sa pagbabagong inaasam ng bawat tao. makatuwiran niyang tinuran. “Press freedom is essential. Kung wala ito, ang mensaheng ito ay malamang ‘di makakaabot sa iyo,” bungad ni Jake Buenvenida, estudyante sa SALITA AT BILANGGUAN kursong AB Political Science. Makapangyarihan ang bawat salita, nasa Kilala siya hindi lamang sa angking-talino tama man o wala, kahit sino, aasintahin niya. kundi maging ang kanyang malawak at masigasig Ito ang tunay na pangamba—salita katumbas na pag-aaral ng batas ng Pilipinas at ng ibang ay malamig at madilim na bilangguan. Takot na bansa ay kapuri-puri. sa kanino man, manunulat o ordinaryong tao, “Ang malayang pamamahayag ay ang bumabalot sa bugso ng damdamin na sana’y m a l a y a n g magbibigay ng lakas, ay siyang gagapos sa iyong paghahatid ng mithiin. impormasyon, “Freedom is the life blood, of a liberal and katotohanan para democratic country, in all phases and facets. This sa sambayanan include Freedom of the Press,” pahayag ni Andrea at walang Nicole Parce, kasalukuyang estudyante ng Doctor kinikilingang of Jurisprudence. pagbabalita Nagsimula si Andrea Nicole sa pagsabak sa na maaaring mundo ng malayang pamamahayag noong siya’y patungkol sa nasa ika-limang baitang pa lamang hanggang pang-aabuso ng makapagtapos ng kanyang bachelor’s degree, na kapangyarihan, kung sa kabuuan ay mahigit sampung taon na korupsyon at iba pakikipagsapalaran sa larangan ng pahayagang pa,” pahayag niya. pampaaralan. “Government is a “The issue of the press freedom is not limited core element of a to journalists or the media alone. It is an issue that pluralistic and free affects all of us precisely because our rights hang by media,” giit pa the rope that is, press freedom,” dagdag ni Andrea.
Press freedom is essential. Kung wala ito, ang mensaheng ito ay malamang ‘di makakaabot sa iyo.
12 JAKE BUENVENIDA
THE HILLSIDE ECHO MAGAZINE
Sa sampung alaala na iyong nabuo, dalawa lamang ang tatatak sa iyong isipan. Muling ginunita ni Andrea ang mga karanasan na sa kaniya’y nagpabatid na ang bawat salita ay maaaring maglagay sa’yo sa bingit ng kamatayan lalo na kung ang tinutuligsang paksa ay may kapangyarihan. Isa na rito ang artikulong patungkol sa administrasyon ng kanilang paaralan na naglalaman ng paglalantad “umano” ng katiwalian sa pamamalakad nito. Kaniya ring sinariwa na ang kagaya nilang manunulat, muntikan nang makasuhan ng libel dahil sa pagsusulat ng ‘di umano’y paninirang-puri sa isang indibidwal na kalauna’y naareglo at naiwasto ang nasabing artikulo.
ESTADO NG KALAYAAN
Ganap nang naisabatas ang Anti-Terrorism Law sa bansa at ito’y mainit na sinalungat ng karamihan. Itinuturing ito na magiging malaking balakid sa malayang pamamahayag at sa mga mamamahayag. “Ang press freedom ay karapatang pampahayagan na nagsisilbing haligi ng bawat media outlets sa bansa,” ayon kay Jonar Dorado, isang mag-aaral at student journalist. “Ito ay nararapat na isabuhay sapagkat dito nabubuhay ang ating kalinangang-isip na magkaroon ng tama at sapat na impormasyon ukol sa nagaganap sa ating paligid,” pagpapaliwanag pa niya. Miyembro ng isang pahayagang pangkampus si Jonar. Ang kanyang hilig ang nagtulak sa kanya upang tahakin ang landas ng dyurnalismo. Hindi man niya batid ang kaganapan sa hinaharap, ang hangad na maging tapat at makapanglingkod ang kaniyang tanging sandata. “Simula’t sapol pa ng aking pagiging journalist, nasa isip ko na na malalagay sa panganib ang aking buhay—lalo’t kung magpupuna ako laban sa g o b y e r n o , ” malungkot niyang sabi. “ K a h i t pa sabihin na mayroong daandaang mga radyo,
VOL. LXXXII ANDREA NICOLE PARCE
pahayagan, o network sa ating bansa na magsabuhay ng press freedom, ang pagpapatahimik sa isang kumpanya ng medya ay itinuturing pa ring media oppression,” marahan ngunit malaman niyang pagsasabulalas.
KALAYAAN ANG KANLUNGAN
“I call for the government to be held liable for waging a war on the Filipino poor—for abandoning its moral responsibility to protect and serve the best interest of its people, and delimiting its policies for the welfare of the few,” pakiusap ni Jake. Para kay Jake, ang malayang pamamahayag ay karapatan. Binigyang-diin din niya ang mga katagang, “It is not whether these rights are important or absolute or not, it is whether people can freely exercise these without being gunned down.” Napabuntong-hininga naman si Andrea, tila pagpapakawala sa nakadagang hangin dulot ng mabibigat na katanungan. Kalmado siyang napangiti at binitawan ang mga salitang, “Limiting press freedom will have a definite impact on me as a Filipino citizen. With the continued suppression of this freedom, we are left with bad governance that we do not deserve. Today as we speak, the government has billions of debt without a clear and efficient plan or disbursement. This debt is now carried by billions of unborn Filipinos.” “Kung nanaisin natin, tayo’y may mga pansariling karapatan upang ipaglaban ang nararapat sa bayan. Tayo’y mga Pilipino kaya’t ‘wag dapat nating hayaang malugmok ang ating bansa dahil sa bulok na serbisyo at pamamahala,” makabuluhang sambit ni Jonar. Maituturing mang makapangyarihan ang salita, kapag ito’y sumobra o kumulang—masama ang epekto. Lahat tayo ay may karapatan, kasama na ang karapatan sa malayang pamamahayag. Kung para sa iba ito’y trabaho lamang, sa mga taong sumugal na ng sarili sa larangan ng medya, dugo’t buhay nila ito. HSE
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JONAR DORADO
PUTIK AT PAG-ASA:
BINHI NG KINABUKASAN Mga Salita JIMIL FAITH P. CAPUTERO at CZARELLE F. LUCES
S
ukbit ang karet sa tagiliran, suot ang sombrerong pananggalang sa init ng sikat ng araw, at bitbit ang katatagan bilang sandata, matapang niyang tinungo ang palayan upang gampanan ang kanyang responsibilidad bilang tagalinang. Sa bawat pawis na tumatagaktak sa kanyang mukha ay kapares ang nag-aalab niyang hangarin na maitaguyod ang kanyang tungkulin at ang sarili. Kung gaano kataas ang tirik ng araw, ay ganoon din katayog ang kaniyang ambisyon na magkaroon ng sapat at maginhawang pamumuhay. Kung gaano katamis ang mga himig ng mga ibong kumakanta, ay ganoon din kasarap sa pakiramdam ang makitang may masaganang ani. Sa kanyang pagtahak sa maputik na sakahan, ay madidinig ang yapak ng kaibigang kalabaw—kasangga sa anumang mabibigat na trabaho at tinatahak ang buhay ng pagsasaka.
MAGTANIM AY HINDI BIRO
“Ang pagpanguma tuman guid kabudlay nga ubra. Aga ka pa mabugtaw para magkadto sa talamnan upod ang karabaw. Kis-a bisan naga ulan, padayon lang kay amo lang guid ni ang akon palangabuhianan. Bisan grabe kasakit sa panit ang igo sang adlaw, sige lang para magnami ang tubas,” pahayag ni Rolly Palacio, biyudo, at halos ginugol ang mahigit kalahati ng kaniyang buhay sa pagsasaka. Bakas sa kaniyang mga salita ang hirap na kaniyang pinagdaanan, madungis na mga paa dahil maghapong lubog sa putikan—putik na pinatubigan ng pawis, luha, at dugo. Naghihintay at umaasa sa ulan upang mabiyayaan ng tubig ang mga sakahan, habang ang mga bulsa ay tuyot sa pagbili ng mga pataba at pamatay-peste. Mababatid na sa bawat pag-alalay ng kaniyang masipag na kalabaw ay ang layunin na makaraos sa araw-araw na pamumuhay, kasama ang nakatatandang kapatid na babae na sa sakahan na rin tumanda. Simula nang magkamalay si Mang Rolly, pagsasaka na ang kaniyang ikinabubuhay. Masisilayan sa malulungkot niyang mga mata ang pagsisising hindi siya nakapagpatuloy sa pag-aaral. Ani ni Mang Rolly, kung siya’y nakapagtapos, mayroon na sana siyang magandang trabaho ngayon. Hindi sila nabiyayaan ng supling ng kanyang yumaong asawa, kaya mag-isa niyang hinaharap ang bawat umaga. Sa labis na paghihinagpis sa pagkawala ng kanyang kabiyak, minabuti ni Mang Rolly na manatili sa kanilang lugar kasama ang kapatid at pagsasaka na lamang ang 14
pagtutuunan ng pansin. Paulit-ulit man ang ikot ng kaniyang buhay, natutunan ni Mang Rolly ang makuntento, na ang tanging hangad lang ay magkaroon ng masaganang ani. “Maayo guid man kun may kaugalingon ka nga umahan kay para makatipid kamo sa gastuson kay indi na kamo magbakal pa bugas. Kinahanglan mo lang guid sang kahugod kag pagbakas,” ani ni Mang Rolly.
ANG MATAMLAY NA ARAW SA BUKID
Sa pagdating ng pandemya sa ating bansa, nabungkal ang katotohanan na kung sino pa ang nagtanim ay siya pa ang walang aanihin at kakainin—tila nalubog ang mga paang hinatak ng realidad. Kagaya ng pagsasaka, hindi sa lahat ng oras ay maganda ang handog ng lupain. Dumating ang hindi inaasahang suliranin sa sektor ng agrikultura na ang naging pinsala ay higit pa sa bagyo at baha. Hindi nasira ang mga pananim subalit hindi napakinabangan kahit ito’y ani ng may kalidad na nagdulot ng malaking pagkalugi sa mga magsasaka. Sa pagpapatupad ng community quarantine sa bansa, nalimitahan ang distribusyon ng mga agrikultural na produkto. Natuon din ang merkado sa mga canned at processed food. Kung kaya naiwang nakatiwangwang ang tone-toneladang mga gulay, prutas, at palay. Sumadsad ang presyo ng palay sa P7 hanggang P8 mula sa P15 na retail price. Luhaan at tumatangis ang ating mga lokal na magsasaka sa lalo nilang pagkalugmok sa gitna ng pandemya. Ang sanang inaasahan na ani na makapagpagaan man lang kahit na konti sa kanilang buhay ay tila hindi napakinabangan. “Tuman guid ka barato ang bakal sang humay, barato ang kilo. Maka kwarta ko husto ko lang ibakal samon bulong, pati na ang mga abono kag pesticides nga kinahanglan. Bisan bag-o ko nga bayo, indi guid ko kasarang mag bakal,” salaysay ni Mang Rolly. Apat o limang buwan ang paghihintay bago maani ang mga itinanim na palay ngunit ang sipag at tiyaga ay hindi sapat na puhunan sa pagsasaka. Kinakailangan ang binhi, pataba, gamot para sa pagtaboy ng mga peste, at pagpapatubig. Kinakailangan nilang gumastos ng malaking halaga upang masiguro ang magandang ani. Pagsapit ng anihan, sa halip na galak ang kanilang maramdaman, napalitan ito ng labis na pagkadismaya. Ang dapat na kikitain sa pag-aani ay kulang pa sa kanilang pinuhunan. “Budlay ang pandemya subong. Kay senior citizen na ako, indi man ko makakadto sa banwa para mag bakal sang mga bulong. Wala man ko sang iban nga suguon kay wala ko bata. Kis-a gapa dala na lang ko kung sino ang
THE HILLSIDE ECHO MAGAZINE
CZARELLE F. LUCES
“Tuman guid ka barato ang bakal sang humay, barato ang kilo. Maka kwarta ko husto ko lang ibakal samon bulong, pati na ang mga abono kag pesticides nga kinahanglan. Bisan bago ko nga bayo, indi guid ko kasarang mag bakal.” —ROLLY PALACIO makakadto sa banwa,” humihikbing sambit ni Mang Rolly. Sa kabilang banda, naging isang napakalaking dagok ito sa sistema ng ating food production kung saan nagkakaroon ng oversupply dahil sa nilimitahan ang lokal na merkado. Naging isyu rin ito sa food security ng ating bansa kung saan hindi nakakarating ang mga masustansiyang mga pagkain sa bawat tahanan ng mga Pilipino. Tumitingkad sa gitna ng ganitong krisis ang malalim na suliranin ng bansa sa agrikultura. Ang mga tinaguriang backliners ng modernong panahon na patuloy na nagtratrabaho umulan man o umaraw, ay ang sektor na napabayaan. “Kung may magkadto sa balay para magbakal [sang bugas], swerte na e. Pero subong nga may pandemya tumal guid akon kita. Ang problema dabi sa subong nga pandemya, ga mahal tanan nga baligya, pero ang bili sang humay wala guid,” maluhaluhang saad ni Mang Rolly.
BINHI NG PAG-ASA SA KALAGITNAAN NG PANDEMYA
Sa kasalukuyan, bilang pagtugon sa malaking suliranin sa produksiyon ng pagkain, ang ibang local governments ay binibili direkta mula sa mga magsasaka ang kanilang mga produkto upang ipamahagi sa mga mamamayan nito. Naglunsad din ng mga mobile markets upang mas mapalapit sa mga tao ang masustansiya at sariwang mga gulay at prutas. Sa kabila ng malaking pinsala ng pandemya sa agrikultura, ay patuloy pa rin ang pagtatanim at pagkayod ng ating lokal na mga magsasaka. Hindi nila maaring itigil ang panahon ng pagtatanim. Kung kaya sa kanilang muling pagsugal, ay siya ring pagdagdag ng kanilang mga utang. Tila ba naging isang kumunoy na ang putik na kanilang tinatapakan. Kung hindi ka makakagawa ng paraan upang makaahon, ay tiyak ang iyong pagkalunod. Bagama’t itinuturing man ito na pinakamababang sektor ng VOL. LXXXII
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karamihan, ay hindi maipagkakaila ang malaking kontribusyon nila sa lipunan. Nagagawang punan ng agrikultura ang pinakamalaking demand sa mundo, ang demand sa pagkain. Walang katapusan ang pangangailangan sa pagkain, at hinding-hindi rin matatapos ang trabaho ng ating mga magsasaka sa pagsupply nito. Sila ang nagsusustento sa pangangailangan ng pagkain ng malaking populasyon ng bansa. Kung kaya malaking bahagi ng kalupaan sa Pilipinas ay nakalaan sa pagsasaka. Sa marumi ngunit marangal na mga kamay nanggagaling ang mga hilaw na materyales na ginagamit ng malalaking industriya sa pagproseso ng kanilang produkto. Ang mga kamay na puno ng kalyo dahil sa bigat ng trabaho sa pagsasaka ay maituturing na pinagmumulan ng buhay. Hindi kinulang sa kasipagan ang ating mga magsasaka. Ngunit anong pumipigil sa kanilang pag-unlad? Kailan magiging binhi ng pag-asa ang kanilang mga itinanim? HSE
BAGIR BAHANA
NEW NORMAL:
DALANGPAN kag KABALAKA
M
asami natun guinasug-alaw ang bag-ong tuig nga masinadyahon kag matawhay apang tanan nagbag-o sumugod sang nagsulod kag nagpanghalit ang COVID-19. Halin sa sistema nga guinkaangdan, nabuslan na sang plataporma nga indi na masayran kag mga promisa nga daw nadula lang sa kahanginan. Ang virus wala lang naglapnag bilang pandemya kundi bilang isa man ka realidad nga nangin repleksiyon sang kadam-an. Istorya ALMA M. OLAY kag ANGELI QUEEN D. DEVELOS
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THE HILLSIDE ECHO MAGAZINE
“Sang nagsugod ang bag-ong tuig, amat-amat nagtalikod ang kapawa kag ang kalibutan nalumos sa lawod sang kabudlay kag gabakas agud makatibawas sa kinaiya nga pangabuhi.”
T
uig 2019 sang nagtuhaw ang pandemya sa Wuhan, China nga tubtob subong padayun nga nagalapta kag nagahalit sa tagsa-tagsa kag nagresulta sang pagkaalarma sa tanan nga aspeto sang sosyodad. Sang nagsugod ang bag-ong tuig, amat-amat nagtalikod ang kapawa kag ang kalibutan nalumos sa lawod sang kabudlay kag pagbakas agud makatibawas sa tagsatagsa nga pangabuhi. Wala sang may guin-alegar nga pinili ukon pinasahi nga posible halitan sang natumod nga virus, tanan delikado kag apektado, apang tanan ayhan preparado kag may kapasidad nga makigbato sa pandemya labi na sa pinansyal nga aspeto sang pagpangabuhi?
EDUKASYON: SAKRIPISYO SA PAGTULUN-AN
Ang amat-amat nga pagtalikod sang kadulman kompirmasyon nga magahatag sang kasanag sa natunga nga bahin sang kalibutan ang haring adlaw. Ini ang tiyempo sa pagsugod sang mga kabataan, maestro ukon maestra, kag mga guinikanan nga magpreparar padulong sa lugar kung sa diin guinahulma ang puturo sang mga kabataan– ang eskwelahan. Mapungko sa natungdan nga pulungkuan, mamati, mabasa, may ulubrahon, makaon sang balon, mahampang kag iban pa nga mga normal nga guinahimu sa pangadlaw-adlaw nga pag-eskwela nga kung kaisa, nakabatyag ka nga makatalamad na. Wala ni sin-o ang makahuna-huna nga ang mga tion sang pag-updanay kag higya upod sa
VOL. LXXXII
atun mga kilala malimitahan kag posible pa nga madugayan bag-o maliwat asta wala pa sang may nakompirma nga bakuna sa guinaatubang nga pandemya. Nagsugod ang “new normal” sa tanan nga mga pribado kag pampubliko nga mga eskwelahan pagkatapos madiskubre nga ang atun kaaway padayun nga gasirkular kag indi mahibaluan kung sa diin kag sin-o ang malapnan. Ang “Education in New Normal Act (Senate Bill No. 1565)” ni Sen. Gatchalian may kagustuhan nga mapadasig ang digital transformation sa Department of Education. Bilang partisipasyon, ang Filamer Christian University (FCU) sa pagpanguna sang Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Minnie P. Chan kag Vice President for Administration, Mr. Jorgen M. Gregorio, nagpahayag sa kahanginan sini lang nga ika-22 sang Agosto sa “Good Morning Philippines Program” sang Bombo Radyo. Diri guin-anunsyo ni Dr. Chan nga ang enrollment halin kindergarten hasta sa college, nagapadayun kag suno sa iya, may duwa ini ka pamaagi; una, kung gusto nila pwede sila kakadtu face-to-face kag ikaduwa, may ara man sang guinatawag nga “online enrollment.” Guinpahayag man nga ang “Learning Management System” (LMS) ang mangin access sang mga estudyante nahanungod sa klase gamit ang mga gadyet kag internet connection. Dugang pa diri, may ara duwa ka pamaagi sa pagtudlo, ang modular kag online approach. Indi malayo sa pagtukib sang tanan nga ang pungsod Pilipinas isa sa mga pigado nga
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pungsod sa Asya, madamo ang wala sang access sa kompyuter, selpon o internet, kun may ara man mahina ang koneksyon sang internet kag wala sang ikasarang nga makaagum sang mga bag-o nga gadyet. “Mabudlay kung mini ang sitwasyon, damu-damu ang disadvantages, indi stable ang internet, wala enough nga gadgets ang iban nga student, magahud ang palibot kag damu pa,” kabalaka sang isa ka estudyante sang Tourism Management. Mangin sa social media wala nakalampuwas ang nanari-sari nga mga memes hanungod sa online class. “Good morning class, where is Pedro?”, “Present, ma’am!” Apang ang estudyante yara sa babaw atup gabitbit laptop ukon cellphone. May ara man nga present sa Zoom apang naka off ang camera, may gakatulog, kag may ara nga lain ang guinaasikaso. Kung magsubong sini, epektibo pa ayhan ang “education in new normal?” Suno sa isa ka estudyante sang Accountancy, wala sila nasanay sa sini nga paagi sang pagtuon. “Wala man ta ya nga daan nagarely sa online platform sadtu, so sa sudden change nga ini, daw ka ineffective guid ya kay wala ka man guihapon may natun-an. Same sa students, teachers also, have a hard time adapting to the current situation. Kulang sa resources, hindi ready ang students and teachers, hindi effective ang learning strategy nila. The teachers keep on putting pressure to the students to submit all the requirements they asked, without minding the situation of the students, they think that way the students will learn more but no, they won’t.” Ini sila ang isa sa mga linibo pa nga nakitaan nga indi mangin madali ang kasubong sini nga sitwasyon ilabi na guid kung wala sang tuman nga preparasyon para maging handa sa posible nga kahimtangan sang pagtuon.
EKONOMIYA: KALISOD KAG PAGTABANG
Pangabuhian para sa pagpangabuhi. Paano na lang kung wala ka na sang ubra kag indi na makasweldo? Paano ang pamilya nga gasalig sa pagtimakas para makakaon bisan isa lang ka beses sa isa ka adlaw? May padulungan pa bala ang buwasdamlag kung subong palang ang aton tutunlan gamala na sang kauhawon? Pagsulod sang COVID-19, guinpanubo sini ang ekonomiya sang pungsod nga may ara sang 6.7% nga Gross Domestic Product (GDP) sa sulod sang tatlo ka bulan sang 2019. Liban sa paglupok sang Taal, ang mga kanselado nga flights, pagsira sang mga negosyo kag pagkadula sang pangabuy-anan sang kadam-an, wala naabot ang target nga GDP nga 6% yanda nga tuig. “Kalain guid ya ang feeling nga halos ang 50, paiguon sa tatlo ka beses nga pagkaon sa isa ka adlaw,” hambal ni Arce, isa ka construction worker. “May ara man gani nga asin ukon toyo nalang amon guinasud-an,” maluya niya nga guindugang. Indi lang negosyo ang napilitan nga maguntat, ang sektor sang pagpanguma naapektuhan man. Tungod sang quarantine, lockdown kag border
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restrictions sa pungsod, ang suplay sang utan na-delay kag ang makalasubo, nauyangan lang ini bangud nagkalaluos na lamang. “Pila ka bulan mo tingwaan kag atipanon, harbeson kag i-deliver na tani. Nagsulod si COVID, wala na deliver kundi man, madelay tapos maluos kay guinatambak lang man kay indi kasulod sa amon guinasuplayan. Masakit sa balatyagon,” masubo nga panambiton ni Nestor, isa ka mangunguma. Samtang ang pila ka mga negosyo nagsira, nagsulod kag nag ‘boom’ ang iban kasubong sang online business kag food delivery. Humalin sang nag-anunsyo sang lockdown kag quarantine, halos tanan nahadlok na magguwa, guinapili na lang nila nga magpadeliver agud malikawan nga malapnan sang nasambit nga virus. “Sa una mabudlay kay delay ang deliveries kay may border control, galing sang nagluwag naman, nagdahog ang online business asta yanda,” hambal ni Jonalyn, isa ka online seller. “Subong magshopping sa online naman, bisan pagkaon sa online nalang guinabakal. Bangud sini, indi lang ang business ang gadako, pati ang seller nabubuligan man,” masadya nga guinpahayag niya. Bisan naglubog man ang guinkadakuan nga sistema kag palibot, indi ini rason para madulaan sang paglaum. Ang tanan magabalik sa normal kag makabangon ang tanan sa pagtilaw nga ini.
MEDIKAL: KUSOG KAG HANDUM
Suksok ang ila personal protective equipment ukon PPEs, nagpreparar ang sektor sang medikal para makipagsublang batuk sa COVID-19. Milyon na nga kabuhi ang nabawi tungod sa natumod nga pandemya, inosente, bata man kag tigulang, propesyunal o ordinaryo, wala sang may pinalabi.
THE HILLSIDE ECHO MAGAZINE
KSENIIA ILINYKH
JR PADLAN
JOSHUA SOLIS
NICK BOLTON
“Mainit ang pamatyagan kung gasuksuk PPE tapos pasma ang guwa kay matapos mo hubaon ang PPE, mahawid ka mabasa,” panambiton ni Jun*, isa ka drayber sang ambulansiya sang isa ka ospital. “Pero wala ka may mahimo kay para man ini sa ikaayo sang tanan kag agud malikawan ang impeksyon,” positibo niya
ako, still in danger ila health as well as iya life. Every night ga-pray ko nga mabalik na sa normal ang tanan para makaupod ko na sila nga wala restrictions,” puno sang paglaum niya nga guinpasayod. Indi man natun mapulong ang paglapnag sang virus, mangin ang mga healthcare personnel nangin biktima man kag nautas ang kabuhi sa tunga sang paghalong kag serbisyo. Tuman na kadako ang guinhatag nga perwisyo sang COVID, indi lang sa aspeto sang negosyo kag pagtulun-an, pati na ang sektor sang medikal, JOSHUA SOLIS guinpakabudlayan man. Alyas ‘Tony’, isa ka COVID-19 survivor, guinpahayag niya nga wala siya kabalo kung paano siya nangin infected kag sa diin siya nalapnan sini. “Nag-umpisa lang man sa trangkaso tapos nakabatyag nako sang pagpangluya sa akon lawas. Every day is BOFU SHAW worse kay wala gana magkaon but I’m trying nga masudlan bisan gamay akon tiyan sang pagkaon kag mainom ko vitamins to bring up my appetite.” Hambal sang isa ka sikat nga personalidad nga si Alex Gonzaga, kaisa ka lang magkuha sang face mask pero damo kana mahalitan. Sa sini nga tion, indi lang ikaw ang gabato, tanan maghiliusa agud indi na magtaas pa ang kaso sang COVID-19 sa pungsod.
nga guinhambal. Ang healthcare professionals wala guid nakapoy sa paghatag sang serbisyo, mapisan kag handa guid maghatag sang bulig labi na sa gakinahanglan. Guinaantus ang kainiton sang PPE, ang kakapoy, kag ang mapalayo sa pamilya agud makaserbisyo sa publiko. Suno kay Krizza, isa ka nurse, mabudlay kay gustuon niya man magpuli sa ila panimalay, guinapili niya nga indi na lang. “Puros senior citizen akon parents, basi kung pumuli ko, either positive or negative
VOL. LXXXII
NEW NORMAL: ANG BAG-O NGA KABUHI
Matapos ang mga strikto nga quarantine kag border restrictions sa pila ka lugar, nagsugod na ang “new normal” sa pangabuhi sang tagsa-tagsa. Magguwa sa puluy-an, suksok ang face mask kag face shield, amo man magsakay sa pampubliko nga transportasyon. Guinaimplementar man ang isa ka metro nga social distancing kag guinapatuman man ang pagsanitize sang kamot kag ang pagpanghugas sa tanan nga establisyamento, mapapubliko man o pribado. Sa mga ospital, indi guid dapat madula ang “daily outfit” nga PPE. Indi man ini ang normal nga guinkaangdan sang tanan pero samtang wala pa sang bulong para sa COVID-19, ang “new normal” ang guinahuna-huna nga solusyon agud maibanan ang kaso apang may kaangot nga pagtilaw ang ini nga realidad. HSE *Not his/her real name
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VOL. LXXXII
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SKY SPORTS
#BlackLivesMatter:
A TRAGIC PATTERN OF INJUSTICE
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error struck after midnight as the sound of battering and gunshots preceded the death of Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky. “I can’t breathe,” George Floyd uttered as a police officer kneeled into his neck while he was pinned to the ground in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Jacob Blake was left paralyzed after an officer shot him at least seven times in the back in Kenosha, Wisconsin. With countless lives whose dreams were put to sleep by racism, Breonna, George, and Jacob shared the same tragedy. Racist hands made these tragic patterns that the #BlackLivesMatter is trying to end. Words YSABELLE ANN B. BESORIO and ALMA M. OLAY 22
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ENOUGH WITH THE ANONYMITY
Unaware of the raid that would leave her lifeless after midnight of March 13, Breonna Taylor, a 26-year old emergency room technician, trusted the peace of the night before. The sound of the battering ram outside the door startled Breonna and her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker. The plainclothes policemen were executing a so-called “no-knock warrant” which allows law enforcement to enter without knocking or identifying themselves. Breonna and Kenneth then met the terror of police violence in their own home in Kentucky. Three Louisville police officers fired more than 20 bullets into their apartment, striking Breonna five times, the Louisville Courier Journal reported. Citing dispatch logs, Journal also reported that for more than 20 minutes after Taylor was fatally shot at approximately 12:43 a.m., Breonna was where she fell in her hallway, receiving no medical attention.
officers over a report of a counterfeit bill after he bought a pack of cigarettes. While he was handcuffed and was gasping for breath, Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, kneeled into his neck. Based on their video investigation, The New York Times reported that Chauvin did not remove his knee even after Floyd lost consciousness and for more than a minute after paramedics arrived at the scene. “They were supposed to be there to serve and protect and I didn’t see a single one of them lift a finger to do anything to help while he was begging for his life. Not one of them tried to do anything to help him,” Tera Brown, Floyd’s cousin, said in an interview with CNN. George Floyd and his last words gave global antiracist protests calling for racism and police violence to end, a statement to utter and a life to remember. The revival of the Black Lives Matter movement overwhelmed social media and people rushed to the
“While history is being weaved, there is a hideous pattern that emerges from the consequences of racism. To end this undeserved belief and system, #BlackLivesMatter reminds us that no variations and differences could make a person less of a human. Black lives matter because they truly do.” About two months after her death, the #SayHerName was launched to remember Breonna and other Black women whose lives were stolen by violence. Breonna and other women’s names were more than just unheard victims, they were sisters, mothers, and daughters that racism took away from their families. “‘Say Her Name’ attempts to make the death of black women an active part of this conversation by saying her names. If black lives really do matter, all black lives across gender have to be lifted up,” Kimberlé Crenshaw, co-founder of the campaign, told ABC News.
A GASPING CALL
On May 25, a 46-year-old Black man’s heartbreaking death under police custody was recorded in a nearly nine-minute video that would soon ignite global anti-racist protests. A father of two, George Floyd was arrested by Minneapolis police
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streets to break their silence. The world witnessed a present-day revolution when “I can’t breathe” echoed off the walls and black profile pictures shed light on the fact that like everyone else’s, black lives do matter. “Everybody is going to remember him around the world. He is going to change the world,” said his brother Rodney at his funeral. In an interview with The New York Times, Jonathan Veal, a friend of George, recalled that the then 17-year old athlete wanted to touch the world but he could not have imagined that it was the tragic way people would know George’s name. Floyd’s heartbreaking death fulfilled an old aspiration as public outrage unsettled America and calls for action sprawled across the world.
RACISM BEGETS VIOLENCE
As Jacob Blake enters the driver’s door of his SUV, inside of which were his three sons, several gunshots were heard. Citing state investigators, an
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officer grabbed Blake’s shirt and fired his service weapon seven times into the 29-year-old’s back, CNN reported. In a video footage, two Kenosha officers were seen drawing their guns behind Blake as he walks around his car. Blake was partially paralyzed after a bullet severed his spinal cord and shattered some of his vertebrae according to Ben Crump, the family’s lawyer. “They shot my son seven times. Like he didn’t matter. But my son matters. He’s a human being and he matters,” Blake’s father, Jacob Blake Sr., told reporters. Jacob Sr. told CNN that his son asked him why did the police shot him so many times. The graphic video that captured the incident that would leave Blake with multiple serious injuries is a recurring nightmare for people of color who have been targets of violence and injustice for so long. “Any person who will shoot someone seven times in the back is not shooting to slow someone down. They are shooting to kill,” said Patrisse Cullors, Executive Director of the Black Lives Matter Global Network.
DREADFUL PERSISTENCE
Racism and the tragedies that befall on those precious lives have something to do with one another. A new study by researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found out that Black Americans
are 3.23 times more likely to be killed by a police officer than white Americans. “The movement of Black Lives Matter was established in reaction to the murder by police officers of Black people in the USA in much higher numbers than white people,” Ged Grebby, Chief Executive of Show Racism The Red Card, told BBC’s Newsround. While “Black Lives Matter” has become a global outcry, campaigners of the said movement disagree with the use of the hashtag “All Lives Matter.” In an interview with BBC’s Newsround, BLM supporters denounced the latter statement as problematic. “Saying black people deserve to be treated better isn’t saying anyone else should be treated worse. But sadly, for many reasons, some people are happy for this injustice to continue, so they say things like ‘white lives matter’ or ‘all lives matter’ to take our attention away,” Sabby Dalu of Stand Up To Racism explained.
#BlackLivesMatter
Three lives were lost in a heartbreaking pattern created by racism and countless more are at stake in its continuity. A life without fear and violence should have been a reality for Black people from the start. However, as racism was designed to inflict prejudice and violence, Black lives endured the system’s injustices.
THE GUARDIAN
British actor John Boyega told nothing but the truth in his speech at a Black Lives Matter protest in London when he said, “black lives have always mattered. We have always been important. We have always meant something.” George Floyd’s death shook the world. Weeks later, Breonna Taylor’s name was remembered on what would have been her 27th birthday. Months later, Jacob Blake suffered multiple gunshot wounds that left him partially paralyzed. These victims were so much more than the tragedies that upset the world from time to time. They were Black lives that matter that the flawed and unjust system refused to recognize. The words of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. from his ‘Letter from a Birmingham Jail’ still ring, “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Racial injustices have been stealing Black lives and rights for centuries but to make this matter worse, perpetrators indulge in freedom while many victims are unheard of, and a lot more lives face constant fear and injustice. While history is being weaved, there is a hideous pattern that emerges from the consequences of racism. To end this undeserved belief and system, #BlackLivesMatter reminds us that no variations and differences could make a person less of a human. Black lives matter because they truly do. HSE
OXYGEN
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ANGEL LOCSIN
RED LIPSTICK:
READY-TO-WEAR RIGHTS
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ed attacks wait not so far ahead once silence is peeled. The courage and freedom that were put on by brave men and women were painted red by baseless accusations. Red labels were thrown to those who opposed the dull silence. Until this dangerous practice by government officials is stopped, the threats to our rights will never fade. To echo the words of Angel Locsin in her #NoToRedTagging and #YesToRedLipstick call, “kung magkaiba tayo, hindi ibig sabihin pwede mo na ako i-red tag. Hindi tayo magkalaban dito. Hindi rin ako ‘red.’ Magkaiba lang tayo ng paniniwala.” Words YSABELLE ANN B. BESORIO and VANESSA GLENISE B. USISON VOL. LXXXII
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MEET THE LABELS
The Supreme Court defines “red-tagging” as “the act of labelling, branding, naming and accusing individuals and/or organizations of being leftleaning, subversives, communists or terrorists (used as) a strategy…by State agents, particularly law enforcement agencies and the military, against those perceived to be ‘threats’ or ‘enemies of the State.’” While the constitution gives us freedom of expression, red-tagging marks those who uphold such right as enemies. As counterinsurgency campaigns intensify, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) became oblivious to the violations and dangers of red-tagging. While government officials accuse individuals with groundless claims, freedom of speech is also being painted red with fear and threats.
INDISCRIMINATE ATTACKS
Aside from the pandemic that dims the country’s
state of affairs, red-tagging also hangs all over us who wish to exercise the rights granted by the constitution. Three actresses, three of the millions of voices that must be heard, were intimidated by baseless claims. Celebrities like Liza Soberano, Catriona Gray, and Angel Locsin were added to the long list of redtagged personalities and groups.
“While red-tagging becomes a handy answer to the people’s calls of action, problems are left to rot and rights continue to be violated. Red-tagging is fear in itself. Those who benefit from silence are being challenged by red lips and advocated rights worn by empowered Filipinos.” Following Soberano’s participation in Gabriela Youth’s webinar, advocating and upholding women’s rights, Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr., spokesman of the NTF-ELCAC, warned her about the fate of an activist who was killed in an encounter. In the same statement, Parlade also dragged Gray’s name and was warned against her association with leftist groups. Locsin was also red-tagged for her philanthropic acts and for articulating her thoughts in mind. Her sister Ella Colmenares as well as Cong. Neri Colmenares were accused of being members of the New People’s Army (NPA). Being held and gripped at the neck of freedom is to be deprived of the rights that must be fairly and justly exercised by the people. Red-tagging is a threat to individuals when they intend to speak against the people in the government, when they oppose to whatever the government may not take favorable, and will be menacing in terms of the right and the freedom to argue and express oneself.
RED TRICKS
Red-tagging turns us away from the real problems. While the members of the task force are busy throwing accusations in front of millions, problems that also affect millions remain unmarked by solutions. Because speaking up reveals something, there must be some ears that aren’t ready to leave the comfort of silence. If red-tagging is the answer to criticisms and the upholding of human rights, the
LIZA SOBERANO
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system is afraid of its own flaws and that those in power aren’t willing to listen. Red-tagging activities offer no resolve to their campaign but its power has come to reach and undermine fundamental rights. In a public statement, Amnesty International stated that instead of maligning and endangering people for the lawful exercise of their freedom of expression, the government should seek to address legitimate criticism of its policies and practices. Red-tagging is likely viewed by the people, specifically by activists, and journalists as threatening on their part as media workers because it is their responsibility to deliver information to the general public, affiliated with truth and transparency. However, the roles of journalists and activists are being taunted by red-tagging practices without a firm definition or bases in the law on how to really define the enemies of the state, when to consider them as a threat to the country.
CATRIONA GRAY
REPERCUSSIONS
Red-tagging’s consequences would always find human rights as targets. This careless and dangerous act can kindle human rights violations. On August 10, Anakpawis Chairperson and Nation Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDF) peace consultant Randall Echanis was tortured to death according to autopsy report. A week later, Zara Alvarez, rights defender and Karapatan’s former education director, was shot multiple times in Bacolod City. Both of them were included in the list of more than 600 “terrorists” of the Department of Justice. According to Commission on Human Rights (CHR) spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia, “redtagging is a slippery slope as it may trigger a number of human rights violations, including harassment, unlawful arrests, torture, and threats to life.” The restraint of freedom is distressing enough, but the extent of this cruel practice has come to separate a child from her mother. Reina Mae Nasino, a member of the urban poverty group Kadamay, gave birth in jail and was separated from her daughter, baby River. Nasino’s three-month old baby died while her mother was pleading for their reunion. Even in her grief, a lot has been taken away from a mother – her freedom and the chance to hold her child for the last time. Karapatan National Chairperson Elisa Tita Lubi also said that human rights advocacy is not a crime, yet human rights workers are being killed, threatened, harassed, and jailed on trumped-up charges.
UNBEARABLE SILENCE
Law enforcers cannot tag people on the basis of mere suspicion. They cannot tag and accuse labor union organizers, peaceful activists, protesters, or anyone of being terrorists without an actual, definite
proof or evidence. Red-tagging, conversely, further intensified the threats against lives, freedom and security of the petitioners going after their concerns about the ruling and actions of the government. According to a public statement released by Amnesty International, “ensuring that human rights defenders and civil society activists are able to undertake their professional activities free from harassment, threats, and harm is an essential component of the promotion and protection of human rights in the country.” Red-tagging encourages silence in which the struggles of the nation thrive. Without the freedom to express oneself and to criticize the wrongs of the government, our rights are definitely taken away from us. While red-tagging becomes a handy answer to the people’s calls of action, problems are left to rot and rights continue to be violated. Red-tagging is fear in itself. Those who benefit from silence are being challenged by red lips and advocated rights worn by empowered Filipinos. HSE
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2GETHER: THE SERIES
BL DOMINATION:
ARE WE REALLY DOING IT RIGHT? Two minutes into YouTube’s new Premiere feature and the comment section is already brimmed with excited reactions in different languages. It’s been a week after that stressful cliff-hanger that left everyone screaming “why are you doing this to us?” Now that a new episode is about to start, everyone’s eyes are glued onto the screen– getting giddy and crazy over two handsome boys falling in love. Words MICHAEL JAY A. DEMINGOY and NICK ANDREI DESALES
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GAMEBOYS
“While the accounts of LGBTQIA+ community are gradually raised by different media platforms, an erroneous representation about the community exists. Misrepresentation by widely-used platforms could twist realities and aggravate the problems faced by the LGBTQIA+ community. ”
C
ritical and powerful. Every detail of the images shown down until the corners of our screens can strongly manifest and shape one’s opinion. The media itself delivers information that could either portray reality or inaccurately opposite it. While the accounts of LGBTQIA+ community are gradually raised by different media platforms, an erroneous representation about the community still exists. Misrepresentation by widely-used platforms could twist realities and aggravate the problems faced by the said community.
MISREPRESENTING ACTUALITY
The issue with how media depicts the struggles of the community boils down to how it is created. Boys Love or BL series and films, a genre that originated in Japan, showcase homoerotic relationships between male characters. However, these stories that are sometimes neither created nor portrayed by people from the community do not represent the truth about
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the LGBTQIA+. These are often crafted by those who have not lived with the struggles of the community. The depiction for instance, of the Thailands’s BL series 2gether The Series is played by both cisgender actors. The hype began when it became a trending topic in social media platforms but discussions on gender representation in the media landscape resurged. With its popularity, Filipino producers have recently released their own BL series, like The IdeaFirst Company’s “Gameboys”, Darryl Yap’s “Sakristan”, and Black Sheep’s “Hello Stranger.” One of the main problems of production companies in making an LGBTQIA+ series or films is that they tend to cast straight actors rather than actual queer actors. It has since then been a challenge for the LGBTQIA+ community to establish a production team composed of queer individuals. Juan Miguel Severo, a writer, and a spoken word poet is now in the works for his upcoming BL Series entitled “Gaya sa Pelikula.” Severo wants to specifically cast LGBTQ+ actors for
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lead roles because he believes that queer actors can really justify and portray the characters well. Soon after, Severo tweeted how disappointed he was when there was a small amount of experienced LGBTQIA+ actors who went to the audition for the said series and later on pointed out “systemic homophobia” as the reason. “Systemic homophobia pa rin ang kalaban. I learned na some queer actors are dissuaded from pursuing gay parts because: 1. They’re not ready to come out yet and taking on a gay role will inevitably subject them to convos about their sexuality. 2. They’re worried they won’t get cast for other parts anymore and end up portraying the token gay best friend for all eternity because the industry hardly provides a platform for our stories.”
one’s eyes. It plays an important role in depicting situations that could inform and make the public open their minds. However misleading portrayals would set a different perspective that people will eventually adapt. On the other hand, the actual scenario will become a center of controversy. The media should review and reinvent their system, after all, misrepresentation stems from the general miseducation of the film creators on queer issues and studies. “Point is, what is portrayed by the media is a social act, hence, a social context with a social function—this is where cultural discussion begins, a break or make phenomenon, which may either lead to: a) the furtherance of institutional oppression or, b) the forming of a gender-sensitive society.” Eli added.
HYPOCRITICAL APPROACH
FOR A VISIBLE TOMORROW
The people who fetishize BL portrayals are the same set of people who usually deny LGBTQIA+ members of equal rights. They fetishize the idea that queer roles are played by individuals whose physique fits the societal standard of beauty. Consequently, BL became a mainstream that continues to disregard the fact that representation is not binary but wide-ranging and diverse. “As a BL fan, I have noticed that most of the actors who are playing gay roles are straight. And only a few of them are queer in real life. In my opinion, the creators must amplify our stories and make sure we are heard,” Franz Cheng, an avid fan of the said genre strongly expressed. As this progress, it fixates as a form of infantilization of queer diversity. Gays who don’t pass the standard of beauty in the media landscape are given secondary or much lesser roles usually either a portrayal of an unattractive character, sidekicks, and an overly obsessed gay who lures men or drag them to deceit. “Another thing that I hate most from watching BL series is how rape is romanticized just because the show is BL. I don’t like the fact that some shows may contain scenes where a man forces himself on another. I could not stomach the idea in which the drama or movie is based as the assault was more blatant in the source material. These shows need improvement in subjects of rape, assault, consent, etc.,” Cheng added.
REWRITING MISTAKES
“The causes of the community are not something that you can easily agree to disagree. The misrepresentation in the media landscape is both of a cultural and institutional inception; the absence of queer studies integration in the educational curriculum, the systemic stigma and catholic guilt, the misprioritized equal rights policies due to legislative underrepresentation, etc.,” said Eli*, a young activist who is a member of a progressive organization. Media clearly is an array that could influence
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“The LGBTQIA+ community has been through so much. We have always been deprived to have a voice in society and representation is one way for us to be heard. BL series and movies speak of the community’s struggles we have with other people such as the family, the government, the church, and even with ourselves. Despite everything we have been through, it also speaks how we can overcome anything with the support and love from our family and friends. But, a single series or movie is not enough to represent the LGBTQ+ community. That’s how complex we are,” Franz said firmly. As we embark into the new millennium of digital media, we are now being served with more diverse and socially relevant stories, may it be of ethnicity, race, gender, politics, the government, etc. You name it! Anything is now possible in this day and age. “BL for me will serve as a beacon of hope. Somewhere in the Philippines, there is a gay boy like me who, at a young age, believes that a homosexual relationship is considered a sin. However, through the popularity of BL series/ movies, the LGBTQIA+ community will be given hope that love and acceptance are for everyone regardless of their sex and gender,” Franz proudly said. Everything and everyone are now evolving but the LGBTQIA+ community are still facing rampant discrimination and are still fighting for their rights in broad daylight. If done right, the BL genre could be a way for our brothers and sisters in the LGBTQIA+ community to be represented. We hope that in the days to come we may see beautifully crafted stories showcasing the struggles and hopes of the LGBTQIA+ community and may we continue to be more accepting so their stories and voices will be heard and magnified. HSE *Not his/her real name
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Sou
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
ABOUT THE SOGIE BILL SOGIE stands for Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and the bill bearing the acronym is meant to prevent any discrimination towards one’s SOGIE’s.
s NOT a me-sex arriage.
will NOT lize people o practice igious or cademic eedom.
will NOT dictate urches on teachings r hiring rocess.
will NOT w a change genderers in birth rtificate.
OES NOT olate the s of straight people.
SEXUAL ORIENTATION Refers to the direction of emotional, sexual attraction, or conduct towards people of the same sex (homosexual orientation), or towards people of both sexes (bisexual orientation), or towards people of the opposite sex (heterosexual orientation) or to the absence of attraction (asexual orientation).
GENDER IDENTITY
GENDER EXPRESSION
Refers to the personal sense of identity as characterized, among others, by manner of clothing, inclinations, and behavior in relation to masculine of feminine conventions.
Refers to the way a person communicates gender identity to others through behavior, clothing, hairstyles, communications or speech patterns, or body characteristic.
Need-to-know
FACTS
It protects LGBT persons from discrimination. It gives equal access to LGBT persons to employment, education, & social services. It will promote programs for nondiscrimination and diversity in schools and workplaces. It will penalize employers who discriminate against LGBT persons. It will provide programs to protect LGBT kids in schools. The bill extends equal rights to all persons. Gay or straight, sexual harassment and assault are punishable by law.
urces: Sen. Risa Hontiveros, Manila Bulletin, UP Outlaws | Man Thinking Cartoon Vector from Wikimedia Commons by Videoplasty.com
GALERIA
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PHOTOS BY:
JAYVEN KANE BERAMO JANNAH CHRISTINE CLORES FRANCIS LEIGH SIBULBORO
SOFIA FRANCINE VISTA EDLENE DAITOL NEIL JUDE ALBORTE
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ARJAY SANTIE MAGCALAS JOHN RAYMUND FAJARTIN
ROUNDTABLE
The Hillsiders shared their thoughts and opinions about this statement: The COVID-19 Pandemic has stirred a lot of issues worldwide. State one current issue and explain your stand about it.
YSABELLE ANN B. BESORIO, Associate Editor
The rushed opening of classes poses threats to the health and safety of students and educators and the consequences to the educational system might endanger the future of the nation that relies on the youth themselves. The circumstances vary for everyone and the alternatives for face-to-face classes won’t be easy and effective for all. While some continue with online education, those who have lost the opportunity to move forward will remain burdened and eventually be left behind.
DAREN XYRA P. SILUBRICO, Former Editor
Misconception of academic freeze—many students call for “academic freeze” without knowing that this can only be another scapegoat for the government to not be competent. Rather than calling for academic freeze, why not we call for the safe reopening of physical classes? This also suggests for a suspension in classes, guaranteed that the government will take measures to provide better facilities in schools, hire more teachers and health personnel to monitor the students while providing them the quality education they need. This is the difference between the two causes, although both propose for class suspension, calling for academic freeze only means that, we suspend the classes until a vaccine will be made available. It’s just a waste of time and of course, the government can have more excuses to use the budget allotted for education to fund their causes that only focuses on their own interests. Proposing for a safe reopening of physical classes ensures that rather than just waiting, why not use this suspension to make the government move and provide for a better learning environment that can combat the virus in the long run. We’ll never know when this pandemic will end, so it is better to keep working for more sustainable solutions rather than depending on the band-aid solutions given by the same government who failed to protect us.
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MICHAEL JAY A. DEMINGOY, Associate Editor
The opening of classes for this academic year–we all know that the Philippines is not that prepared for online and modular modes of learning and not everyone is privileged to enroll this school year. Many people are struggling financially yet schools and the education sector want to push through the opening of classes. This really opened our eyes on how incompetent our government is in addressing this pandemic that we are facing.
THOEN ANN S. SOCOBOS, News Editor
The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) will push through the modular and online learning systems for this academic year despite the fact that not everyone is equipped to participate in these new modes of learning. Students will stay at home, do their activities online, and read their modules produced by their respective schools. Maybe for other students and families this kind of set-up is fine but how about the others? We can’t be sure that other families can afford cellphones, laptops or other gadgets with reliable connections. Afraid of being left behind, they will try and do everything to catch up even though they can hardly afford. Even in the modular learning system, there is no certainty that the parents can teach their children well. Majority of the parents honestly expressed that they find it difficult to teach their children because they can’t understand the lessons themselves in the first place. In times like this, safety must be the top priority and that no student should be left behind.
VANESSA GLENISE B. USISON, Literary Editor
The world we live in unanticipatedly stopped because of the pitfall that all of us are unprepared of. It is like we fell into an abyss left with little hopes, helpless. Truly, the COVID-19 Pandemic fiddled issues in our country, the Philippines. The problems brought by this pandemic to every Filipino and the nation as a whole include the insufficiency in medical facilities and assistance, the failure to carry out rules and protocols, failure to respond the issues tackled, and the escalating number of COVID-19 positives and deaths The first that deserves to be charged of all the lapses and problems is the government because instead of focusing on the main issue, they synced it with the shutting down of one of the leading media networks in the country and pushing through the Anti-Terrorism Law to threaten those who criticize their vicious acts. However, we also have to admit that we, the citizens, are also the one of the reasons why we got into the knot we are facing. Some of us failed to do our duties as members of this society–we break the rules, we choose to disobey and become complacent. But the people themselves are not the only ones to blame. Although discipline starts within oneself, it is the duty of the authorities to discipline the people of the country.
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PARADIGM
“There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.” PROVERBS 23:18 NIV
Many of us already have plans laid out for this year, thinking that life will unfold as we always know it. We expected this year to have minor detours that would not be so bad and then it would be eventually difficult to tell this one and the previous years apart. But 2020 proved us wrong because the COVID-19 pandemic forced us to make a dramatic turnaround. Words YSABELLE ANN B. BESORIO and ALYZA V. PAMILLARAN
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THE HILLSIDE ECHO MAGAZINE
T
he pandemic has cost lives and opportunities. This crisis was not a simple series of abrupt changes because it also stirred the emergence of pressing and previously unrecognized problems and aggravated the existing ones. The fear and despair that lingered around and within us for many months were undeniable. Our losses were too many to mention because our sufferings were not short-lived tracks of darkness. We, as a pandemic-stricken nation, went through a lot of problems that are difficult to endure. We then realized life when it completely changed. We did meet our strength in the middle of terrible things. It was not the pandemic’s spreading and heartbreaking consequences that gave us strength. But even in the midst of it all, we have let each other’s goodness and faith to be in the way of hopelessness that had come to cover us. We cannot disregard that we fought against an invisible enemy while the roads are clouded with fear and uncertainty, but we cannot also let this pandemic drown the courage and hope that we have mustered. Throughout this difficult time, finding something good within and around does not mean betraying the reality of our experiences. We went through despair and hopelessness and there was no other way but to learn from all of them. The pandemic’s sprawling consequences were heavy burdens but with our gathered strength and desire to help each other, we were able to move forward as much as we can. The pandemic itself is terrifying and unforgettable. The pain of our experiences will persist for quite some time. We will feel like strangers in a now-unfamiliar world. Things are inescapable and there is still a long way before we get to the battle’s end, yet we are here with our strength and hopes that conquer each difficult day. When we are overwhelmed by ceaseless problems and unknown enemies that are spreading around the world, though our circumstances may not change, we can find hope and peace in the Lord. Simple acts like sharing a smile and rendering help could inspire someone and start change. A change of perspective can turn frustration into expectation. “There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great, and no tonic so powerful as expectation of something tomorrow.” –Orison Swett Marden
VOL. LXXXII
37
DMITRI RATUSHNY
