The Torch Publications Tomo LXXIV Blg 4 by The Torch Publications

THE TORCH PUBLICATIONS TOMO LXXIV BLG. 4

The Official Student Publication of Philippine Normal University-Manila

MEMBER: College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) Progresibong Lupon ng mga Manunulat (PLUMA-PNU)

ISYU LXXIV BLG. 4 3RD REGULAR ISSUE MARCH-JUNE 2021 GRAPHICS ● HUEYCENDEE REBOYA

Ink your Pen, Serve the People!

A.Y. 2020-2021 Kyril Jon Velasquez PUNONG PATNUGOT Jersey Cacalda Kawaksing Patnugot sa Filipino Dominic Kean Calavia Kawaksing Patnugot sa Ingles Ma. Nathalie Avendaño Patnugot sa Pamamahala Justine Patricio Patnugot sa BalitA Alizsa Joy Martinez Patnugot sa Lathalain Micarl Abrantes Patnugot sa PANITIKAN Shaine Christian Ocampo Patnugot sa Pananaliksik

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Movement of the Unbound One year into one of the longest lockdowns, continuous reports of state-sponsored killings and attacks against women and LGBTQIA+ activists have surfaced alongside the overwhelming rise of COVID-19 cases in the country. The endless red-tagging, illegal arrests, and extrajudicial killings paved the way for international solidarity among nations as they continue to hold their ground. The anti-people policies of governments and the continuous dissent are global struggles, not only in the Philippines. Movements in Myanmar, India, Thailand, the USA, and Indonesia appear to be a pattern of eradicating the deeply rooted machofeudal system of societies. For years, it has been the elephant in the room that oppresses the masses. Powerful as they are, these movements share one common ground— women lead. In the Philippines, police brutality is prevalent. From rape assaults, unjust punishment against quarantine violators, the military has proven itself to be a state apparatus that serves not the ordinary people, but the ones in power. Police elements arrested 20 members of an LGBTQIA+ group for merely protesting against continued negligence of the people's needs during a health crisis. Meanwhile, allies of the administration get away with violations of their protocols. Impunity is also present in Myanmar as their military seized power over the country after a coup on February 1. Women did not only fill the streets but took the frontline position as they defy military take over despite dangers that come with it. One of the casualties of the violent military crackdowns was an 18-year-old student who took part in the peaceful protest. Ma Kyal Sin, known as Angel in her English name, brought with her a message printed on her Black T- when she was shot dead: Everything will be OK.

International solidarity is visible among the movements, and women play an integral role in dismantling the systemic patriarchy.

Unfortunately for Thailand, the youth sector’s fight for democracy is far from OK. The protesters continue to uphold their three core political demands: the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, a genuinely democratic constitution, and – most explosively – reforms to shackle the power of the Thai monarchy that continuously perpetrates patriarchal norms. Patriarchy can still be associated with the committed Asian hate crimes in the US. The data reflected the racism and sexism in Asian Women's reports of hate incidents. An astounding 68% of the 3,800 anti-Asian racist incidents targeted women because they are perceived as ‘’easy targets.’’ To view women as mere targets of crimes and hate is unjust. Especially when the list of proofs to detest this is unending. Take as an example the female farmers in India who brought their rage to the streets. Upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s implementation of the new laws that allow farmers to sell their products to buyers directly for a measly price, peasants firmly expressed their defiance. This attempt to ‘’modernize’’ the country’s agricultural industry sparked rage because the peasants believe that it favors corporations who buy their goods for a meager price. So, they brought their calls by abandoning their fields to live in tents pitched on a highway since November last year. Women, of course, took part in the protest by sitting cross-legged in front of the protest site in their country, a makeshift stage in Ghazipur. The lack of Modi’s response angered the farmers, especially the females. The statement he released during International Women’s Month even added fuel to the fire. Babli Singh, a farm leader said, “Today Modi is sending wishes to women across the country on International Women’s Day. Who are these women he is sending wishes to? We are also like his daughters, but he clearly doesn’t care about us.’’ Neglecting the cries of the people is one thing, but to stifle their freedom of expression is another. In the Philippines, the Duterte administration has been using its power to go after ordinary Filipinos who use online platforms to vent dissent against the government’s incompetence. The same thing happened in India. Tatat Sukarsa, a woman from the International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development

(INFID) said, ’’there were cyberattacks against activists criticizing government policies in handling COVID-19. The WhatsApp account of a friend and activist was hacked, and he was then accused of inciting riots and hate speech. Cyberattacks and hacking attempts have also targeted journalists and their social media accounts.’’ International solidarity is visible among the movements, and women play an integral role in dismantling the systemic patriarchy. Too much for looking over other’s grass. Time to check what’s within reach of our noses. When Duterte said that the presidency is not a job suitable for women, he proved indirectly that the Philippines and the Filipino women are yet to be free. Because while the egotistical President is busy releasing photos as his proof of life while the Filipino people could hardly make ends meet in a time of a pandemic, women are already walking the talk. Chiara Zambrano, a journalist from ABS-CBN, bravely faced the intimidation and harassment of the Chinese navy when she covered a news report in the West Philippine Sea. She gave no false promises about jetski and protecting our sovereignty like the mad man in the Malacanang. However, her journalism advocacy exposed the negligence of the Duterte Administration to protect our territory. Ana Patricia Non as the woman behind the Community Pantry, exhibited the notion of ‘’For the masses, by the masses’’. Let us not forget the organized women on the ground who are tirelessly fighting to uphold human rights. They continuously struggle to emancipate themselves from the oppressive macho-feudal system. These women contribute distinctively to shake the status quo. Every day is a struggle for everyone under the rule of a rotten system. The rights to resist and stand up for justice can be done in limitless ways. One is to be organized. As preservice teachers, putting theory into practice is an integral part of building a democratic society. We must remember that women's fight is part of the larger class struggle. Add to that is the moral obligation of letting the future generations remember this government’s lack of pandemic response and de facto martial law down to its very detail.

3RD REGULAR ISSUE ● MAR - JUNE 2021

DIBUHO ● ERIC DIMASAKAT

THE TORCH PUBLICATIONS TOMO LXXIV BLG. 4

EDITORIAL

THE TORCH PUBLICATIONS TOMO LXXIV BLG. 4

NEWS

CNA inking, a historic success for PNU, Faculty Union - Faculty Regent EVERLINDA OLID While the global health crisis worsened the existing problems of the labor sector in the country, the Philippine Normal University (PNU) Management responded to the needs of its faculty members by granting its long pursued better employment conditions. Intending to strengthen the partnership between the said parties, PNU President Dr. Bert J. Tuga and the current Faculty Regent, Dr. Felicia I. Yeban, signed the Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) last March 8, 2021. Both parties negotiated the crucial elements of employment conditions, including the principles, rights, privileges, obligations, rules, and regulations of the administration and the union. “The right to the freedom of association, the right to unionism is an instrument to establish the partnership between management and the employees,” Yeban said. Faculty Union’s 16-Year Journey for CNA Dr. Yeban explained that this milestone was a collective effort of faculty members throughout the years. According to her, it was in 2005 when the Civil Service Commission (CSM) recognized the registration of the PNU Faculty Association as a Union. Since 2005, faculty members have had numerous attempts to call for better working conditions. However, past administrators

did not grant their plea. “It’s not the first attempt, but it’s the first successful attempt because previous attempts didn’t materialize,” the Regent said. During her return in 2011 to the University as a Vice President for Finance and Administration, she drafted the first-ever CNA with the help of Dr. Liwanag, the President of PNU Federation of Faculty Associations. However, the administration did not sign it. After a few more years, new regents have also tried to submit their drafts, but again, these did not prosper. The Regent used the former drafts of CNA, particularly the draft of Atty. Antonio Ferrer as a guide in establishing the agreement. A Historic Time for the Union Through unionism, the PNU Management and Faculty Union negotiated to solve problems and create changes on its current system. One of the necessary things is to foster improvements for the welfare of the faculty members. “We [also want] to create a history that one hundred years from now when they look back, when faculty members of PNU, one hundred years hence, you know, would be much better off than how we are now, ” Yeban said. The document also aims to eradicate any form of discrimination and inequality.

Likewise, economic benefits and other incentives are indicated in the agreement. Additionally, the PNU Management plans to create a provident fund for the faculty’s retirement security. The regent revealed that there are retirees who are in poor financial standing with the current pension. “At least if we have this, if we’re able to put up a fund, it will become in a way, the union will become rich in a sense ‘di yung rich na in a negative way ‘no, the union will have the capacity to take care of its retirees so much the better,” Yeban explained. Faculty Union’s Pledge To ensure that the rights and obligations stated in the agreement are honored, the Faculty Union will collaborate with PNU Management to review the contract and make necessary amendments if needed. “Ang maganda doon sa CNA namin, every six month pwedeng i-revisit kung meron kamingnakaligtaan ‘no or may something new na nag-emerge na ‘di naminna-accommodate noon so pwede naming ayusin,” Yeban emphasized. Unionism is a Human Right According to Dr. Yeban, the freedom to join unions and make collective negotiations with their employers is recognized as fundamental human rights worldwide. She

further added that Unionism reinforces democratic principles in the University. “It says there that we are a democratic university, that we are democratic citizens of the University and that we have this freedom to participate, freedom to be consulted, right to be consulted, so it’s part of management,” Yeban stated. The granting of CNA only proves that the PNU Management values the role of faculty in attaining the vision of the University. “That goes to show when

management and the faculty members have a shared understanding of what is good for the faculty and what is good for the university. Parang what is good for the faculty is also good for the university. Walang gaanong problema," she explained. As a legal document, Dr. Yeban assured that the CNA would protect and promote certain principles of democracy and shared leadership. She believes that these are necessary to achieve the vision of the University.

SIDEBAR 1 PROVISIONS IN THE CNA 1. Decent office for the Union; 2. Granting the Union to use the University Facilities; 3. Appropriation of funds on their meetings and/or activities; 4. Ensuring the regular promotion of the faculty; 5. Allowing the Union to be involved in the different policy-making of the University; and 6. Faculty representation in the major committees of the University

PHOTOS ● PNU

Dr. Feliece Yeban along with Dr. Bert Tuga signed the first Collective Negotiation Agreement between the Faculty Union and the University administration.

/thetorchpnu

THE TORCH PUBLICATIONS TOMO LXXIV BLG. 4

NEWS

Teacher-union pushes for monthly internet allowance increase KATHERINE RABINO

As the country shifted to distance learning, internet connectivity is undoubtedly vital for both educators and learners. Teachers, who have meager salaries and deferred benefits, are no longer capable of sustaining the need for internet connectivity. Concerning this, The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) - Philippines urged the administration to grant PHP 1,500 monthly internet allowance through a petition last January. The organization mentioned that the current PHP 83.33 monthly internet allowance or PHP 1,000 yearly internet allowance is inadequate and unjustifiable. “Such amount did not give any justice regarding their work-related expenses, which was worsened by the pandemic, because there is a substantial need for constant access to internet connection” ACT implied. After two months of undying perseverance and determination, the petition already gained 4,497 supporters.

Moreover,positive progress was seen with the inclusion of PHP 30 billion for internet allowance for teachers and students at all levels under the Bayanihan III bill recently filed by House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco and Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo. “Finally, some of our lawmakers have heeded the undeniably just clamor of teachers for P1500 monthly internet allowance, which have been ignored in the Bayanihan 2 Law and the 2021 General Appropriations Act.”urged Raymond Basilio, ACT Secretary General. Prevailing over the challenges of teaching in distance learning The education sector of the country is strongly affected by the pandemic. It results in near-total closures of schools, universities, and colleges. Various challenges and difficulties surfaced as online education was implemented, like limited learning access for schools, the Dilemma

PNU partners with DepEd on evaluating learning resources ANGELICA RAGO

PHOTO ● PNU

Dr. Bert Tuga signs the Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Education on evaluating learning resources.

of technology use, and insufficient learning gadgets and equipment for both teachers and learners. Internet connection, which is a necessity, has its vital role in implementing distance learning. With PHP 83.33 monthly internet allowance, teachers stretch their resources to buy cellphone load and internet subscription. “Paano pagkakasiyahin ng mga guro ang P83.33 na internet allowance para sa isang buwan na klase? dapat ay ibigay na ang P1,500 monthly internet allowance, now na!” ACT said. In an interview, Basilio pointed out that internet connectivity is part of the teachers’ needs to suffice online learning demands. The PHP 1,500 connectivity allowance will enable them to afford the minimum internet plan rather than merely load credits for mobile data. “Hindi na dapat pahirapan pa ang mga guro na mabawi ang inabono sa cellphone load at internet bills para sa

distance learning. Kapos na nga ang ibabayad ng DepEd, padadaanin pa tayo sa butas ng karayom!” ACT said.

Philippine Normal University (PNU) joins the Department of Education (DepEd) in ensuring the continuous improvement on the quality of instructional materials at the junior high school level after signing the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on Review and Validation of Learning Resources last February 23, 2021. The collaboration was made official through Dr. Bert J. Tuga, PNU President, and Dr. Diosdado M. San Antonio, DepEd Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction, who also initiated the signing of MOA. “Happy to assist DepEd in the quality of its self-learning modules and lesson scripts for Q3 & Q4. Para sabata at sabayan,” President Tuga stated in his Facebook post. This project that PNU and DepEd partnered with is centered on reviewing and validating the Self-Learning Modules (SLMs) and Multimedia scripts of the ten subject areas of Grades seven (7) to ten (10). Accordingly, DepEd tapped PNU course experts and professors, together with its partner institutions, to serve as language and content valida-

tors of the learning resources. Officiating the evaluation of language and content of SLMs and Multimedia scripts is the Project Core Team, consisting of Dr. Ruth A. Alido, Dean of the College of Teacher Development (CTD) and Project Director; Dr. Maria Teresa L. Manicio, Co-Project Director; Dr. Brando C. Palomar, Officer-in-Charge of the Faculty of Science, Technology, and Mathematics and Subject Coordinator for Science; and Ms. Monica Blaise B. Saniel, Technical Assistant of CTD. Along with the four-member Project Core Team, 195 more validators work together on the evaluation of language and content of the learning resources. “The validation is made possible by 26 subject coordinators, 148 validators from PNU and partner institutions, 10 academic staff, 6 student assistants, 4-member project management core team, and the 5-member PNU Executive Management. We are ably assisted by the DepEd counterpart in the Bureau of Learning Resources.” Dr. Alido shared in her Facebook post. According to DepEd Order

Governments’ delinquency on teachers right However, it seems that the administration turned a blind eye to the teachers’ demands to grant the increase of internet allowance. If the government continues to neglect its duties and set aside teachers’ outcries, the education system will remain rotten and antipoor. Also, they demanded to immediately release the publicschool teachers’ other benefits, like the PHP 300 monthly communication expense reimbursement, Service Recognition Incentive (SRI) 2020, and Performance Based-Bonus 2019. “As our employer and the primary duty-bearer in the fulfillment of the youth’s right to education, we implore the national government to prioritize education delivery in the nation’s efforts to fight and

recover from the pandemic” ACT asserted. Even if the country is battling with this pandemic, inclusive and well-planned education mechanisms should be part of the priority. Join the struggle of the teachers, who still bravely fulfill their responsibilities even in these circumstances. They deserved to obtain every fruit of their hard work through their allowances, sufficient salaries, and a better work compensation. Acknowledging their plea will not go in vain - it will drive such determination and compassion to continue imparting knowledge to the youth. It is justifiable to hold the government accountable for its incompetence leaving the education system ineffective up to its core.

No. 001 s. 2021 or Guidelines on the evaluation of Self-Learning Modules for Quarters 3 and 4 for School Year 2020-2021, language validators are expected to ensure that “...SLMs have coherence of clarity and thoughts, are free of grammatical, syntax, spelling, and punctuation errors, and are consistent in style.” Meanwhile, content validators are to guarantee that “... the target Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELCS) per quarter are sufficiently covered, that the instructional design and organization are aligned, that the text and visuals are accurate and errorfree, include the appropriate assessment for learners, readability is ensured, and third party contents are properly cited and referenced.” The project aims to enhance the quality of the Junior High School’s learning materials to be used in the third and fourth quarters of the current academic year as the country continues to implement remote learning set up a year after the country recorded its first case of COVID-19.

3RD REGULAR ISSUE ● MAR - JUNE 2021

THE TORCH PUBLICATIONS TOMO LXXIV BLG. 4

NEWS

Sa Hindi Paglimot:

Ang Pagpapatuloy ng Laban ng EDSA ERICA MAE GOZO

PHOTO ● DOMINIC KEAN CALAVIA

Bitbit ang mga panawagang “Never Again to Martial Law!”, nagkasa ng kilos-protesta ang iba’t ibang sektor sa EDSA People Power Monument.

Duterte Wakasan Movement, isinulong ng mga progresibong grupo

Higit na pinaigting ng pagiral ng Anti-Terror Law at ng tumitinding panggigipit ng kasakuluyang administrastyon ang sigaw ng pagbalikwas sa ikinasang kilos-protesta sa Department of National Defense (DND) patungong EDSA People Power Monument bilang bahagi ng paggunita sa ika-35 na anibersaryo ng EDSA People Power Uprising, Pebrero 25, 2021. “Sa harap nitong banta ng panibagong diktadura ni Duterte at ng nais niya ngayong political dynasty, wala tayong sasandalan kundi ‘yung ating pagkakaisa at ‘yung ating lakas, katulad nung ginawa natin sa EDSA 35 years ago,” wika ni Teddy Casiño mula sa Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN). Pabagsakin ang Diktadurya Umikot ang tema ng kilosprotesta sa iba’t ibang panawagang may kaugnayan sa mga isyung kinakaharap ng bansa, pagtuligsa sa umiiral na diktadurya at nagbabadyang political dynasty na pinatindi ng pagsabay ng Run, Sara, Run motorcade sa kahabaan ng EDSA. Kaugnay nito, pinakatampok

na pahayag sa protesta ang "No to Duterte's Dictatorship and Dynasty" dulot ng lumalalang impyunidad sa pamumuno ni Duterte na wala umanong pinagkaiba sa pamumuno ni dating Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos, ayon kay BAYAN Secretary-General Renato Reyes. “Kahit na sabihin nila na ‘yung dictatorship ni Marcos natapos 35 years ago, ramdam na ramdam mo pa rin ‘yung mga labi ng diktadurya,” ani Reyes. Solusyong Makamasa Bukod sa mariing pagtuligsa sa pasismong pamumuno, ipinanawagan din ng mga makamasang organisasyon ang pagbibigay-pansin sa isyu sa kalikasan, kahirapan, ekonomiya at mga suliraning bitbit ng pandemya. Hinimok ng College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) ang pamahalaan na unahing solusyunan ang mga kagyat na isyu sa COVID-19 pandemic, bakuna, tulong-pinansyal, pagtaas ng minimum wage at pagtaas ng presyo ng basic commodities kaysa sa pagtutok nito sa Anti-Terror Law. Hiniling naman ng Bukluran

ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) na unahin ng gobyerno ang 4.5 milyong Pilipino na nawalan ng trabaho sa gitna ng pandemya. “Unahin mo ang manggagawa at mas nakararaming masang Pilipino. Hindi ang mga negosyo, hindi ang mga kapitalista,” pahayag ni BMP National President Luke Espiritu. Progresibong Pagbabago Ayon kay Teddy Casiño ng BAYAN, hindi naging ganap ang pagbabagong hangad ng mamamayan sa EDSA dahil patuloy na umiiral ang korapsyon, political dynasty, paghahari ng imperyalistang dayuhan, kahirapan at inhustisya sa bansa. “Iyon siguro ang kailangang ipagpatuloy natin. Sa diwa ng EDSA, ‘yung makabuluhang pagbabago para sa mamamayan, hindi para sa iilan,” udyok ni Casiño. Sa huli, hinimok ni Sanlakas Secretary-General Aaron Pedrosa ang mga ordinaryong mamamayan na makisangkot sa kasalukuyang kalagayan ng bansa at magtulak ng pagbabago sa sistemang umiiral upang mangyari ang pangako ng EDSA.

PHOTOS ● DOMINIC KEAN CALAVIA

TRACYLYN CADANGIN Nagtipon-tipon ang manggagawang kultural, pinuno ng simbahan, at iba pang progresibong grupo upang birtwal na pasinayaan ang Duterte Wakasan Movement, Hunyo 3. Layunin ng nasabing pagkilos ang mapatalsik si Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa puwesto bunsod ng palpak niyang pamamalakad upang matulungang makabangon ang bansa sa pagkakalugmok nito. Hangad din ng grupong masiguro ang pagkatalo nito kung sakaling muling tatakbo sa halalan sa taong 2022. Kinondena ng grupo ang paghahari ng extrajudicial killings, pagpapatuloy ng redtagging, kawalan nang maayos na tugon sa pandemya, karuwagang ipaglaban ang soberanya ng Pilipinas mula sa pang-aangkin ng Tsina sa West Philippine Sea, at kakulangan ng karampatang pasahod para sa mga manggagawa at magsasaka. Samantala, patuloy ang /thetorchpnu

kanilang pananawagan sa kabila ng napipintong pagtakbo ni Pangulong Duterte bilang ikalawang pangulo sa halalan 2022 at ng anak niyang si Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio bilang pangulo. Anila, kinakailangan ang mga ganitong uri ng pagkilos upang mapanatili ang demokrasya at maayos na pamumuno, matamo ang hustisya at kaunlaran sa ekonomiya, lalong-lalo ang mapangalagaan ang soberanya at kapayapaan ng ating bansa. “Why do they listen to capitalists when they decry profit loss? But when workers seek redress, our grievances fall on deaf ears,” wika ni union leader Francisco Manaog. “We need to help each other in reminding people why Duterte and all he stands for should never again rule this nation,” dagdag pa ng kolektibong pahayag ng kilusan.

Nagtipon-tipon ang iba’t ibang sektor sa harap ng Mendiola Peace Arch bitbit ang kanya-kanyang mga panawagan upang gunitain ang ika-35 anibersaryo ng EDSA People Power.

THE TORCH PUBLICATIONS TOMO LXXIV BLG. 4

NEWS

Posturing as pro-women:

Arrests, harassments of women-activists continue amid celebration of Women’s Month ADRIAN PAUL CORTEZ | NICOLE LINDSAY RAMOS Few months after the arrest of women political prisoners and his statement about women being unfit to lead, ironically, ‘machofascist’ Duterte encouraged every Filipino to join in the observance of Women’s month in a statement he signed on March 8, 2021. In Duterte’s statement, he mentioned that the government had taken actions that respected and recognized women’s contribution to society. The signed statement further reads: “Let us elevate women to their rightful place in society by empowering every Filipina to break not only the barriers that have long hindered them from reaching their full potential but also the backward mindset that fueled a culture of gender oppression and inequality.” A few months before, Duterte addressed the ‘run Sara run’ movement saying that the presidency is not a woman’s job as the emotional setup of a woman and a man is different. Karapatan Secretary General Christina Palabay, in response to Duterte’s remark, has stated that women are as capable as men, not only in the Presidency but in any job. “What matters most especially when we talk of the

presidency and public office is if the interests of the poor majority are upheld,” she said. It was in 2018, when Duterte after hosting more than 200 ‘former rebels’ in Malacañang, was also denounced by Gabriela Women’s Party Representative, Emmi de Jesus for his sexist remark of shooting female rebels in the vagina. According to her, such a remark “openly encourages violence against women, contributes to the impunity on such, and further confirms himself as the most dangerous macho-fascist in the government.” In response to the presidential spokesperson, Harry Roque’s statement that the feminists are overreacting, de Jesus said that it will never be too much to speak up for women’s rights “under a regime that brazenly degrades and disrespects women.” Peasant Women’s Struggle Ironically, women experienced brazen attacks from his administration. Countless times, Duterte has made sexist jokes, as he addressed the nation while his subordinates continuously red-bait women who are critical of his governance. These

172,304 votes

58.50%

SIDEBAR 2 PALAWAN PLEBESCITE VOTERS’ TURNOUT REGISTERED VOTERS

490,219

60.73%

sexist

SHEENA MAE BALONZO

41.50%

VOTER’S TURNOUT

Attack on Women Representation Along with the

"No" votes triumph plebiscite

122,223 votes

attacks led various artists and Human Rights advocates to support campaigns such as #NoToRedTagging and #YesToRedLipstick to denounce the administration’s attempt to suppress freedom of speech. On February 14, Filipinos across regions took part in ‘One Billion Rising,’ an annual global campaign that began in 2012, to express their dissent against gender-based violence and to rise against impunities. According to Gabriela Youth, this year’s theme, ‘Rising Gardens,’ campaigned for women and our planet considered the least protected and violated under oppressive systems.

remarks and the continuous illegal arrests against women, the Duterte administration has also filed disqualification pleas against Gabriela through the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC). In a statement, Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas also condemned the message of Duterte for Women’s Month. She said that Duterte is just posturing himself to be pro-women for his administration has filed trumped-up allegations against the sole Women’s Party-list representative in the world. In line with this, Gabriela Partylist filed a Manifestation of Intent to Participate in May 2022 polls. “We will never be fazed by the Duterte regime’s evil ploy to shun women representation out of the Lower House and disenfranchise millions of marginalized Filipino women.” Gabriela Rep. Arlene said. The Women’s Party reiterated that substantial aid, mass testing, and safe vaccines are still yet to be given. During a pandemic and the intensified attacks against opposition, the call for a violence-free society continues.

#Noto3in1Palawan:

SIDEBAR 1 PALAWAN PLEBESCITE OFFICIAL RESULTS

YES

Countless times, Duterte has made sexist jokes, as he addressed the nation while his subordinates continuously redbait women who are critical of his governance.

Along with this campaign, Gabriela and Human Rights groups called on the government to release peasant women prisoners and end violence against them. Elizabeth Estilon, 41, and Enriqueta Guelas, 62, were arrested last December 24, 2020, and were charged with illegal possession of firearms stated within the violation of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020. This arrest just added to the rising number of peasant women political prisoners, which is now at 78, 62 of which were arrested during the present administration. Amihan National chairperson Zenaida Soriano said in her statement during the International Women’s Day that “the fascist Duterte has put 62 innocent peasant women in jail behind bars and deprived them of their rights as women, mothers to their children, and peasants advancing rights to land and livelihood.” As Soriano urged, the government should consider political prisoners’ immediate and unconditional release, and we, the people, should make Duterte accountable.

TOTAL VOTES

297,728

After four days of voting, the people of Palawan rejected the proposal to divide the province into three more provinces as the COMELEC’s Provincial Plebiscite Board of Canvassers proclaimed that the ‘no’ vote won in the plebiscite on Saturday, March 16. The proposal to ratify Republic Act No.11259 that aimed to split Palawan into Palawan Del Norte, Palawan Oriental and Palawan Del Sur gathered a 60.06 percent voter turnout declaring 172, 304 votes for ‘no’ while 122,223 voted ‘yes’. Before the plebiscite, Palawan Governor Jose Alvarez is the primary proponent of RA 11259 or An Act Dividing the Province of Palawan Into Three (3) Provinces. He also initiated to revive the same proposal made by politicians in the early 1960s. The goal is to declare Palawan as an autonomous

region in order to have more power over its finances and development plans as well as its law exclusive to its jurisdiction. As he won in the 2016 elections, he met with different politicians and local chairpersons to ask for support in his proposal. Meanwhile, One Palawan relies on social media and grassroots community campaigns to gather support and encourage the Palawan people to vote 'no' as the plebiscite started. “The big lesson for the politicians who attempted to divide Palawan into three is to make sure that the desire actually came from the people. They need to consult and include the people from the beginning. The desire of a few cannot win over the desire of the majority,” campaigner Cynthia del Rosario of One Palawan said in an interview. According to del Rosario,

despite losing on the filing of a writ of prohibition to render RA 11259 null and void last June 26, 2019, Palawan and its people started to self-organize their communities during the last days of the campaign period to win through collective effort and reject the plebiscite. Alvarez formally accepted the defeat as he expressed his disappointment with the decision and results. He claimed that the people missed an opportunity to improve the governance and policies in the province. "We will see how prepared the COMELEC, the people and our partner agencies to conduct the 2022 elections in terms of safety and security aspects," COMELEC Commissioner Antonio Kho Jr. said pertaining to the Palawan plebiscite as a dry run for the upcoming 2022 national elections.

3RD REGULAR ISSUE ● MAR - JUNE 2021

THE TORCH PUBLICATIONS TOMO LXXIV BLG. 4

NEWS

Bloody Sunday:

Groups condemn gov’t crackdown of activists in CALABARZON DWIGHT LORENZ FERNANDEZ | KIRK CYRIL RAMOS

'We’re human, too!' These are the last words of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN-Cavite) SecretaryGeneral Emmanuel “Manny” Asuncion. He is one of the nine activists killed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), while six others were arrested, in an operation in CALABARZON, Sunday, March 7, 2021. Loud knocks woke everyone in Asuncion’s household in Cavite at 5:30 am. A 27-yearold activist residing with Asuncion and his wife, who does not want to be identified, heard Asuncion’s cries before multiple gunshots happened on the second floor of their home. Dubbed as “Bloody Sunday," the incident happened two days after President Rodrigo Roa Duterte told the police and military forces in his speech to “kill” and “finish off” communists and “ignore human rights” in all encounters. State obligation? Presidential Spox Harry Roque defends the President's orders by stating the International Humanitarian Law (IHL). He explains that if you have a weapon and you are part of a war, you can kill, and you can be killed. However, Roque also said that the state must investigate these crimes as the slain activists were unarmed. Roque added that if the IHL will be followed, Duterte’s “kill, kill, kill” order is correct. The order is legal because the armed rebels are the target. “But under the law, the police

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should always distinguish between combatants and civilians,” he said. After Roque released his statement, Human Rights group Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay expressed their firm stance in demanding justice for the killed activists on Tuesday, March 16, 2021. “We stand with the victims of the Bloody Sunday raids and all victims of human rights violations, along with their families, in demanding justice and we will engage all available remedies to ensure that their demands for accountability are heard and concretely acted upon,” said Palabay. The TERROR on Anti-Terror Law Santiago Bacasno, father of one of the nine slain activists - Mark Lee “Mak Mak” Bacasno - blames the controversial Anti-Terror Law for the death of his son. "Ganyan ba ang batas ng antiterror law? Papatay muna bago i-search? Bago arestuhin?” Bacasno expressed on Friday, March 12, in a press conference organized by the family of slain victims. Over 60 legal counsels called for a temporary restraining order for the implementation of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 (ATA), which “could help address the worsening situation” after the rising number of deaths due to the "nanlaban" defense. “We express concern over the rising number of deaths resulting from the enforcement of ‘search warrants’ issued by the courts on the ground that

the subject ‘fought back,’ no different from the claim of ‘nanlaban’ over the deaths of drug suspects in anti-drug operations,” said the petitioners. Voice of the people VP Leni Robredo considered the crackdown as a massacre. Robredo expressed that “the Filipino people deserve better than this murderous regime.” Also, members of the Ateneo de Manila University community and College Editor Guild of the Philippines (CEGP), expressed their resentment for the killings in the Southern Tagalog Region. A statement signed by 160 members of the Ateneo community condemns the “Bloody Sunday” operation of PNP and AFP, Saturday, March 13, 2021. The statement called out the Duterte Administration’s promotion of impunity. "The Duterte government and its apologists continue to utilize and justify this heavyhanded approach not only toward those suspected of involvement in illegal drugs, but also against opposition groups, social activists, and critics of this administration," the statement said. According to the CEGP Deputy Secretary-General Regina Tolentino, the administration’s priority in the time of health crisis was shown through the murders and arrests by the state forces. The groups urged the government to focus on the worsening health and economic crises brought by the pandemic and the administration's incompetence to solve them.

SIDEBAR 1 BLOODY SUNDAY OPERATION

6 KILLED 1. Melvin "Greg" Dasigao 2. Mark Lee "Makmak" Boros Bacasno 3. Abner Damas M. Esto 4. Edward Damas M. Esto 5. Puroy Dela Cruz 6. Randy "Pulong" Dela Cruz

3 ARRESTED 1. Esteban Mendoza 2. Elizabeth “Mags” Camoral 3. Nimfa Lanzanas

2 ARRESTED 1. Eugene Eugenio 2. Joan Ignacio Efren

RIZAL CAVITE

LAGUNA QUEZON

BATANGAS

1 KILLED 1. Emmanuel Asuncion

UNIDENTIFIED LOCATION (Arrested) 1. Moises Braganza 2. Dodong “Bagsik”

2 KILLED 1. Ana Mariz “Chai” Evangelista 2. Ariel Evangelista 1 ARRESTED 1. Lino Baez

Trivia

THE TORCH PUBLICATIONS TOMO LXXIV BLG. 4

BY MARK JUSTIN SANTOS

“Sayang hindi ka nakakapagonline class,” bungad ng kaklase ko sa telepono. “H--- --- nam-- -- -- -- load. W-“ “Teka, hindi kita maintindihan. Choppy ka.” Lumipat ako ng puwesto para maghanap ng signal. “Sabi ko, hindi kasi talaga namin kaya ‘yung lingguhang load. Wala rin akong laptop. Eh si nanay lang naman ang pinagkukunan namin ng panustos – magsasaka pa. Saka, okay rin naman ‘tong modular,” sagot ko habang nangangamote sa module na hawak.

“Hay. Bakit kasi ganito sa ‘Pinas? Kung sino pa ang umaani ng kinakain natin, sila pa ang nagugutom,” buntong-hininga niya.

“Sir, ang baba na nga po ng disisais pesos kada kilo, bakit babawasan pa po ng tatlong piso?” pagsusumamo ni nanay.

Hindi ko alam ang isasagot.

Kung nakapagsasalita lang ang mga pilapil at punla, papatunayan nilang lugi ang mga magsasaka sa itinakdang presyo kumpara sa paghihirap nila mula pagtatanim, pag-aararo, hanggang sa pag-aani.

“Anyway, ang galing ng teacher namin sa Biology. Ang dami niyang trivia. Sabi niya, nasa South Africa raw ang tinaguriang great white shark capital of the world.” Hindi ako naniwala. Paano mangyayari ‘yun ‘e ang init-init sa South Africa? Pagbaba ko ng tawag, napasilip ako sa may pintuan. Naroon si nanay, nakikipag-usap. Mali. Nakikiusap.

Overtime I woke up from a woman’s raspy voice from the speaker attached on the wall’s corner calling for medical assistance at the Intensive Care Unit. It is 1:15 AM, just fifteen minutes after I remembered my eyes closed out of exhaustion. I miss a long night’s rest without waking up tired. I wish I could spend a day of rest at home with my daughter again. In the last three days, fatigue started to kick in my body. This is the same with my colleagues that only take naps and then wake up feeling drained before they go back to checking their patient lying restlessly on medical beds. Though it is our job to take care of

“Misis, marami na kaming naimport. Pasalamat ka nga, pumayag si Ma’am Sintya na bilhin namin ‘tong iyo,” aroganteng tugon niya. “Parang awa mo na po, Sir. May pamilya po akong dapat buhayin!”

“Madali naman akong kausap. Kung hindi ka payag, aalis na lang kami.” Tumalikod siya at akmang itatago na ang pitaka. Pero dahil walang ibang bibili ng ani, at alam nila ito, napapayag din si nanay. Bakas sa kanyang panga ang ngisi ng tagumpay. Nakatitig lang kami habang hinahakot ang mga sako; nakatitig lang sa palayong sasakyan. Wala kaming laban. Ngayon, naniniwala na ako. Maging sa lugar naming tirik ang araw at tigang ang lupa, malayang namiminsala ang mga pating.

BY MARK JOSEPH TAN

them, I cannot fathom the emotional torture of being stuck here witnessing many of them lose their battles every day.

cracked. Tears fell as I mumbled to myself, “Will things get better if I resign too, or should I wait longer and hope for miracles?”

Uncertainty and the lack of pandemic preparedness burden me with the unbearable pain of losing a loved one.

I shook my head and took a deep breath. I glanced upon the glass wall of the ward. I saw myself lying alongside other ill patients. Reality struck me. I am now one of them.

I fear this agony not just as a nurse who works overtime yet underpaid in an understaffed facility — with a shortage of beds, respirators, and personal protective equipment that are necessary to deflate the ballooning rise of a deadly virus — but also as a longing mother. I tried to scream at the top of my lungs out of frustration but my voice

3RD REGULAR ISSUE ● JAN - APRIL 2021

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Burnout I woke up when I heard the alarm. My eyes were swollen, and my body hurt. I looked outside the quiet yard. It’s dark yet it feels bright.

“Mom..” I uttered silently, and I know no one heard my agony. But the idea that I have my mom to call comforts me.

I checked the clock on the side of the computer desk. Its hands move swiftly as if in the rush. “12:00 mn,” I whispered. The clock pressures me as I know when it hits 7, I need to do house chores because I am a woman and the family expects me to fulfill my duties for being one.

As I tremble in tears, I know something ended in me. I know I lost something I have been keeping for years.

There are days and nights when I don’t feel like a human anymore. I feel like a machine, juggling school and housework.

But I know I have to find it again. After all, I am a woman who would push the country in progress through my power and ways.

I don’t want to crumble so I had to start working hard again. My goal is far from reach, yet so I need to continue. I have to, even if it means compromising my health. In the future, I’ll be a woman of strength despite how everything will try to drag me down in society.

I will... continue.

The dizziness got me imprisoned. I could not write nor see anything clearly.

/thetorchpnu

BY CATRINA SHAINA MARIE SACARES

I cried as I realized... I lost the flame I once had.

...I woke up when I heard the alarm. My eyes were swollen and my body hurt. I finished everything and looked outside the quiet yard. “Hey, who will wash the dishes?” my brother asked.

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NEWS

CHR reiterates need to enact SOGIE after rape, murder of transman NICOLE NAVARITTE Ebeng Mayor, a transman, was found dead in a vacant lot in Quezon City on Thursday, May 20, after being missing for three days. The victim’s skull was crushed and his genitalia was impaled by a wooden stick. Mayor’s childhood friend, Zander Dela Cruz was the last person seen with the victim. He then confessed the crime and labelled the two other suspects. On May 23, the Philippine National Police (PNP) announced that the three suspects behind the killing of Mayor were arrested. The authorities also recovered the victim’s mobile phone and a gun from them. They were formally charged with rape with homicide, and robbery. Authorities investigate this incident as a ‘hate crime.’ The Commission on Human Rights also appealed that the brutal killing of the transman

Photo of Ebeng Mayor.

strengthens the need to pass the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Equality (SOGIE) bill. “The Commission has been relentless in pushing for the enactment of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression (SOGIE) Equality Bill to provide legal mechanisms to hold to account perpetrators of gender-based discrimination,” CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said last May 22. “Now that the 2022 election is coming up, we must demand better from our elected officials, call for the urgent passage of pieces of legislation on anti-discrimination, and reject laws excluding protection of transgender persons appearing at the local and national levels,” the group stated.

Sectoral groups call for urgent economic aid on Labor Day PHOTO ● DOMINIC KEAN CALAVIA

KYRIL JON VELASQUEZ Multisectoral groups trooped to Welcome Rotonda, demanding the government to provide the PHP 10 000 financial assistance and much-needed economic support amid the pandemic in celebration of Labor Day, May 1. The protest, led by different labor groups and unions, including Kilusang Mayo Uno, focused on the clamor for PhP 100 daily wage subsidy for all workers, PHP 15 000 production subsidy for farmers, and PhP 10, 000 socio-economic aid for urban poor and workers affected by the pandemic. Teachers and education workers stood alongside laborers as they called for better working conditions and long-overdue salary upgrades. They urged the Duterte administration to fulfill its promise of increasing the education workers’ salary to SG 15 for Teacher 1, SG 16 for Instructor 1, and Php16,000 base pay for SG 1 government employees. “Judging from the labor situation of public school teachers, education continuity amid the pandemic apparently hangs 10

by a thread. Without urgent and necessary government interventions, education continuity could suffer as more teachers fall ill due to dire labor conditions, while not a few leave the teaching profession,” said Alliance of Concerned Teachers in a statement. Youth and independent media groups also participated in the protest condemning the meager compensation and support to workers, especially during the pandemic. “Undoubtedly, it is inhumane to see how they sacrifice in keeping the people up to date just to get little-to-no salary and lack of benefits adding up to the state-sponsored attacks against them,” College Editors Guild of the Philippines Deputy SecretaryGeneral Regine Tolentino stated. The groups ended the program by destroying the effigy of President Duterte, dubbed as “Duterte Wakwak, Pangulong Palpak,” using hammers that symbolize the workers.

Protesters gathered at Welcome Rotonda to celebrate Labor Day and call for PHP 10,000 financial assistance.

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COLUMN

Not Too Well: BY DOMINIC KEAN CALAVIA calavia.dkn@pnu.edu.ph

I live near our school, and it makes me feel so nostalgic every time I pass by its facade when riding a jeepney. I miss every moment during face-to-face classes. The pandemic truly brings out the worst we could ever experience as a learner. Students looking at the screen are either sleepless, deprived of genuine rest, working part-time, and unmotivated. Nothing can replace the feeling of being emotionally safe with your friends. The memories of afterschool window shopping, eating snacks, and laughing with friends remain on the university’s avenue. To salvage the current situation of the education system today is a challenge for the Department of Education (DepED) and the Commission on Higher Education. Various modalities were implemented, like modular, synchronous, and asynchronous. However, these modalities are not enough to ensure learning amid the pandemic. That’s why progressive groups propose to have faceto-face classes with proper healthcare protocol and organize the implementation of these. ACT-Teachers Partylist Representative France Castro explained that the public could not afford another school year of blended learning. She also added that there are rising numbers of dropouts from the students because they do not have access to the education’s demand today. The blended learning modalities provided by DepED are not yet inclusive as they should be resulting in a significant number of students opting not to enroll for the academic year. Aside from the students who did not enroll, those who pursued to attend classes also suffered. An Education student from PNU explained that learning engagement is at risk. Both students and teachers were having a hard time conceptualizing the best and inclusive approach to implement. Also, many students agree that feedback was compromised. Teachers give more comprehensive feedback during

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face-to-face classes. However, the virtual platform does not guarantee to provide an avenue for the necessary feedback. The problems with this are no progress was being measured, and students got lost in the process. They also chose to do the task for the sake of complying. After a long day of virtual meetings, the limited time to rest awaits. This routine is different from face-to-face because finishing a 6-hour class every day guarantees time for our friends. However, blended learning compromises the quality of time we need. One of the struggles of after-session experiences is that the environment in the home is still affected. The extended time for doing asynchronous tasks affects the time to rest and bond with the family. Based on the observations, the blended learning modality is far from being sustainable. However, following proper implementation and guidelines gives blended learning to become more inclusive. Blended modality also affects student engagement and academic freedom. The fact that internet connection is a requirement, fewer students are capable of adhering to different student activities. We tend to cope with our support system. These vital aspects include our friends, professors, and family. The issue with learning modalities remains rooted in the Education system’s concerns. The government neglects the call of the teachers for proper compensation. Some schools disregarded the call for inclusive and quality education. The Education system amid the pandemic brands itself as innovative, but in reality, problems supersede opportunities of the current situation. As Castro explained, the state must have proper plans for ensuring safe and adequate facilities. Aside from assuring the Education sector, the state must prioritize the healthcare system for teachers, school staff, and students. Sufficient facilities, health kits, and health benefits

Remote Learning Setup

must be guaranteed by the government. In the end, instead of choosing what works better - face-to-face or the current remote learning modality - the challenge to struggle against profit-oriented and imperialist education and fight for genuinely inclusive, nationalist, scientific, and mass-oriented education remains regardless of the modality.

The pandemic truly brings out the worst we could ever experience as a learner.

Connecting....

TEACHER KABS is presenting

Connecting....

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MENDIOLA MASSACRE COMMEMORATION

OFFCAM MGA PITIK SA LANSANGAN 12

3RD REGULAR ISSUE ● MAR - JUNE 2021

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PEOPLE POWER COMMEMORATION

LABOR DAY PROTEST /thetorchpnu

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FEATURES

UNDER THE MICROSCOPE: Dissecting Truths About the ‘Dose of Hope’ BY Kristine Rose Anne Garcia

After over a year of quarantine restrictions, the arrival of donated SINOVAC Biotech Corona vaccines was heralded as the first "doses of hope," as the country finally began its COVID-19 vaccine inoculation campaign. However, it was met with a mixture of worry, dissatisfaction, and a lack of enthusiasm, especially among the healthcare workforce. Groups of health workers stood outside the Philippine General Hospital under the blazing sun, holding placards with the message: 'WE DESERVE THE BEST.' Filipinos can’t choose

Similar to these health workers who stand upfront to fight for our safety are the antibodies that our system created to prevent any unfamiliar and harmful intruders from entering our bodies. These intruders called antigens can be bacteria, chemicals, or viruses that are alien to our body like the COVID-19. In fighting this enemy, medical frontliners and our antibodies' efforts may not be enough to win such a battle. Thus, there is a need for support from an outside force—a vaccine to help our immune system. Inside the white chambers of laboratories, scientists from various countries are stooped on their backs trying to come up with the best vaccine. Likewise, three different vaccines are made available for some countries, including the Philippines. "Wala pong pilian, wala po kasing pilitan... Tama lang naman po 'yan, walang pilian kasi hindi naman natin mako-control talaga kung ano'ng darating at libre po ito," Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque told the public in an online briefing as recent surveys revealed public hesitancy to join the inoculation drive. The statement earned him a few scoffs from senators and netizens describing his words as the peak of insensitivity, especially that the Philippines is among the last in Southeast Asia to secure vaccine doses despite having one of the highest numbers of cases. After the government realized that lockdown is not the answer to end the pandemic and save the economy, they insisted on embracing the free vaccine graced by China’s ‘kindness’ despite research-based uncertainties and cheaper, more efficient alternatives.

An inferior vaccine?

COVID-19 vaccines generally operate by stimulating the body's immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 virus that induces the disease. Different vaccines, however, elicit different immune responses in the body. The vaccine from SINOVAC is an example of an inactivated vaccine that uses a "killed" form of the virus that has been treated with UV light or chemicals to render it incapable of causing disease. A better analogy to illustrate how inactive vaccines behave would be like training a dog to guard our homes after the possible threat of burglars, who we then learned to have a spiky hairstyle as their trademark. To protect our home 10

(our body) from these burglars (SARSCoV-2), we will knock one of them and use him to familiarize and train our dog (our immune system) to bite people with the same hairstyle. In reality, these vaccines cannot replicate and are usually not as strong as live vaccines, so it is recommended that people be given a two-dose vaccination within 14 days of interval. This is not only inconvenient, but it also presents a real practical challenge for areas where the public health system is not established enough to conduct regular and routine vaccination. Also, the treatment procedures involved in inactivating a vaccine can be very costly, which is a major problem when it comes to large-scale immunization campaigns requiring millions of doses. On the other hand, live vaccines such as those developed by Pfizer and AstraZeneca, deliver instructions via a piece of genetic code. These mRNA vaccines tell our cells to recognize COVID-19 and produce a harmless "spike" protein that trains our immune system to recognize the virus and generate antibodies to combat it if it ever reaches our bodies. This phase instructs our bodies to generate a distinct protein vital to blocking the virus—a sort of "preview" of how the COVID-19 virus would appear without actually getting the disease. Unlike inactivated vaccines, live vaccines' instructions would disappear quickly, but the immune system would remain fortified. Since the process of designing, scaling up, and mass-producing mRNA vaccines is simpler, they can be formulated faster than traditional vaccines. This action is a dominant advantage in the global effort to stop the virus from spreading further.

The health workers’ demand

Knowing how differently these two types of vaccines behave, many Filipino health practitioners preferred to be vaccinated with mRNA vaccines with a higher efficacy rate based on clinical trials. Efficacy findings from different SINOVAC CoronaVac vaccine trials have been consistently inconsistent. FDA Director-General Eric Domingo said SINOVAC’s efficacy rate ranged from 65.3% to 91.2%. However, he noted that its effectiveness rate among healthcare workers is only 50.4 percent, suggesting that it is not the

best available vaccine for their use as they stand in the frontline of our battle against the virus. The controversies earned numerous frowns even from the experts on the field, including China's top disease control official, who admitted that the efficacy rates of Chinese coronavirus vaccines need improvement. In a conference, the director of the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Gao Fu, stated that Chinese vaccines "don't have very high safety rates" and that their government is considering mixing them to improve their effectiveness. “Many from our ranks have been infected, and some died combating the deadly virus. Our health and lives are always at stake. It is just right and humane that we demand the free, safest, and most efficacious vaccine,” wept Eleazar Sobinsky, President of the LCP Employees Association-Alliance of Health Workers, in an interview with Rappler. Despite the constant opposition of many Filipinos, it was as if their loud appeals fell unheard, as the government still pushes to entertain the donated vaccines, especially that it is being used as political leverage to the disputed territories in the West Philippine Sea.

Destroying the real virus

As we continue to battle the virus, the most affected are left with no choice but to risk going out to tend to the growling stomachs of their families. Meanwhile, the medical workers continue to struggle on the front lines to ensure that our communities become safer eventually. Their only wish is for the state to assure them that they are well-compensated for the work they render—nothing but a well-pondered budget allocation that prioritizes a

better mechanism for a response to the pandemic. The government budget for 2021 increased by 10% over the last year and may appear promising because it is centered on three pillars: "Reset" (responding to the pandemic), "Rebound" (reviving infrastructure development), and "Recover" (adapting to the post-pandemic life). However, a closer examination reveals that the 2021 budget is poorly crafted. The government plans to finance its way out of the crisis by increasing infrastructure investments while giving a lower spending significance to health and social welfare. Although it provides additional funds to combat the pandemic, the amounts are insignificant compared to the magnitude of the health crisis we are facing. Apart from COVID-19, there is another virus that we must eliminate: the incompetence of our leaders. The struggles of our frontliners and fellow Filipinos reaffirm the need to increase our vigilance against a government that has been turning a blind eye to its duties and responsibilities. We can address this antigen through collective action (but of course, with social distancing). The first step is to quit tolerating incompetence and start dissecting the virus under a microscope. Let us wear our lab coats, put on our masks, sanitize our hands, and reveal the skeptical researchers in us. While we examine the situation under a microscope, the next step is to raise questions, look for inconsistencies, and use our voices to expose them. Then, we hold the virus accountable for tampering with our system. By empathizing with the plight and struggles of the people, we can march towards achieving a better healthcare system that works for all.

As we continue to battle the virus, the most affected are left with no choice but to risk going out to tend to the growling stomachs of their families. GRAPHICS ● REGINE VALCONCHA

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KULTURA

Tiktok Challenges nila Ma’am at Sir Put a finger down kung nagdownload ka ng Tiktok sa gitna ng community quarantine. Sino ba namang hindi? Halos lahat naman tayo ay buryong-buryo na dahil sa tinagal-tagal ng panahon na nakakulong tayo sa bahay dahil sa lockdown. Kaya naman, natural lang na libangin natin ang ating mga sarili. Kung tayo’y hindi mapakali sa kakaisip kung paano mapapatay ang oras at malalampasan ang isang araw na walang pinagkakaabalahan, ibahin n’yo sina Ma’am at Sir. May pandemya man o wala, hindi pa rin sila magkamayaw sa pagbuno ng kanilang gabundok na mga gawain sa kabila ng salat na sahod at benepisyo. Kung may iba’t ibang nagsulputang trending challenges sa Tiktok, marami ring hamon sa mga guro na kinakailangang isulong upang mag-trending, nang sa ganoon ay mas mapakinggan ng kinauukulan. #GlowUp Marami na ang kumagat sa hamon ng #GlowUp kung saan tampok ang mga litratong nagpapalitaw ng pagbabagong panlabas mula sa pagkabata hanggang magdalaga o magbinata. Kung glow up lang din ang usapan, dehado rito ang ating mga guro. Subsob na sa trabaho, kulang pa sa allowance at benepisyo. Malinaw na hindi nabigyan ng isang pangmalakasang glow up ang mga suliraning ito, dahil mula noon hanggang ngayon, hirap pa rin ang mga guro. Nananatiling nakapako ang ipinangakong taas sahod para sa kanila na magbibigay sana sa kanila ng pinakamagandang glow up lalo pa’t hindi biro ang sakripisyo nila sa gitna ng distance learning. #ThisOrThat Sa saliw naman ng musikang “It’s Tricky”, ang kailangan lang gawin sa challenge na #ThisOrThat ay pumunta sa panig na angkop sa kanyang kagustuhan, maaaring sa kaliwa o sa kanan. Sa gitna ng pandemya, maraming panawagan ang mga guro na hindi pinakinggan. Tila iba ang tugon ng kinauukulan sa mga nakalaang pagpipilian. Lalo pang nagpahirap sa sitwasyon ang pagpapahaba ng school year, kaya naman hiling nila ay ang sapat na kompensasyon sa kanilang labis-labis na trabaho. GRAPHICS ● BEA SOPHIA CARATAY

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Ilan din sa mga panawagan nila ay ang karagdagang laptops, internet allowance, o community tutors na malaking tulong sana sa distance learning. Dagdag pa rito, bingi ang kinauukulan sa panukalang isama ang mga guro sa mga prayoridad na makakuha ng bakuna. Sa kabilang banda, ang naging sagot ng Kagawaran ay pagpapaaga ng pasukan at walang katapusang paperworks na dumadadagdag sa kanilang gawain.

BY NICOLE NAVARITTE

Sa gitna ng pandemya, at sa mga pagbabagong naganap, isa ang sektor ng kaguruan sa mga tunay na apektado na madalas ay hindi nabibigyang pansin.

#ItReallyHurts Isa na marahil sa pinaka tumatak na challenge sa Tiktok ay ang #ItReallyHurts na nagsimula sa kilalang Youtuber na si Mimiyuuuh. Naging dance craze ito sa bansa dahil na rin sa nakakaaliw na dance steps nito. Nakadagdag pa ng aliw dahil madalas ay ginagawa ang challenge na ito sa iba’t ibang sulok ng bahay. #ItReallyHurts din ang mga problemang dala ng distance learning. Umaaray ang maraming guro at mag-aaral sa hirap na dulot nito. Doble ang dagok sa mga guro, lalo pa’t hindi lahat ay may kaalaman sa makabagong teknolohiya, at ang iba’y ninanais nang magretiro nalang nang maaga. Limitado lamang rin ang kagamitan ng marami sa kasalukuyan at hindi agarang nabibigyang pansin ang hinaing ng mga mag-aaral at guro na wala nang pang-load, walang gadget na magagamit, o di naman kaya’y kulang ang sahod para sa pambayad ng internet connection. Sa gitna ng pandemya, at sa mga pagbabagong naganap, isa ang sektor ng kaguruan sa mga tunay na apektado na madalas ay hindi nabibigyang pansin. Sa kabila nito, nagpapatuloy pa rin sila dahil kalakip ng kanilang propesyon ay isang responsibilidad na hindinghindi mapipigilan ng kahit ano pa mang pagsubok. Ngayong humaharap sila sa mga hamon na kalakip ng mapagpabayang estado, hindi sapat na mag-trending lang ang mga panawagang ito sa social media. Kaya naman, bilang mga guro sa hinaharap, tungkulin natin na makiisa upang mas paingayin pa ang mga panawagan nila tungo sa patuloy na paghahatid ng dekalidad na edukasyon may pandemya man o wala. 11

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GRAPHICS ● HUEYCENDEE REBOYA