August-September Issue 2021

AUGUST - SEPTEMBER ISSUE

05 NEWS FEATURE

Breach in FPIC process among the irregularities in Apayao Gened Dam 1 construction

PAGE DESIGN ISAGANI CASPE

MAPAGPALAYANG KAISIPAN SA MALAYANG PAHAYAGAN

15 CULTURE

Flagging the Biggest Red Flags

GRAPHICS RAPHAEL REYES

18 FEATURE Nang tapatan ng bumabahang pintura ang baril ng mga pasista

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2 EDITORIAL

Volume 47 Issue 1 September 2021

No more tyrants in 2022 A boxer, a senator, an activist, a child of a former dictator, an ex-police general, a mayor, and the vice president. Sounds like the start of a bad joke, doesn’t it?

This, however, is the reality of the roster of candidates vying for the presidency. The last day of filing for candidacy has long since passed, and now that we know who’s in the race, our job is to assess who is best suited to piece together a pandemic-torn nation back into place.

The Philippines has not exactly been in tip-top condition lately, thanks primarily to the man who won the last presidential elections. Promises were thrown here and there—ending drugs, continuing peace talks, stopping corruption, improving healthcare— but it has been six years and not one has been genuinely fulfilled. Duterte has failed to deliver on all fronts, showing us that just because popular support can get you into Malacanang, it cannot cure incompetence.

Duterte’s reign opened with a violent drug war that addressed not the root cause of the problem but instead became a war that targeted its poor citizens. His regime also saw to the incarceration and rampant killings of activists and government critics. Last March 7’s ‘Bloody Sunday’ where nine activists were murdered by state forces was certainly one for the books, but such an event is but the tip of the genocidal iceberg. From numerous trumpedup charges and killings of activists all over the

“

Nobody said being President was easy, but the job of spearheading a nation— especially this nation—should fall to someone competent and empathetic.

country to the passing of the unconstitutional Anti Terror Law, the situation today is so grave that the United Nations and the International Criminal Court (ICC) are eyeing to probe the state to account for why so many bodies have piled up in its witch-hunt for progressives.

Apart from human rights violations and mass murder, the country is not doing so well economically, either. With an inflation rate of 4.9% recorded in August 2021, the highest rate to be recorded since December 2018, and a staggering debt amounting to 11.64 trillion, citizens are scrambling to put food on the table in the face of soaring prices.

The final nail in the coffin, however, is definitely the mishandling of the pandemic.

With our government handling a health crisis like one would a military operation, that is with a load of armed personnel, it makes sense that the Philippines would constantly be in the bottom of every pandemic response survey worldwide. Aside from holding the title of having the longest lockdown, the Philippines has yet to open our schools when literally every other country in the world has already, instead prioritizing economic ventures and tourist attractions.

The incompetence of the previous administration means there is a very tall order awaiting the person Duterte will pass the torch on to. Nobody said being President was easy, but the job of spearheading a nation— especially this nation—should fall to someone competent and empathetic. We do not need another populist leader in 2022.

Intelligence and appeal are definitely desirable qualities, but only if they are tempered with the interests of the masses. A President should always put the welfare of the people first, and always, always seek to understand the other side. Where many see only rebels and deviants, they must press further and answer why rebellion exists in the first place.

Insurgencies happen because the root causes of poverty remain unaddressed.

Farmers have been pushing for a genuine land reform but instead are given neoliberal policies that hinder our country’s

agricultural progress. On the other hand, workers have always called for liveable wages and ending of contractualization but still none of it was granted by the administration despite being at the forefront of our economy even before the pandemic. All of these must be considered in addressing the root causes of armed conflict – not with constant violence against farmers and indigenous communities in the countryside, especially not with a task force whose mandate is far from seeking long lasting peace.

A President should also acknowledge the sovereignty of the nation, and not yield to the whims of every imperialist nation who poses as an ally – a leader who stands undaunted against the control of imperialist countries on our lands, resources, and education.

We could go on and on about what a President must or must not be, and these candidates could campaign their advocacies regarding every issue, but it must be understood that promises are futile, they mean nothing unless they are put into concrete actions. All this essentially boils down to two things: genuine compassion and unwavering service for the people.

Six years is a long time for someone to lead our country and we have the power to choose whoever they may be. A decision made out of blind faith with no acknowledgement of track records or pending criminal cases is a decision that would leave its lasting marks in society. It is our privilege and our right to cast our votes but those rights come with certain responsibilities. Democracy ensures that all of us have a say in who rules but we undermine that democracy when we refuse to be critical of our candidates.

Duterte’s criminal negligence leaves much to be desired from his successor. Blood has run from his drug war to the handling of the pandemic and it is time we choose a leader well-suited for the challenge laid by their predecessor. Our path to the election is not an easy one — it is mired with misinformation and propaganda that has decades to fester and take roots. In the next elections, we are caught in the games of tyrants and fascist sympathizers, but one thing is for sure: our votes in the 2022 elections could beat these tyrants in their own game. We hold the line to ensure no more tyrannical leaders step into public office, one decisive vote at a time. ▼

MAPAGPALAYANG KAISIPAN SA MALAYANG PAHAYAGAN The Official Student Publication of the University of the Philippines Baguio

EDITORIAL BOARD JOEMARIEQUEEN DEL ROSARIO Editor-in-chief

ADRIANNE PAUL ANIBAN CHRISTEL JANELA BAPTISTA Associate Editors

NIQUE JADE TARUBAL News Editor

HANNAH ANDREA VALIENTE Features Editor

JOBELLE RUTH MILA Culture Editor

JETHRO BRYAN ANDRADA Graphics Editor

ISAGANI CASPE Layout Editor

STAFF

Jetro Pajo Raphael Reyes Jemarica Quizzagan Imari Jazmine Tamayo Erik Biles Dave Iverson Cuesta Jaime Rafael Gamboa Dannielle Laggui Jerson Kent Danao Elianah De Vera Jaymie Hailey Ang Jian Marie Garapo Jan Pearl Eazrye Reyes Myra Krisselle Garing Chelsie Asuncion Patricia Ngo Julianne Elijah Natividad Katrina Ang Armel Jake Flores Justine Rhys Martirez Maria Clairylle Florentin Kesshamminne Krimzei Carreon Edward Thomas Vicente

CONTRIBUTORS

Ka Dilag - KM-DATAKO Balangay Elvira Gelen Davac Ray Mark Espiritu Lianne Tamares COLLEGE EDITORS GUILD OF THE PHILIPPINES (CEGP) UP SYSTEMWIDE ALLIANCE OF STUDENT PUBLICATIONS AND WRITERS’ ORGANIZATION (SOLIDARIDAD)

upboutcrop upboutcrop@gmail.com FIRST FLOOR, ALUMNI CENTER BUILDING, UP BAGUIO, GOV. PACK ROAD, BAGUIO CITY

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GRAPHICS RAPHAEL REYES

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NEWS 3

NEWS FEATURE

Breach in FPIC process among the irregularities in Apayao Gened Dam 1 construction D WORDS JOEMARIQUEEN DELROSARIO

uring the Commission En Banc held last September 4, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) withheld the Certification Precondition of the Pan Pacific Renewable Power Philippines citing the unsettled complaints and irregularities of the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) process.

Since 2017, the Isnag tribe has expressed continuous opposition to the construction of the Gened 1 Hydropower Dam which threatens to submerge eight of the 22 barangays in Kabugao, Apayao and one barangay in Pudtol, Apayao.

In a press conference last August 22, Cordillera Peoples Alliance and Kabugao Youth discussed anomalies and the Isnag community’s opposition on the 150 megawatt Gened 1 project that is set to be built along the Apayao-Abulug River.

The absence of announcements, explanations and the lack of genuine FPIC from the Isnag community were among the irregularities cited by the community leaders in Apayao.

“Very questionable and hindi inaayos ang trabaho bilang NCIP and their mandate to protect our rights as IPs [indigenous peoples], imbis na NCIP ang tumulong sa IPs, sila pa nag-take

advantage sa amin,” Jann Alexis Lappas from Kabugao Youth said.

Lappas detailed the timeline of the FPIC process and stated that the Isnag indigenous community signed a Resolution of Non-Consent as early as 2019, with the latest being January this year; having a total of three non-consent resolutions to date.

Last August 10, the NCIP recognized the irregularities in acquiring FPIC from the Isnag community, but a week after, the commission suddenly changed tune and approved the Certification Precondition of the Pan Pacific Renewable Power Philippines on August 17.

According to the Republic Act No. 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997, a certification precondition states that FPIC has been granted by the indigenous community.

TIMELINE

FPIC Process APRIL 2017

In April 2017, two Community Consultative Assemblies (CCA) were held to meet about the construction of the dam, both directly affected and unaffected barangays in Kabugao were invited.

FEBRUARY 4, 2019

The first Resolution of Non-Consent to the project was signed on February 4, 2019 during the consensus building and decision making of the community held in Kabugao, with 48-19 no and yes votes, respectively.

FEBRUARY 24, 2021 During the monitoring of the FPIC process last February 24, 2021, NCIP-CAR declared the third Resolution of NonConsent as “not binding” citing that “out of hundreds of signatories, only 20 of those are ‘authorized elders.’”

The negotiations resumed on March 17 to 18 at the Municipal Gymnasium of Kabugao where a secret balloting was held and yes to negotiations won.

APRIL 19, 2021 The community meeting organized by the local government of Kabugao on April 19 where the supposed review of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) did not push through because the proponent failed to furnish the Isnag representatives with the drafted MOA.

“Construction plans/blueprints, minutes of meetings, and other pertinent documents that will provide Free, Prior and Informed Consent to the Isnag tribe have been withheld from the public despite petitions from our people,” the petition organized by Kabugao youth read.

APRIL 20, 2021 On April 20, a MOA, written in English with no vernacular translation, was signed without prior announcements and awareness of many Isnag authorized representatives.

Red-tagging and other attacks Apart from the breach in the FPIC process, the community has faced redtagging and harassment.

According to Jillie Basan from Kabugao Youth, aside from the growing military presence in Apayao, there are also cases of red-tagging, harassment and intimidation which the group condemned in a Facebook post.

“Red tagging has drowned the voice of the Isnag wanting to enter their legitimate concerns regarding the proposed Gened Dam,” the post read.

“During the community consultations done by the FPIC team, nobody denied nor questioned their signatures appearing in the resolution. Nobody did because apart

According to Kabugao Youth, the obtained copy of the said MOA had fake signatures and ghost community representatives.

“Considering the fraud and falsification of documents in the FPIC process particularly on the Community Resolutions, they have no authority to venture into any agreement,” Kabugao Youth said in a Facebook post in response to the statement released by the NCIP.

from the FPIC team’s supposed diligence of validation, red tagging tactics muffled them which left them to cower in fear,” Kabugao Youth said.

“There was no free and informed decision leading to an intelligent consent.

Our elders were manipulated and coerced by selected members of the community, some of them lack authorization and we have documents to prove our claims,” they added.

The group said that aside from campaigns and strengthening community resistance, they are also trying to file cases and take legal action as the next steps to stop the structure of Gened Dams. ▼

According to Lappas, these assemblies were filled with rejection of the project. Moreover, the additional CCA or follow up assemblies requested by the indigenous peoples to further ask questions about the construction did not follow through.

The proponent, Pan Pacific Renewable Power Philippines, then filed for a motion for reconsideration and was granted.

MARCH 2019

In March 2019, another consensus building was held in Tuguegarao City, outside of the ancestral domain, to address the proponent’s motion for reconsideration.

The meeting resulted in a “yes, but for negotiations only.”

SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 On September 26, 2019, another Resolution of Non-Consent was filed by the community, but it was overthrown in December 2019 in a non-FPIC activity held by the Municipal Indigenous People Mandatory Representative (IPMR), the proponent and an NCIP personnel.

In the same activity, a set of “authorized” elders, with attached community resolutions were formed. However, the document shows that there were no validated authorized elders since the community decides as one.

FIRST QUARTER OF 2020 The negotiations continued in the first quarter of 2020, but it halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed in December 2020 with a public consultation organized by the local government of Kabugao.

JANUARY 15, 2021 On January 15, 2021, the community withdrew the earlier agreement for negotiations and approved the third Resolution of Non-Consent.

PAGE DESIGN ISAGANI CASPE

THE NORTH RESISTS Progressive Organizations and individuals held a protest action at Malcolm Square, Baguio City to denounce the killings and human rights violations in line with the 49th anniversary of the declaration of Marcos Martial Law, September 21.

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4 NEWS

Tomo 47 Isyu 1 September 2021

EXPLAINER

What do we know about the

10K Ayuda Bill?

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WORDS JEMARICA QUIZZAGAN

A

ssistant Minority Leader and Gabriela Women’s party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas and other lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc urge the House leadership to include their proposed 10K Ayuda bill in the consolidated version of the Bayanihan 3.

Here’s an overview of the bill:

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What is the 10K Ayuda Bill?

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House Bill No. 9089 or the Makabayan bloc’s 10K Ayuda Bill aims to grant a fixed monthly emergency cash aid of P10,000 to families affected by the economic downturn and calamities amid the COVID-19 pandemic for two consecutive months.

The bill will be known as the “P10K Emergency Cash Aid or EC Aid” Act of 2021 and will implement an Emergency Cash Aid Program to target 18 million beneficiaries.

Who can receive the cash assistance if the proposed bill will be enacted?

Target beneficiaries include families of poor-income earners and low-income earners. As defined in the bill, poorincome earners are those compensated with less than P23,660 while low-income earners are earning an amount between P23,660 to P60,000.

Families are also required to be: beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps); beneficiaries of the Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) program; farmers and fisherfolk who are not beneficiaries of 4Ps or UCT but earned less due to the pandemic; workers who are permanently displaced from their job or source of income; workers who are placed under floating status or under a no-work, no-pay scheme; solo parents who lost their sources of income; workers who are placed under a recomputed remuneration arrangement or lower monthly incomes; informal sector workers whose livelihood is affected by the pandemic restrictions; victims of natural calamities during the last quarter of 2020; and/or senior citizens and persons with disability.

Students’ physical, mental health ‘worse off’ during the pandemic, UPB remote learning survey reveals WORDS IMARI JAZMINE TAMAYO

ore than half of the 695 student respondents of the University M of the Philippines Baguio (UPB) claimed that their state of living, physical health and mental health were worse off during the pandemic, initial reports of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (OVCAA) revealed.

Based on the survey conducted during the first semester of Academic Year (AY) 2020-2021, 89.1% said that their mental health was negatively affected.

In the UPB Town Hall Discussion held last August 28, UPB faculty representative, Asst. Prof. Anthony Pasion, said that the new teaching and learning setup is really a big problem which could cause the decline of the students’ mental health.

The survey also revealed that 57.6% of the respondents claimed that their physical health declined, PAGE DESIGN ISAGANI CASPE

while the majority of the students were overworked despite the academic ease policies.

“At least 71.8% of the respondents stated that they have not gotten used to the work flow or rhythm of remote learning,” Pasion said.

Another survey, conducted during the second semester, showed that 355 out of 752 respondents claimed that they were working for more than 40 hours each week for their academic workload.

“May mga students na sumagot that they were working for more

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What will be the source of funding?

The fund for the program is proposed to be from the unobligated and unreleased funds from the fiscal year 2020 and fiscal year 2021 budget of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and from the Contingent Fund of the RA 11518 or the 2021 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

Brosas also suggested to Rep. Teoderico Haresco Jr., chairperson of the House economic affairs panel that the P19 billion budget of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) may be a source of funding for the provision.

Who proposed the bill?

Makabayan bloc’s Representatives Arlene Brosas, Carlos Isagani Zarate, Ferdinand Gaite, Eufemia Cullamat, France Castro, and Sarah Jane Elago filed HB 9089 last March 23.

The same bloc also filed HB 9262 or the “P100 Daily Wage Subsidy Act” on April 27 which seeks to provide a P100 daily wage subsidy to 12 million workers in the private sector for three months.

They also filed HB 9494 or the “Emergency Student Aid and Relief Law” on May 28 that intends to provide a one-time assistance of P10,000 during national emergencies and crises to all currently enrolled students and to students who dropped out due to the national crisis or emergency.

Is it different from Bayanihan 3?

Both the 10K Ayuda Bill and the Bayanihan to Arise as One bill (Bayanihan 3) are meant to provide cash aid during the pandemic. The latter comes with two tranches granting every citizen with P1,000 every tranche. While the former, also with two tranches, will provide P10,000 to every family-beneficiary every tranche.

Makabayan bloc’s proposed bill was considered with the Bayanihan 3, but a provision on making the cash aid amount to P10,000 is still not adopted.

“We should not settle for the proposed cash aid worth P1,000 each per affected individual - when the annual budget has billions for foreign loans and foreign inputs-dependent Build, Build, Build (BBB) program and for fascist programs including red-tagging. Sapat na ayuda, hindi barya-barya!” said Brosas in her sponsorship speech for HB 9089.

than 100 hours per week for their academic workload. If idi-divide mo yun by seven, they are claiming na parang hindi na sila natutulog na regularly,” Pasion said.

Aside from problems with internet connectivity and household responsibilities, staying motivated to do well was also a major problem that students encountered.

On the other hand, VCAA Rosemary Gutierrez informed that there was no update yet regarding the application of UPB to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for face-to-face classes.

“Based on our last meeting this August, ang sabi sa amin ni Vice President Bautista, wala pang update doon sa ating application ng CHED. Ibig sabihin hindi pa na-address ng CHED ang ating application,” Gutierrez said.

Charita Delos Reyes, Director of the Office of Student Affairs, meanwhile, shared the university’s plans on improving the remote learning experiences of the students.

Delos Reyes encouraged the students to apply for the Student Learning Assistance System

(SLAS) which provides financial and connectivity assistance to the students.

She also enumerated initiatives from Kaagapay UP Baguio, student organizations and colleges in UPB which were able to raise money to support students or provide them with gadgets and equipment for online class.

In terms of mental health wellness programs, Delos Reyes informed that a multisectoral group from UPB is coordinating for the roll-out of mental health-related projects such as the UP System Mental Health Providers Directory, Mental Health Focal Persons, Peer Support Group, Student Help Desks, Crisis Management Committee, and Student-in-Distress Sub-Committee.

In the Town Hall Discussion, hosted by the University Student Council via Zoom, various constituents of UPB were able to assess the previous academic year, raise questions and clarifications, share their grievances, and communicate with each other to forge greater unity in facing the upcoming school year. ▼

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Baguio SCs, orgs strengthen call for #LigtasNaBalikEskwela, academic ease the failing education sector in the city amid the pandemic, various student Lto amenting councils and organizations based in Metro Baguio held a press conference last August 31 air their call for academic ease and the safe resumption of face-to-face classes.

WORDS ERIK BILES

Prior to the press conference, Rise for Education - Metro Baguio (R4E-MB) crafted a position paper containing students’ demand for #LigtasNaBalikEskwela and immediate recommendations for academic easing, which they also presented before the Baguio City Council Session last July 19.

In the position paper, R4EMB argued that funding for the #LigtasNaBalikEskwela campaign may as well be sourced from the unspent funds of Bayanihan 2 and 3, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict budget and funds incurred from COVIDresponse loans.

“Funding may include, but is not limited to, retrofitting of school

facilities, health and sanitation, COVID-19 kits for students and teachers, hiring more teachers, personnel, and health officers,” the position paper read.

R4E-MB also bade for the institutionalization of a wellness program that prioritizes the mental health of the students through a one-week genuine wellness break, where no activities or academic requirements would be given.

Meanwhile, to further strengthen their call for academic ease, the alliance petitioned to make the deadlines more flexible, extend the period of academic completion and prohibit the mandatory attendance for synchronous classes.

Gabriel Siscar, Vice Chairperson

Press freedom, LNBE muling isinusulong ng CEGP WORDS DAVE IVERSON CUESTA

“

This comes with the prerequisites that vaccines should be provided, facilities be retrofitted, and university constituents supported.

GABRIEL SISCAR

Vice Chaiperson, UPB USC

of University of the Philippines Baguio University Student Council (UPB USC) and convener of the Rise for Education UPB, expressed his support to the campaign, saying

NEWS 5 it is now the time to push for the resumption of physical classes.

“This comes with the prerequisites that vaccines should be provided, facilities be retrofitted, and university constituents supported.

For #LigtasNaBalikEskwela, the perfect time is now,” Siscar stated in an interview.

“This, of course, comes with our call for mass vaccination, scientific approach to the pandemic, heeding the economic calls of the people, and demanding accountability for the failure of the government,” he added.

On the other hand, the request to the Commission on Higher Education for limited face-to-face classes in UPB still has no update, said Vice President for Academic Affairs Cynthia Bautista, for there is still a need for further coordination between the students, faculty and administration.

“We are one with the whole UP system and education sector that the gradual and safe resumption of classes is integral in our learning,” Siscar said. ▼

COMELEC extends voter registration after protests, petitions WORDS JIMBO GAMBOA

fter public clamor to extend voter registration, the asunod ng patong-patong na problemang kinakaharap A Commission on Elections (COMELEC) unanimously K ng sangkaestudyantehan, kabilang na ang mga approved the extension until October 30, COMELEC mamamahayag pangkampus, inorganisa ng College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) ang Campus Press Demands Manifesto of Unity na nagsimula noong Hulyo 14.

Nakapaloob sa panawagan ang Ligtas na Balik-Eskwela (LNBE) kabilang na ang pagbibigay ng 10k student aid at pagbuo ng makaestudyanteng moda ng pagkatuto.

Gayundin, hiling ng CEGP ang pagpapaigting ng tunay na malayang pahayagang pangkampus sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng sapat na pondo sa mga publikasyon at pagpasa ng House Bill 319 o Campus Press Freedom Bill na naunang ipinanukala noon pang 2011.

Kasama rin sa tatlong panawagan ang pagbabalik-operasyon sa mga opisina ng mga pahayagang pangkampus at pagbibigay ng mas malawak na espasyo sa mga gawaing pampublikasyon, na nakapailalim sa panawagang pagpapatuloy ng mga face-to-face classes.

Sa kanilang Facebook post, idiniin ng CEGP ang lantarang pagatake sa mga mamamahayag sa buong bansa maging sa mga kasapi ng University of the Philippines (UP) Solidaridad, na kinabibilangan ng UP Baguio Outcrop, tulad ng PAGE DESIGN ISAGANI CASPE

mga insidente ng red-tagging at pambabanta sa kanilang buhay.

Gayunpaman, ayon sa CEGP, nananatiling malinaw ang layunin ng mga mamamahayag pangkampus: ang maghatid ng mga balita at impormasyon para sa masa.

“Despite all these, the press continues to take up the challenge of providing accessible and reliable news and updates for the masses and their interests,” pahayag ng alyansa.

Isinama rin nila ang hiling ng mga estudyante na makabalik na sa tradisyonal na moda ng pagkatuto o face-to-face classes dahil labanan umano sa pribilehiyo ang online na moda ng pag-aaral, pati na rin ang pagpigil sa tuition and other fees increase (TOFI) para sa mga pribadong paaralan.

Dagdag ni CEGP Deputy Secretary-General Regina Tolentino, nagsisilbing panakot ng estado ang mga hakbang nito tulad ng panre-red tag at pambabanta upang mailihis sa tunguhin ang mga mamamahayag pangkampus. continue to page 7

Spokesperson James Jimenez confirmed on September 29.

Jimenez said that the extension will be from October 11 to 30 during weekdays from 8:00 am to 5:00 to give way to the filing of certificates of candidacy on October 1 to October 8.

This move came after youth groups and legislators petitioned and demanded to extend the date past the September 30 deadline in light of the quarantine restrictions and limited operations of COMELEC

offices.

Youth group Kabataan, Tayo ang Pag-asa (KTAP) welcomed the decision saying, “Extending voter registration only manifests that many Filipinos want to exercise their right to vote given the inept leadership of the current administration.”

Registration will still be suspended in areas under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ). ▼

TINDIG KABATAAN Baguo-based youth and students from different schools in the city got togeteher for the Tumakder: Baguio Youth Gathering with the theme “Tayo ang Pag-asa,“ September 21.

PHOTOS CORDILLERA YOUTH CENTER

6 NEWS

Tomo 47 Isyu 1 September 2021

Hospitals in Luzon hit full capacity as COVID-19 cases surge “ WORDS DANNIELLE LAGGUI

Pansamantalang hindi muna tatanggap ng pasyente ang PGH sa aming Emergency Room,” Philippine General Hospital (PGH), the country’s largest COVID-19 referral center, said in a public advisory on August 24, 2021 after reaching its highest number of COVID-19 admission since the pandemic started.

Currently, PGH accommodates 66 critical patients and 21 patients on life support machines in the intensive care unit (ICU).

“Malalagay lang sa peligro ang kapakanan ng mga pasyente, at pati na rin ang aming mga kawani kung ito ay hahayaan naming madagdagan pa,” the advisory read.

In a separate interview with One News, PGH Spokesperson Dr. Jonas del Rosario said that the hospital is also limited in manpower.

“Even if we open more beds or try to open more wards, we’re limited to the number of healthcare workers who can take care of these patients,” he said.

Meanwhile, Capitol Medical Center in Quezon City converted its chapel into a COVID-19 ICU ward after reaching full bed occupancy for COVID-19 cases in emergency room, ICU and wards.

St. Clare’s Medical Center in Makati likewise reached its full capacity and ceased accepting suspected and confirmed COVID-19 patients on August 10.

Ospital ng Muntinlupa and Ospital ng Sampaloc also stopped admitting COVID-19 cases after hitting more than 100% bed occupancy rate.

The Department of Health (DOH) earlier declared full COVID-19 bed utilization rate in 13 of 24 critical risk level hospitals in the National Capital Region.

Hospitals under critical risk level have hit over 85% of bed capacity for COVID-19 patients.

In Region 4A, Ospital ng Imus in Cavite, QualiMed Hospital, The Medical City South Luzon and Laguna Holy Family Hospital Inc., Mount Carmel Diocesan General Hospital and Lucena United Doctors

Hospital and Medical Center in Quezon also reached full capacity and halted COVID-19 admissions.

Meanwhile, Ospital ng Biñan in Laguna turned parking lots into makeshift areas for treating COVID-19 suspects after admitting 150 COVID-19 patients with 50 bed capacity.

Biñan City Mayor Arman Dimaguila Jr. told ABS-CBN that aside from hospital facilities, the local government is also in need of ten doctors and 30-40 nurses.

Cordillera Administrative Region also recorded seven hospitals in full Hospital Care Utilization Rate (HCUR) for COVID-19 on September 5, 2021.

On the same day, Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center later released an advisory stating that they “will not be accepting uncoordinated referrals in the facility” as they hit

“

Even if we open more beds or try to open more wards, we’re limited to the number of healthcare workers who can take care of these patients.

DR. JONAS DEL ROSARIO

PGH Spokesperson

full occupancy both in their COVID facilities and emergency room.

According to the latest data released by DOH-Center of Health Development-CAR, one of 7 hospitals on 100% HCUR is in Abra, two in Apayao, one in Baguio City, one in Benguet and two in Ifugao.

The Philippines has seen a record-breaking increase in COVID-19 infections in the month of August.

The total number of COVID-19 cases in the country has reached over 2 million amid the more contagious Delta variant. ▼

84% of UPB personnel receive COVID-19 vax hree hundred thirty-three out of 397 personnel of the University of T the Philippines-Baguio were vaccinated against COVID-19, Health Services Office (HSO) Head Dr. Laira Jara told Outcrop in an online WORDS JERSON KENT DANAO

interview.

As of August 25, 109 faculty, 46 lecturers, 78 administrative staff, 11 research and extension professional services, 43 research assistants, 24 utility and 22 security personnel already got vaccinated.

Dr. Jara said that the UPB personnel received COVID-19 vaccines which were being rolled out during the vaccination schedule including Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Gamaleya, Sputnik V, Janssen and Moderna vaccines.

The HSO Head also explained that UPB coordinated with the Local Government Unit (LGU) in Baguio City to conduct a separate schedule for a convenient and less hassle vaccination.

“The University, through the Occupational Safety and Health Committee, requested and coordinated with the LGU to provide our personnel and dependents belonging to the priority list, a separate vaccination schedule as well as the provision of the vaccination stubs to avoid the long queue and the hassle in securing the said stubs from their respective barangays,” she PAGE DESIGN ISAGANI CASPE

said.

The HSO staff, classified under A1 priority group, were inoculated first, followed by the A2 priority group composed of UPB personnel aged 60 years old and above, A3 priority group who were employees with comorbidity and essential workers categorized as A4 priority group.

Vaccination for A2-A4 groups is ongoing but is subject to the availability of the vaccines.

Meanwhile, according to Dr. Jara, there were no reports of severe acute reactions experienced by the vaccinees.

“The UPB personnel only experienced the expected signs and symptoms such as pain on the injection site, fever and headache which lasted for one to three days,” Dr. Jara said.

Before the vaccinations, UPB utilized social media platforms and e-mail correspondence in disseminating health information regarding the safety and advantages of the COVID-19 vaccines.

With the dissemination of right information, the HSO Head said that

YOUTH VOTE MATTERS Baguio youth distributed stickers and held discussions to encourage fellow youth to register and to vote in the upcoming 2022 national elections.

the COVID-19 vaccination was widely accepted by the UPB personnel.

The A2 and A3 priority groups, however, expressed their doubts and fears during the early roll out of the vaccine.

“Small group face-to-face consultations to explain the benefits and the expected adverse reactions to the COVID-19 vaccines were done to allay their fears and doubts,” Jara said.

Meanwhile, Vice-Chairperson

PHOTOS KABATAAN PARTYLIST CORDILLERA

Gabriel Siscar of the University Student Council (USC) said that the USC is coordinating with the university administrators for plans on the vaccination of students.

Siscar also encouraged his fellow students to “join the clamor for the free, safe, and inclusive vaccine for all.”

The vaccination of the students is one of the prerequisites for their campaign #LigtasNaBalikEskwela. ▼

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“

NEWS FEATURE

UNBACKED FRONTLINERS:

Health workers strike over delayed pays, benefits WORDS ELIANAH DE VERA & NIQUE JADE TARUBAL

ealth workers from private and public sectors conducted H mass walkouts in Metro Manila, while health workers in other regions of the country held different forms of protest actions from their wards to demand for their missing hazard duty pay (ADHP) and special risk allowance (SRA), and to call for the resignation of the Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque, September 1.

Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) President Robert Mendoza, in his speech, said that their fight continues against the Duterte administration and the DOH because of their lack of care and support for the health workers.

“Dapat po na ang ating mga health workers, sa panahon ng pandemya, ay patuloy sana na inaalagaan ng ating gobyerno.

Nakakalungkot lang po, ang dami nang namatay, ang dami na pong nagkasakit, ang dami nang nagresign, nag-early retirement sa ating health workers, subalit hanggang ngayon po ba, naninikluhod pa rin tayo sa DOH para ibigay ang katiting na benipisyong ito,” Mendoza said.

‘Duque out’ Protesters also called for the resignation of DOH Sec. Duque and to hold him accountable for his negligence in aiding the health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The deadline we set with the DOH to grant our COVID-19 benefits is finally over. Our patience with Sec. Duque is also over. A year has passed, but the basic problem confronting health workers in relation to the COVID-19 issue remains,” AHW President also said.

In a press release, AHW listed the anomalies and failures involving Sec. Duque which included “yearly expired medicines as per Commision on Audit report, P15 B PhilHealth scam, failure of COVID-19 response, P11.9 B unused funds for health workers’ SRA, hazard pay and P67.323 B questionable and anomalous disbursement and expenditures of DOH COVID-19 response funds, among others.”

Mass resignations Health workers also reiterated warning the government that they will conduct mass resignations if PAGE DESIGN ISAGANI CASPE

their hazard pay and allowances will still be withheld.

Apart from missing pays, exhaustion due to COVID-19 cases surge also prompted mass resignation warnings.

In an earlier interview with Rappler on August 16, Cristy Donguines, president of the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center Employees Union-AHW, explained that “severe understaffing” in hospitals led them to extend their duty for 12 to 24 hours.

“We are already drained and overworked. Many from our ranks file [for] early retirement, and many resigned for fear of being infected with the contagious virus, while others went abroad,” Donguines said.

Government’s response On August 23, Filipino Nurses United (FNU) started their 10-day countdown for the government to distribute their benefits.

Although President Duterte ordered the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and DOH to release the unpaid benefits of healthcare workers until September 1, DBM and DOH failed to meet the said deadline, prompting the health workers to push for their planned walkouts.

In response to the health workers strike, President Duterte, in his public address aired on September 8, asked the frontliners for understanding of the delayed distribution of benefits.

“Kaya ‘yang give us time to adjust to the finances because ang, the fluctuation of events hindi natin malaman, kagaya nito bigla na lang.

Sino bang nag-aakala na mayroong pandemya? So we have to spend in a short notice we had to collate whatever was left of, or whatever was available for the mga Bayanihan 1 and 2,” Duterte said.

“Kung mayroon lang talaga, bakit namin hindi ibigay? Anuhin man PHOTOS NUSP CORDILLERA

We are already drained and overworked. Many from our ranks file [for] early retirement, and many resigned for fear of being infected with the contagious virus, while others went abroad.

CRISTY DONGUINES

President of the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center Employees

namin ‘yung pera, hindi man amin?

You would be the first to benefit especially during this time. But the problem is there are other expenses of government other than the health concerns,” the President added.

Budget cut Amid protests over unpaid benefits and allowances, health workers once again hit the government over the 2022 proposed DOH budget which they referred to as “blatant disregard to health workers’ safety, protection and welfare and to

NEWS 7 people’s health.”

In a virtual press conference on September 13, health workers from DOH hospitals and Philippine General Hospital (PGH) slammed the proposed DOH budget which only comprised 4.81% or P242 B of the total proposed P5.024 Trillion National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2022.

“The 2022 proposed DOH budget amounting to P242B is deceptive because 33% or the P79.9B of the total proposed budget is allotted to PHilhealth. The actual DOH budget under the Office of the Secretary allotment is only P157 Billion. The budget for the seventy-six public hospitals that directly provide health services to the people is under this item,” AHW said.

Medical frontliners also pointed out that the “Duterte government has ZERO allocation for COVID-19 benefits such as SRA, AHDP and Meals, Accommodation, Transportation (MAT) allowance for the year 2022.” ▼

Rise for Education Metro Baguio and National Union of Students of the Philippines Cordillera held a press conference to discuss their demand and position for the safe resumption of classes and the junking of tuition and other school fees in private schools, August 31.

Press freedom, LNBE muling isinusulong ng CEGP continued from page 5

“Makikita rin kasi natin na na mas matindi ang campus press repression kapag matindi rin ang atake sa edukasyon (budget cut, TOFI, atbp.) dahil nga ina-amplify natin ang boses ng constituents natin sa campus bilang isa sa tagapamandila ng demokratikong karapatan na makaalam ang mamamayan,” pahayag ni Tolentino.

Kaya naman hinihimok ng CEGP na makiisa ang mga publikasyon maging ang mga indibidwal na pumirma sa binuo nitong petisyon, na ikokonsulta sa regional institutions bago iakyat sa Commission on

Higher Education.

Sa huling datos ay nasa 140 petitioners na ang lumagda, hiwalay sa 26 publikasyong pangkampus na kaisa sa panawagan, at patuloy pang hinihikayat ang iba na lumahok sa petisyon.

Kaugnay din nito ay nagsagawa ng General Assembly sa lahat ng publikasyon ang CEGP noong Setyembre 4 kung saan pinagusapan ang mga posible pang dagdag at pagbabago sa nasabing panawagan. ▼

88 OPINION

Tomo 47 Isyu 1 September 2021

Missing: a legitimate college life WORDS JETHRO ANDRADA

I often find myself wondering what our campus looks like today.

I picture the cafeteria where it’s nearly impossible to find seating at lunch time, the classrooms in CSS that kind of smell like feet, the IB lobby where performing orgs are always dancing. How is our beloved UP Baguio doing, I wonder, in the two years we students have not set foot in it?

“

It’s hard not to yearn for the days we were still on campus, especially since remote learning has made everything about education unbearable.

It’s hard not to yearn for the days we were still on campus, especially since remote learning has made everything about education unbearable.

In the past, it was easy to call up some friends and dilute the misery of a bad quiz or an exhausting lecture with a night-out; but it’s not exactly the same when you do it in front of a screen. Even our synchronous classes, which are supposedly meant to mimic face-to-face interaction, have been reduced to hour-long lectures with a talking professor and 20-something students with their cameras and microphones turned off.

Though this last one is understandable due to some of the reasons already mentioned, the fact stands: in the two years that we have been under remote learning, all we have proven is how unsustainable and ineffective it is compared to onground classes.

Thing is, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) still won’t budge. In UPB’s townhall discussion last August, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (VCAA) Rosemary Gutierrez said UP Baguio’s application for limited face-to-face classes has yet to receive a response from CHED, meaning we have no idea how much longer we’ll have to endure remote learning. This academic year, however, will still definitely be online.

There are about a hundred other reasons why our current situation is taxing and dehumanizing, but I believe a big part of the pain we feel is not just because of how much we hate this setup, but how intensely we long for things to go back to normal.

Day in and day out, I feel more and more detached from the college life I used to know; but I resist. I force myself to remember the feeling of waking up at 6:30 in the morning when the Baguio air is so cold you can barely move, but you force yourself to take a bath anyway. I try to remember the aching of my legs when I climb up the HKP stairs after a tiring PE class, and the relief I feel when I finally reach the cafeteria, only to realize there are no seats available. You don’t forget the screaming of the crowds in Tagisan and Pasiklaban, the laughter and the random org handshakes in the hallways, the quiet of the library, the stress of an oncoming quiz, and the noise of a rowdy GA. To preserve some semblance of sanity, I try to remember and hold on to these memories as if they were a lifeline, because plainly accepting that our college lives have been reduced to four years of staring at our laptops is

a thought I cannot afford to stomach.

CHED Chairperson Prospero De Vera III said in a webinar last May that “flexible learning will be the new norm” for this school year and the ones to come after it, but a fuming student community slammed him on virtually every platform available.

Months have passed since then, and the clamor for the safe resumption of classes continues.

To the students who know firsthand the life we left behind in Baguio, I know you’re itching to go back; and to the freshmen and sophomores who have yet to set foot on campus, we want nothing more than for all of you to see the sights we’ve seen and the feelings we’ve felt in UPB. You deserve better. All of us do.

Our college lives—allegedly our ‘golden years’—have been taken away, but that doesn’t mean it’s too late for us to reclaim them. Missing UPB should not end in mere yearning, but in solid and united action. So, fellow isko/iska, take this as your invitation to join the movement for ‘Ligtas na Balik Eskwela,’ and let’s take back what this pandemic and the Duterte administration have stolen from us. ▼

important thing is to get protected and be immune, and to reduce the risk of hospitalization, some settle for what is available, even if it wasn’t their preference.

It rings the catchphrase “The best vaccine is the one available,” for when there’s really not much of a choice to make.

Truth be told, there are many discrepancies in our current COVID-19 vaccination program. More than half a year after the country started the vaccination roll-out, yet supply of COVID-19 vaccine shots still falls short. Vaccination centers are short of facilities and volunteers, some cities have the ‘palakasan culture’ where those who do not have connections are being left behind. CNN Philippines reported at least three under investigation unauthorized sources of fake vaccines, a manifestation of how people would resort to buy and distribute fake vaccines just to get the hopes of being fully immune to the virus.

Small barangays, especially in provinces, are relying on donations from private companies because the system does not favor those on the lower end. In my hometown, we

experience a shortage of supply, making the vaccination program not able to hit the target count. In fact, only two out of six members in our household had the chance to get jabs.

We stand in unequal ramps where not everybody can reach the same fruit we need to survive. It is downright unacceptable to say that the less fortunate people are choosy and hesitant to get the vaccine. It is inappropriate to burden the people with blame at this point, where everyone just tries to fight and stay alive. Anti-vaxxers sure do exist, but in this case, the majority of people who still aren’t vaccinated just lack the privilege and the opportunity to get it.

There’s no denying that we are left behind, as our government cannot simply manage their priorities and continue to mandate unnecessary protocols like curfews, face shield requirements, ‘no bakuna, no ayuda’ scheme, and the endless cycle of community quarantine distinctions.

The government response was super delayed, anti-poor, and priorities were obviously scrambled, and now we struggle to get the protection we need and deserve. ▼

The Illusion of Choice WORDS JAIMEY HAILEY ANG

It is an everyday battle to go out and work, to feed a hungry family, and to even stay alive amid the worsening crisis. But getting vaccinated is even a harder battle to win, at least for the Philippines. Most people have the patience to line up for hours, many have connections to get shots, but some just rely on luck.

“

Is it still an issue of vaccine hesitancy when the people struggle to try anything just to get fully protected?

The privileged have the choice to get shots from whichever brand they prefer but for the poor, choice is an illusion. The fact that there are numerous reported cases of people lining up as early as dawn to even get the slimmest chance of getting vaccinated is concerning. Civilians were even fined because of violating curfew protocols, which is a rather useless tactic in combating the pandemic.

We’re barely getting a hundred percent chance of herd immunity because of the delay in the rollouts and the improper distribution of our resources. Despite the fact that vaccines are scientifically proven to have been working for centuries now, some still shrug the idea of getting the jabs. Spreading fears and malice can do a whole lot of damage, especially when we’re talking about healthcare now that the global health crisis worsens.

It is true that many are still skeptical of the brands of vaccines that are available in their area. People have different preferences and resources and not everyone gets to share the same amount of information about the vaccines. Since the more

PAGE DESIGN EDWARD THOMAS VICENTE

GRAPHICS JETHRO BRYAN ANDRADA

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Batch Potentials: Ang Pagtatapos WORDS JOMAY DEL ROSARIO

Iba talaga ang pakiramdam kapag ikaw lagi ang nauuna – una sa listahan, una sa pila o kahit ano pang una basta hindi mapunta sa huli.

Ngunit bakit kahit laging nauuna ay nahuhuli pa rin kami?

Kabilang ako sa unang batch ng K-12, ang mga tinaguriang pioneer batch with potential dahil mas may potensyal daw kami sa mga naunang batch na hindi dumaan sa K-12. Kami ang una sa lahat ng bagay na ipatutupad ng pamahalaan kaya naman hindi na bago sa amin ang masalang sa kung ano-anong eksperimento – sa bagong grading system man o sa isang buong bagong kurikulum. Pakiramdam ko na noon pa lang na minalas talaga kami sa pagkakataon. Isipin mo ba naman lahat ng taon ng pag-aaral namin ang inilaan sa trial and error ng sistema ng pag-aaral.

Higit na bago para sa amin ang dalawang dagdag na taon sa hayskul, bukod sa bago ang lahat ng subject ay bago rin ang mga gurong magtuturo ng iba’t ibang kurso na bago rin para sa kanila. Naalala ko pa noon ang mga pangakong mababawasan ang mga kursong kukunin namin pagdating

ng kolehiyo at magkakaroon kami kaagad ng trabaho pagka-gradweyt.

Ngunit hanggang ngayon na nasa huling taon na ako sa kolehiyo ay nananatiling huwad at nakapako ang mga pangakong ito.

Sa huling dalawang taon din na ito mas nabakas ang hindi kahandaan at kakulangan ng Departamento ng Edukasyon (DepEd) at ng pamahalaan sa pagpapatupad ng K-12. Mula sa kakulangan sa mga silid-aralan, pasilidad, guro, libro at iba pang rekurso na kinakailangan upang maisaayos ang pag-aaral, nakita na hindi pa talaga handa ang bansa sa bagong sistema ng edukasyon. Noong 2018, inamin mismo ni DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones ang kakulangan sa mga silid-aralan at espasyo para sa mga papasok ng Senior High School.

Matagal ko nang tinanggap na ganito ang aming kapalaran lalo na sa oryentasyon ng edukasyon natin na komersyalisado, kolonyal, at anti-demokratiko. Ang mismong ideya ng pagkakaroon ng K to 12 ay isa ng manipestasyon ng pagiging komersyalisado nito kung saan nakaangkla ang pagaaral sa pagiging work-ready ng mga estudyante na magtatapos ng K to 12. Bukod pa dito, ang hangarin na maging globallycompetitive ang mga estudyante

OPINION 9

na siyang sumasalamin sa kolonyal na oryentasyon ng edukasyon. Pilit tayong sumusunod sa standard ng ibang mga bansa gayong naiiwan naman na atrasado ang paglinang sa agrikultura, kultura, at maging sa sarili nating mga lenggwahe.

Hanggang kolehiyo ay dala-dala namin ang tila sumpa ng pagiging eksperimento. Nang dahil galing kami sa K to 12, kinailangang baguhin ang aming kurikulum sa kolehiyo na hindi lang naging mahirap para sa amin, kung hindi pati na rin sa mga higher batch na kailangang kumuha ng isang kurso na hindi na muling iooffer pa dahil sa bagong kurikulum.

Sa pagpasok ng pandemya, higit na pinahirapan pa ang sangkaestudyantehan sa biglaang kabig sa moda ng edukasyon na isang panibagong eskperimento nanaman para sa sistema ng edukasyon sa bansa. Bukod sa pagiging inepektibo ng remote learning, lumabas din ang isyu ng milyon-milyong estudyanteng maiiwanan at hindi makapagpapatuloy ng pag-aaral dahil sa kawalan ng mga rekurso at kagamitan na kakailanganin upang makasabay sa online moda ng pagaaral. Ipinagkait din sa mga magaaral ang pagkakaroon ng practical skills gawa ng kawalan ng mga laboratoryo at kagamitan. Maging

ang mga thesis at internship na dapat sana’y makapagpapalago sa aming kasanayan ay isasagawa online.

Paano na lamang kami sasabak sa mga pinili naming larangan gayong puro teorya ang aming natutunan at walang pagsasapraktika? Dagdag pa dito ang pangambang hindi na muling makatungtong pa sa kampus kahit sa mismong araw ng pagtatapos dahil sa hindi masugpong pandemya dulot ng iresponsable at militaristikong pagtugon ng nasa administrasyon.

Bagaman nauuna, nananatiling huli ang pioneer batch ng K to 12 pagdating sa kalidad ng edukasyon na natatamasa.

Kakabit ang kagustuhan na makapagtapos na ng pag-aaral, ang mga karanasang ito ang hindi ko na gugustuhin pang matamasa ng mga susunod sa amin.

Bilang isa sa mga produkto ng K to 12 na nalalapit nang magtapos ng kolehiyo, isa itong pagtawag sa atensyon ng pamahalaan na siyang bumubuo ng mga batas sa bansa na inepektibo at pahirap lamang sa mamamayang Pilipino ang dagdag na dalawang taon sa hayskul. Lumipas man ang ilang taon, mananatili ang aming panawagan hangga’t hindi pambansa, siyentipiko, at makamasa ang edukasyon na siyang sasagot sa bulok at atrasadong oryentasyon ng edukasyon sa bansa. ▼

accommodating public hospitals in the Cordillera. While many people praise Baguio for seemingly having a “good governance,” there exists a stifled voice and resistance against it; there is a struggle for justice, sovereignty, and the need to be heard as a resident fundamental for the local development.

people are disciplined; but ironically, the history of Baguio and the Cordillera region itself is rooted from a long-lived struggle against colonial powers and land aggressions, a long-lived struggle towards selfdetermination of indigenous peoples, and a long history of defiance for their land and sovereignty since the Spanish conquest.

The fact is, Baguio City has been extremely romanticized to the point that its own problems are oftentimes overlooked. Yes, its climate might be cold enough for a “cuddle weather,” but it also reflects how cold the heart of the city has turned out to be. A more cordial and indulgent hometown is what we, the locals, primarily need. And this would not be achieved by boosting tourism, cutting trees, building giant shopping malls, privatizing hospitals, and silencing the concerned citizens. A better Baguio will only emerge once those who are in power learned how to develop the city in parallel with the concerns and necessities of its own residents. ▼

Behind Baguio’s ‘Mood’ WORDS JIAN MARIE GARAPO

Baguio has always been known as one of the places where tourism is extremely thriving. From the tourist spots, to the culture, up to the climate – almost everybody desires to experience what the City of Pines has to offer. Unbeknownst to the majority, the city faces a lot of challenges and dangers hiding in its cloak of aesthetic sensibility.

There are problems in the locality that remain unheeded, and these concerns are worthy of attention as much as what its physical attributes get from the foreign admirers.

As a Baguio local, one of the biggest concerns of the city that I’ve observed lies in the environmental aspect.

The SM Supermall redevelopment sacrificed more than 50 trees in replacement of its “Sky Garden” with nothing but artificial grasses and plants. Prior to this project, another set of trees were first cut down for the Skyranch area.

PAGE DESIGN EDWARD THOMAS VICENTE

It’s scary how the local government easily permits the devastation of these trees knowing that this is one of the most notable hallmarks of Baguio. It’s nothing but pure irony that Baguio is labeled as the City of Pines when its trees are consistently being compromised for reasons that do not serve the public interest.

The city faces another catastrophe with the threat of Jeepney Phaseout along with the impending mallification of Baguio Public Market which the SM Prime Holdings (SMPH) will handle. While these programs aim to redesign and modernize the city, they appear to be profit-oriented and anti-poor which only favor big corporations and cooperatives that leave drivers, vendors, and Baguio residents at a loss. The same is true with the imminent privatization of Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC); as such decision would definitely make healthcare assistance and services inaccessible for the poor, underprivileged, and Indigenous Peoples (IPs) who rely on it – especially that BGHMC has been one of the most trusted and

“

When alarming problems like these arise, there is a need to take up space and fight for what is right.

However, progressive individuals and groups who are at the forefront of the calls for City’s preservation face threats to their safety and security.

With the rampancy of red-tagging, defenders become susceptible to harassment and unjust treatment.

Many red-taggers argue that protests and movements have no room in the city since Baguio is a peaceful and quiet place where

GRAPHICS JETHRO BRYAN ANDRADA

10 10 CONTRIBUTIONS

Tomo 47 Isyu 1 September 2021 Tomo 46 Isyu 1 September 30, 2021

Hangganan ng pananamantala Tinatantya ng manggagawa ang sahod sa isang buwan sa higit walong oras na pagkayod, sa kawalan ng pahinga at tulog, natantya ng mangagawa ang sahod sa isang buwan walang pagkain ang pamilya, binabansot ng pabrika. tinanaw ng magsasaka ang lupang sinasaka, dekada mang magbungkal, walang yamang tinamasa, kinapa ng magsasaka ang lalim ng

Tuwing Umaapaw ang Dagat

WORDS GELEN DAVAC

Animnapung porsyento raw sa katawan ng tao Ay tubig Ito marahil ang dahilan Kung bakit Tuwing nagigimbal ang katauhan Hindi maiiwasan ang patak ng luha At sa panahong ubod ng sukdulan...

Sa lagim ng karanasan Sasabog ang ihi.

Malamang, Ilang pag-apaw na ng dagat ang naranasan ng karamihan, Kapag natisod ka sa gitna ng kalsada habang abala kung paano lalampasan ang hellweek

Lessons from the First Filipino Nobel Laureate WORDS RAY MARK ESPIRITU

“#HoldTheLine.”

This is the mantra—the war cry—of the country’s first-ever Nobel Laureate.

I never would have thought that I would live to see the day when the Philippines would be a recipient of a Nobel Peace Prize. It’s a marvel only for the reason that our country’s leaders refuse to believe in peace, such as they will summon every armory in their machinery, both its denotation and connotation, to silence and to eliminate all proof of resistance.

What’s unsurprising, though, is the profession of this year’s awardees; Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov are both journalists.

Journalists have long been trying to win the battle for truth. In the PAGE DESIGN Philippines alone, over a hundred JETHRO BRYAN have already beenANDRADA killed since 1986, at least 19 of which have been killed

kanyang bulsa, ang salapi mula sa ani ay nasa nagsasamantala. kinalkula ang sahod, binilang ang dekada, nang magsukat ay halos ‘di matantya, sa lawak ng pananamantala, walang napunta, sa mga pagawaan, sa industriya ng sakahan.

WORDS KM-DATAKO BALANGAY ELVIRA

ngunit kahaharapin ng mapagsamantala ang hangganan, sa kamay ng manggagawa’ t magsasaka, babawiin ang pagawaan, ang lupang sakahan, tutuldukan ang dekadang pangaapi, sagot ay digmang bayan!

Nawalan ng pitaka; Pagtatapos ng ikapitong relasyon dahil sa pangangaliwa na umabot naman ng pitong buwan; Problema sa pamilya; At ang iba ay...

Mga kabataang lumaki sa skwater o sa kanayunang sadlak sa kahirapan Mga magsasakang binagyo ang taniman Mga mangingisdang itinataboy ng dayuhan mula sa sariling baybayin Pamilyang nawalan ng kaanak dahil sa tokhang Mga katutubong inagawan ng lupang ninuno Mga nakaranas ng torture noong Martial Law Mga namatayan dahil sa pandemya

said. “I don’t believe we should be using anger and hate even though they’re the most effective tools.”

I was all ears, staring at my laptop while processing the gravity of her response. I tried jotting every single thing down, tried nodding in during Duterte’s term. Maria herself response even though she could has been in constant war against not see me, even tried imagining the “unthinkable” for being the target state-perpetrated lies. of the president and his pawns. Her words spoke to me. No matter how The blueprint I remember my exhiliration that much anger and hate are being Friday afternoon, February 19. Maria spewed here and there, we should Ressa graced HAU Communicators’ never fight back with the same League’s webinar on disinformation, mental and emotional colors. She where she discussed its dangers on never fails to remember her values a macro lens and its impact on a and instill them upon young aspirants personal level. After her talk, I had like me and many who attended. A the luxury of asking her the question remarkable feat when you are being “In the current age of transmedia singled out by an authoritarian storytelling dynamic, which is used government.

What’s even more remarkable by both trolls and journalists, how can we further use the same platforms to is how she turned the anger and hate she received from the current campaign for the truth?”

“Organize,” she immediately said. administration to something of It was that simple, I guess. But she a prestige. This recognition is a made it clear that to detour from the massive taunt to those who discredit GRAPHICS current strategies of disinformation her, Rappler, and other journalists.

JETHRO BRYAN ANDRADA Above all else, this is a testament of webs is of paramount urgency.

“Don’t use hate,” she explicitly the unyielding valor of the pen to hold

Tuwing umaapaw ang dagat At naaabot nito ang mga sugat Na nagmula sa pagtakas Mula sa kasalukuyan, sa daluyong ng karahasan..

Ng buhay Mas humahapdi ito Kailangan paghilumin.

Marahil ay kabaliwan Ngunit katulad ng matandang nagpatag ng bundok Baka kailangang paamuin ang dagat, Kabisaduhin.

Kalauna’y, mamamangka tayo kahit saan Sabay-sabay ang pagsagwan Upang tunghayan ang pulang silangan, Pagkatapos umapaw ng dagat Kakalma ang paligid.

Hindi ito tungkol sa tsunami.

those in power to account.

It is this win that makes sense of an otherwise deadly country for journalists; a historic moment for truth-tellers in the Philippines.

For facts’ sake this current political In ecosystem, people easily resort to anger and hate as they are our kneejerk reactions, our primary responses to indifference, to opposing beliefs.

But what does all of this warrant?

More division. In effect, the overall atmosphere of disinformation fueled by the growing hate and anger of the people, fosters the agenda of those seeking to return to power. It is in the dying months of the Duterte regime that the Philippines chose to stir and commence chaos on multiple platforms. But the propaganda war does not end on Facebook anymore.

In fact, it only starts there. YouTube, TikTok, and Twitter are now homes to twisted facts. Heck, even Rappler’s fact-checking content is now being faked. With this, many are easily exasperated.

With this exasperation, people tend to easily dismiss the idea of a

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Pagsilip sa Pagkilos

WORDS GELEN DAVAC

Sa pagkilos, Hindi mo kaagad maiintidihan ang mga batayang problema Kung paano ang pagpaplano para sa nga martsa O kaya nama’y paglulunsad ng mga kampanya.

Ang unang hakbangin Ay ang pagkilala

Sa kalagayang panlipunan Minsan pa nga, kalituhan muna Kung bakit tila ba kailangan mong humukay ng sariling libingan O ilibing sa trabaho ang sarili Para makaahon sa lusak ng kahirapan.

Susunod ang pagaalinlangan, “Marahil ay ganito talaga

The poet is a guerilla WORDS KM-DATAKO BALANGAY ELVIRA

healthy discourse and resort to ad hominem for the sake of preserving one side only. What about the facts, then? The chance for allyship bade farewell just because you let your hatred and anger fuel you. Maria will not approve of this.

Now, how do we fight back?

Revisiting Maria’s response to my query on campaigning for the truth, we should value the need to be organized as it is not an overnight process to win a (propaganda) war.

This begs another question of how. The answer is: Hold the line.

Maria endured years of attacks in the frontlines and the universe is now rewarding her for her patience and integrity. Justice may not be here yet, but it is already taking its course.

While we wait, it is now our time to lock arms and be one with the first Filipino Nobel Laureate, journalists, and truth-tellers alike in our battle for truth and democracy.

The battle is not Maria’s alone; and what is a win if we will not carry her ink’s might?

PAGE DESIGN JETHRO BRYAN ANDRADA

CONTRIBUTIONS 11 CONTRIBUTIONS

ang mundo.”

Magpapatuloy sa sariling siklo Magsasawalang-kibo sa mga naririnig na usapan sa hapag-kainan Sa paghagupit ng krisis At paglala ng ligalig Sasampalin ka rin ng katotohanan, Na tayo ay kailangan sa lansangan Mga kapulungan Sa lahat ng makakayang abutin na larangan.

Paano tutula ang makata sa gitna ng tiraniya paano tutula ang makata sa harap ng mga pinaslang paano tutula ang makata kung sinusupil ang panulaan makakatula ang makata hawak ang kanyang armas sa panulat man o sa pakikidigma makakatula ang makata kung titindig sa ligalig sa panahong iniigpawan ang kabig ng dibdib makakalaya ang makata sa gitna ng tiraniya makakalaya ang makata hawak ang armas sa pakikidigma magtatagumpay ang makata kasama ang masa, tungo sa pagpapalaya

GRAPHICS JETHRO BRYAN ANDRADA

PAGE DESIGN JETHRO BRYAN ANDRADA

GRAPHICS LIANNE TAMARES

12 CULTURE

Tomo 47 Isyu 1 September 2021

“

If Katniss was in the Philippines, she would probably end up dead.

WORDS MYRA KRISSELLE GARING

I love an empowering main character when I read one. Imagine, in the first chapter, they’re the street rat trampled on the ground – then rising to fight the system. Readers will cheer for power while it’s in the main character’s hands, loving the story’s progression until the chapter of great awakening and clever planning, and they can’t wait to see it all fall into place.

But if we put this scenario in the real world, the audience will grow quiet. No sound. Only judgement.

Death. And eyes turn away. It’s just another day in the Philippines.

Fire is catching It’s almost a familiar process – lives get taken, and information gets sealed.

It’s as familiar to us as it is to Guy Montag (Fahrenheit 451), who lived a fireman’s life devoted to their world’s decree of burning books and other forms of literature – eradicating the era of printed word. Occasionally, people even choose to be burned along with the books, and though this bothers Montag, he doesn’t move.

Until he began to question why books were so abhorred. What was about words that rulers were afraid of? What made the world turn to a book-less dystopia? The easy answer is control.

As books ignite ideas, apparently this gave way to conflict. Works of literature weren’t seen as expression but rather a dangerous thing that could be the cause of war. Somehow, being educated was seen as a threat rather than progress – and soon, the media is controlled. Information is filtered and only those that favored the ruling party could be spread out.

A great media black-out.

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If we burn Take for example a young girl of District 12, plunged into a game to the death. Katniss’ journey began from volunteering to save her sister from the 74th Hunger Games – a survival competition which, for what it’s worth, is an illusion of escape from the poverty that plagued them. Their deaths were merely entertainment, their fighting baseless, and all of it benefits only the Capitol. Soon they go underground and fight it all with fire, which basically is the only way to actually change the tide.

Now let’s paint a picture, view ‘Panem’ as the Philippines, and ‘Katniss’ as an activist. Imagine catching Katniss with a placard as her bow, with words in her quiver, with truth as her bull’s eye shots.

What will the supporters of tyranny do?

A ‘Katniss’ will be attacked.

Incriminated, threatened, harassed – surveilled, gunned, discarded.

There probably won’t even be a body when they’re done.

If this doesn’t seem as a reality to you, then think of the victims of Desaparecidos. The lost bodies of known activists, journalists, lawyers – the people who stood their ground before abusive leaders. They were all heroes of their own stories, now only living in memories and commemoration with yearly candles.

If in a book, they’re cheered, but in our country, they disappear. Even worse, they end up dead.

You burn with us When there’s oppression, people would struggle out of its hold – one we might call a rebellion. For Mare Barrow, to rebel against the ruling Silver kingdom means to defend her rights as a person, and as a citizen of Norta.

Mare bears the discrimination that comes with having Red blood, and hatred towards the conscription of Red peasants as soldiers for a pointless war. Soon after her life takes drastic turns in the hands of Silvers, she finds the Scarlet Guard, a rebel group seeking to topple the monarchy.

GRAPHICS CHELSIE ASUNCION

But upon catching a whiff of this rebellion, the reigning Silvers sought to find every member of this group and kill them on sight.

Though the Philippines isn’t a monarchy, we are governed by a person who thinks highly of themselves and seeks a bloodrelated successor to the throne.

Our President also appears to put all attention into sniffing out people who may or may not be part of a rebel group – and what’s too disturbing about this was even if you’re not one, they can brand you as such, and people will throw rocks as long as you live... with the police hunting you down.

There are many names of accused communist rebels: mothers, fathers, youth, whose lives seem to come from a tragic novel. They were common people who faced a tragedy from accusations – now separated from family, with their children dying without a mother’s cradle.

And I wish it was all a huge author’s twist of plot, but it’s not. It’s a corrupt ruler’s way of implementing their twisted mindset to maintain the status quo.

Fire is catching Though stories are the mind’s work put into words, alive only in imagination, it reflects a

reality most of us ignore – no matter the technology or powers – oppression reigns master, and judgment spreads supreme.

Anyone who contests the impartial decisions of a ruler, points out its injustice, or contains information that appears threatening to a ruler’s view of governance is hunted in the real world. The people blinded by support to these rulers wouldn’t love the underdog, they wouldn’t listen to the peasant’s pleas and pain.

And I think that books, though a way to imagine, still cannot compare to the reality we do face – the real world has real consequences, real impact. So if people only cage their views – only see and judge oppression if it’s within pages of fiction – it does none for real-world abuse.

Why shouldn’t we cheer, support, and understand Katniss in the Philippines? ▼

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CULTURE 13

WORDS JAN PEARL EAZRYE REYES

For some, home is not just a place for dwelling; it’s a place of solitude and safety. A home where the warmth of a family’s love lives — a haven. Until it isn’t. For Alicia Lucena, her house is a dark box of trauma, darkened by the state-funded domestic abuse; a place to run away from. But as she’s about to reach the gates of hell towards freedom, fire catches on.

Chance at escaping Last April, Alicia was forced to relive her nightmare life after she was abducted by state agents through a random swab testing scheme. Her mother, Relissa Lucena, believes that her daughter is being held hostage by a militant group. An elaborate plan was established, backed by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTFELCAC), local government officials and other state agents.

Not only was Alicia deprived of freedom, she was also not given a chance to reclaim it. She recounts in one of her Facebook Lives, after she fled from home, how authorities tricked her into thinking she will finally get away, only to find out later that they were part of the plan to keep her detained. She shares on Facebook the ever-present bruises on her body caused by the people who abducted her.

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“Nung dinukot nila ako ang dami kong pasa at sugat non. Nung nasa MOA kami sa department store nung nag attempt ako humingi ng saklolo sa mga tao dun kasi na-trigger nila ako because [they] deceived me na after swab test dun kami sa home ng grandparents ko ako magis-stay because our house in Pasay triggers bad memories, The head security guards, mga 4-5 and a military officer si Colonel Ostrea na nagbabantay/nagmamanage sa swab testing sa arena, restrained me tas kinaladkad nila ako sa kotse. Andami ko ulit pasa non,” Alicia said on her Facebook post.

For four months, Alicia only knew fear.

Trapped and locked on the 4th floor of her Pasay home, a kitty litter for a toilet and a bed on the floor. She was treated like a prisoner in her own home, and maybe even worse.

The constant physical and mental tortures might have turned others to

GRAPHICS CHELSIE ASUNCION

insanity, but for her, this is what pushed her to fight back. If she escaped before, she can escape again.

Physically weak and mentally tormented she might be, Alicia escaped her captors on August 16, the promise of a better country fueling her.

Are we out yet?

Authorities pushed the narrative of a disobedient child acting against a parent’s care to villainize Alicia. A preexisting rift between her family was weaponized to sell the story of the misguided, naive child who was manipulated by organizations to join their cause.

The NTF-ELCAC insists that the mass organization Anakbayan kidnapped Alicia before they “saved” her despite the Supreme Court junking this allegation September last year.

Alicia recounts on Facebook how she felt violated and trapped with the relentless interogga-

tion of her Psychiatrist referred to her by the NTF-ELCAC. “Kasi ini-interrogate [ako nung Psychiatrist ko] showing pictures of underground organizations na parang ginawa sakin ng mga militar at nung sinasabi nilang ‘ex-NPA’ na forcibly akong pinapakausap nung dinadala nila ako sa mga kampo. Lagi niya akong iniinterogate kung saan ako nagpupupunta, na sabihin ko daw lahat ng naiisip ko sa kanya.”

Maybe this is hell Alicia may have escaped one circle of hell when she fled her home, only to see that the demons in power have built a bigger fence around it. The only way to escape hell is to destroy it; Something that we cannot achieve if the administration continues their reign of terror through their abusive militaristic approach and funding agencies like the NTF-ELCAC. This fight might be bigger than simply achieving freedom from her abusers, but this time Alicia is not alone. Together with the progressive youth, Alicia marches forward to reach true democratic freedom.

Until the outspoken are heard, the dissenters are respected and the citizens know true peace. And just by then, maybe her home can become a haven again. ▼

14 FEATURES No different from last year’s turn of events, the OCTA Research Group, on July 27, countered a claim that there’s another ‘serious surge’ of COVID-19 cases in the pandemic’s epicenter. The group noted that 13 out of 17 local government units in Metro Manila are considered “high risk” areas along with the increase in Delta variant cases, prompting the implementation of Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in the National Capital Region to control the rising trend of virus infections.

The lockdown, however, still did not control the numbers. From the OCTA Research Group’s latest reports on September 25, the country has recorded an average of 17,526 daily COVID-19 cases.

As the government keeps on resorting to such hastily imposed restrictions to supposedly manage the spread of the virus for more than a year now, the end of one of the world’s longest lockdowns becomes that much more unimaginable. While other countries are slowly managing to crawl their ways out, the Philippines seems to have been trapped in circles—the longer the pandemic plows on, the more it gets farther and farther away from the finish line.

Boomerang of events Ever since quarantine 2020, the country has been placed in a lot of lockdown modifications from ECQ to GCQ to MECQ, to another series we are currently having. Yet, nothing seems to have improved—the country remains at the top of the list of countries with the highest number of COVID cases, and poor contact tracing efforts and delayed mass testing are still evident.

With the return of restrictions, it seems as if we’re only going back from the start as they carry the same pitfalls as what they did the first time

Tomo 47 Isyu 1 September 2021 around. These on and off lockdowns continue to bring confusion among Filipinos since there are no clear policies to follow — the national government says one thing, and then local governments impose another.

According to OCTA Research Fellow Nicanor Austriaco, our quarantines as of the moment are still leaky. If we really want to move forward, such quarantine guidelines should also apply to international travelers returning to the Philippines, as new variants such as Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Lambda are already circulating.

Running too slow Despite having the highest number of Coronavirus infections and deaths in the region, the Philippines was among the last countries in Southeast Asia to secure the critical doses of COVID-19 vaccines, which only started at the beginning of March. And though it started, the rollout of such vaccines remains at a turtle’s pace.

According to data from the National Task Force Against Covid-19 as of September 23, a total of 19,671,725, or 25.50 percent of eligible Filipinos targeted for the COVID-19 vaccination program, are now fully vaccinated and more than 23 million others with the first dose. At this current slow pace, Bloomberg Vaccine Tracker estimates that it may take about 21 months or almost two years for the Philippines to vaccinate 75% of the population and achieve herd immunity. In this case, the country may be the last country in Southeast Asia to achieve such an immunity.

In their attempts to speed up vaccination programs, the government has been seeking loans from multilateral institutions. But with that national debt of P10.33 trillion, reflecting a 5.4% increase from the end-December 2020 level, still, none of it has been used efficiently for the people.

Till now, investments in laboratories, equipment, manpower, and vaccine supply remain limited and

trapped in circles WORDS JULIANNE ELIJAH NATIVIDAD

PAGE DESIGN JOEMARIEQUEEN DEL ROSARIO

GRAPHICS JETHRO BRYAN ANDRADA

thus, hamper the expansion of contact tracing, mass testing, and vaccination.

This chronic mismanagement then leaves the fundamentals of this public health crisis unaddressed and mismanaged, thus continuing to leave lockdowns as the government’s main and only tool in fighting the pandemic.

Leaving the poor behind Unlike in some countries where the pandemic can be deemed as a battle of the unvaccinated, our country’s current state more audibly reflects a “pandemic of the underprivileged.” From the first wave of the ECQ up to the current series of granular lockdowns, the number of unemployed and striving Filipinos continues to increase parallel to the trend of COVID-19 cases, the preliminary results of the Philippine Statistics Authority’s Latest Labor Force survey revealed that there were around 3.764 million unemployed Filipinos, as of June 2021 and continues to increase every single day.

Till now, sudden ECQs and granular lockdowns are implemented, leaving irregular workers such as market vendors, small business owners, and even jeepney drivers with no choice but to stop their jobs and suffer in hunger until such restrictions are lifted. Additionally, distribution of immediate cash aid, such as the P10,000 cash aid for every Filipino family, lobbied in the government are still nowhere to be reached by the people.

As all these barriers pile up, Filipinos will have to grapple again and again with unprecedented debts, mismanaged funds, unclear policies, and worsening economy, without even being provided with a definitive plan.

Then again, the finish line will be out of reach until the government chooses to step out of the circle of incompetence and strive to respond effectively and appropriately to the calls for sufficient healthcare services, immediate “P10K ayuda” for every family, financial support for micro, small, and medium businesses gravely affected by the lockdowns, and a more established plan to end this long-suffered pandemic. ▼

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Another m e l o d ra m a t i c scene has unfolded in Philippine politics, WORDS where the continuous JAYMIE HAILEY ANG flagging reports made by the Commission on Audit (COA) were questioned by the government and reacted upon by the people. Pop culture sensationalized red and green flags, the former pertaining to basically toxic traits and the latter being the positive and favorable ones.

Recently, the COA audits shenanigans have given a new light to these flags.

Reports were made and shots were fired.

The COA annually submits reports on budget deficiencies of several government agencies, and it was made public for transparency. State auditors provide detailed information on the expenses of these departments and emphasize the need for proper documentation of transactions.

“Winarak niyo kami, winarak niyo ang dangal ng DOH,” cried Secretary of Health Francisco Duque III, as his agency Department of Health (DOH) was on the frontline of the controversy.

Raw and Rational In addition to DOH, COA also flagged other government agencies including Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), all for their questionable expenses and incomplete documents.

The commission made it clear that these reports were publicized not to call out these agencies, especially DOH, but a call of duty where all these relevant pieces of information adhere to the nature of their work.

It was not a petty cry, no accusations were even made. They did not even mention corruption, but only expenses unaccounted for and missing legal documents.

Since audit reports need to be submitted yearly, the devil’s regime can say that this is not their month. The Constitution is the concrete backer of the commission’s duties including their authority to audit all the transactions made by the government plus their limitations. Note that our state auditors are only doing their rightful job, yet they were flogged by the Duterte administration.

Rebels and Reasons Amidst the public cry for Duque’s resignation, the President, of course, came to his defense, claiming how COA tainted their reputation and incited people to cast doubt on their governance.

“Do not flag and do not publish it because it will condemn the agency or the person that you are flagging,” Duterte said, focusing more on the ego of the exposed offices instead of questioning the budget deficiencies.

PAGE DESIGN JOEMARIEQUEEN DEL ROSARIO

CULTURE 15

“...I will protect you people, it includes your money. Do you think papayag ako na may isa dito sa Cabinet member magnakaw maski P1,000? You really think that I would allow it?” he continued ironically.

We all saw it coming, them resorting to being manipulative men, proceeding to throw a pity party for themselves instead of aiming to be honest and transparent.

All they do is manipulate us into thinking that our pandemic-allotted funds are in good hands. But we continuously face shortage of necessary equipment in medical facilities, lack of vaccine supplies, lack of financial subsidies and hazard pay for our workers, and many more problems concerning our national budget. Our overworked yet underpaid frontliners are crying for help; yet they are still unheard and even cheated on.

Public funds are in good hands, they said. It begs the question, whose hands are they pertaining to and why do they feel so dirty? Corruption always comes in disguise, after all.

Rage and resistance The sudden outbursts of these officials drew all sorts of reactions from the citizens. Netizens expressed their dismay and disbelief across different social media platforms, with some focusing on the questionable purchases of the government agencies.

Several political figures also opposed the President’s statement.

Senator Miguel Zubiri said in an interview that “COA is crucial for good governance,” opposing the President’s issue about the audit. Former Supreme Court spokesperson Theodore Te said that the COA is an independent body and does not need to take demands from the President.

This is the part where the fascist regime’s cronies don’t understand. They may think they are all above the law, but the Constitution says otherwise. It is a clapping moment when COA proceeded to publish the reports concerning the public funds amid outcries and clamour. If it weren’t for COA’s audit reports on the mishandling of our national funds, this would have been another year of overspending and corruption gone under radar. If it weren’t for the flags plus the sketchy reactions of the government officials, many would still be oblivious to the fact that the Filipino people are being robbed of rights and riches.

This controversy proves that the Duterte administration attacks whoever goes against their will, even the state auditors who are doing their rightful jobs in reflecting the people’s taxes. The people wish utmost protection unto our state auditors, and continue the struggle to demand for accountability and transparency. ▼

GRAPHICS JETHRO BRYAN ANDRADA

16 LATHALAIN

Tomo 47 Isyu 1 September 30, 2021

ang politikong gipit, sa publicity kumakapit

SULAT NI JAYMIE HAILEY ANG

Ilang beses na bang dumaan sa Facebook at Twitter timeline ang mga memes tungkol sa mga sugo ng gobyerno? Halos hindi na rin mabilang.

Para sa mga trapo, isang malaking oportunidad ang pagiging matunog nila sa internet kaya’t hanggang kaya ay sinasakyan nila ang mga trend o ‘di kaya’y pinipilit na magpatawa. Ginagamit nila ang mga platapormang tulad ng Facebook kung saan mabilis kumalat ang mga imahe at ngalan nila. Isa ito sa mga teknik para sa maagang pangangampanya, kumbaga’y sinasanay na tayo nang ganito kaaga na gawing bukambibig ang kanilang apelyido, numero, o partido.

Lalo na’t wala namang aasahan sa serbisyo, karamihan ay bumabawi sa popularidad, nagaakalang ito ang magdudulot ng inaasam na pagkaluklok nila sa Mayo 2022.

Sa isang araw, maraming satirical posts ang kumakalat tungkol sa kanila. Maraming nakikitawa at kapag mas below the belt, mas maraming nagla-like and share ng mga ito. Minsa’y makakakita pa ng caricature ng pagmumukha ng mga taong ito na nakatapal sa mga hayop o di kaya’y ibang kilalang personalidad. Iba’t ibang konsepto ngunit pare-parehas na konteksto—niriridikula ang mga nakaupo. Nakakatawa rin isipin na halos hindi nauubusan ng creative juices ang mga netizens, lalo na sa Facebook. Halos iba’t ibang style at format ang makikita mo at may iba pang nagbubuhos ng oras para sa video editing.

Pinoy nga naman, talagang likas na malikhain. Kahit sa mga kontekstong pampulitiko, hindi nawawalan ng katatawanan dahil wala na rin minsang limitasyon ang pagiging palabiro sa social media.

Napakaraming engagement ng ganitong mga klase ng posts.

May mga umabot sa ilang

PAGE DESIGN JAN PEARL EAZRYE REYES

daang-libong reacts, comments, at shares.

Kung tutuusin, napakalaking platform ng Facebook lalo na para sa mga kandidato, kahit pa ang layunin ng mga ito ay gawing katatawanan ang mga opisyal, sa laki ng reach nito’y lalong nagkakaroon ng ideya ang ibang mga tao ukol sa kanila gayundin ang lalong pagiging matunog ng kanilang pangalan.

Talamak din talaga ‘yung mga memes tungkol kay Duterte at Go, patungkol sa minsa’y nakakaumay na nilang pagsasama.

Nabansagan pang ‘watermark’ si Bong Go dahil sa madalas niyang pagpapakita sa mga litrato ng kanyang amo. Pero kung iisipin, dito siya sumikat. Dito siya nagkaroon ng pangalan. Dito siya nakilala bilang matalik na kasama ng Pangulo. Kung gaano man kalaki ang popularidad niya ngayon, galing ito sa pagkalat ng imahe niya sa mainstream media at sa sipag magpakalat ng mga troll.

Minsa’y mapapangiwi ka pa sa mga Tiktok ng mga opisyal na ito, tulad ni Harry Roque.

Mga nakiki-bagets. Pero ito ang paraan nila para makarating sa masa. Habang patuloy pang pinapakalat ang mga ganitong midya, lalo lang lumalago ang kanilang mga naiimpluwensyahan. Kahit pa haha react ang ilagay, dagdag pa rin ito sa engagements ng mga taong ito.

Idagdag pa natin ang mga nagsulputang mga troll sa internet. Minsan ay sa Facebook, minsan ay sa Twitter, pero pare-parehas na maraming oras sugurin at pagtulungan ang mga naglalahad ng opinyon at kuro-kuro tungkol sa mga napapanahong isyu ng lipunan.

Nagkukumpulan ang mga ito sa comment section habang binabansagang ‘terorista’ ang kahit sinumang salungat sa paniniwala at hinahangaan nilang administrasyon. Sila ang mga pangunahing taga-pakalat ng mga fake news, manang-mana nga naman sa kanilang “Tatay.” Kung totoo nga na kumikita ang mga ito sa pagkalap ng engagements sa mga ginagawa nila, marapat lamang na huwag nang bigyan ng pansin o kaya’y i-block at report ang mga ito. Pero hangga’t kayang magbigay ng maayos na diskurso sa ibang taong tunay na kapos sa kaalaman sa mga politikal na usapan, sikapin natin na tulungan sila nang walang halong pagmamalaki.

Tampok din sa mainstream media ang mga oportunistang kandidato, isang halimbawa na lang ang kampanyang ‘Run, Sara, Run’ para sa anak ng Presidente na may balak ding mamuno at sundan ang yapak ng kanyang GRAPHICS PATRICIA NGO

Ama sa gobyerno. Kakikitaan mo talaga ng bakas ng pagka-Duterte si Inday dahil sa kanyang maagang pagpapabango sa publiko, mga kwestyonableng patakaran sa kanyang bayan na hindi nakatulong sa pagsugpo sa pandemya, at mga gawing pasista na walang pinagkaiba sa ama. Kung ano ang puno, iyon din ang bunga, ika nga. Sa daming nagkalat na memes sa internet, pati na rin sa mga tarpaulin nito sa iba’t ibang bayan, bukambibig na rin ng karamihan ang tagline ni Sara. Sa dali ring kabisaduhin ng kampanyang ito, kahit pa ang mga nakakatandang hindi naman madalas sa social media ay nakikilala na rin ang munting prinsesa ng presidente mula sa Davao.

Lahat ng pangalang namutawi sa bawat walang kabuluhang diskurso, lahat ito ay nagkakaroon ng dagdag na posibilidad para kunin ang loob natin sa eleksyon. Lalo pa’t may mga pulitikong agaw-pansin ang mga alitan sa gitna man ng mga partido o hindi, mas nagiging madaling tandaan ang mga ito sa balota. Habang kumakalat ang mga litratong katatawanan, lalo ring lumalawak ang mga taong nakakakilala sa kanila. Lalo pa at ilang buwan na lang ang natitira bago ang eleksyon, mas nagiging matunog ang pangalan ng kandidato, mas may pag-asang nakatatak sila sa isip ng madla.

Dahil sa pagiging echo-chamber ng mga social media website, malaki ang posibilidad na gawing mas sikat ang isang taong pasalinsalin ang pangalan sa bawat sulok ng site. “Bad publicity is still publicity,” ika nga. Marapat na maghinay-hinay tayo sa pagpapalaganap ng mga ito. Kailangan nating ikonsidera na huwag na bigyan ng plataporma ang mga kandidatong hindi naman karapat-dapat, na tanging hanggang salita at plataporma lang ang serbisyo, at hindi kailanman naasahang umaksyon at tumulong sa mga mamamayan, bagkus sunod-sunuran lamang sa mga makapangyarihan.

Malakas ang loob ng mga kandidato dahil maraming nakakakilala sa kanila, dahil marami tayo. Huwag na natin hayaang maulit ang mga nagdaang taon nang walang pagbabago. Ang mga oras na inilalaan natin sa pagpapakalat ng mga memes at bad publicity material ukol sa kanila, maaari na lang nating ituon sa pagpapakalat ng mga angkop na impormasyon na makakatulong pa sa iba, gaya ng pagpaparehistro para sa darating na eleksyon. ▼

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THE HEART OF THE

City’s Ignition WORDS BY JIAN MARIE Q. GARAPO

“Ang pagbenta ng palengkeng ito ay parang pagbenta na rin sa aming mga kabuhayan. Ginawa kaming sunud-sunuran lang. Mas pinili nilang pakinggan ang mga mapera.”

This is the response of Aling Corazon Dahonog, a vendor from Baguio City Public Market (BCPM) for 15 years, when asked about her insight on the impending mallification of the market.

Just like a fire smoke gone with the wind, the voices of our dear vendors seem to evaporate into thin air. Clamors stretched every now and then, yet all these sentiments vanished into the ocean of clouds without a chance to be heard. At what justifiable ground should this mallification be pursued, when the livelihood of the vendors and the icon of the city’s heritage is on the verge of spoliation?

Vendors like Aling Corazon are yet another reason why the mallification of BCPM is an antipeople initiative. The moment City Mayor Benjamin Magalong has given the Original Proponent Status (OPS) to SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SMPH) is the same moment where he has chosen to turn his back on the people he ought to serve.

Truth be told, while the modernization would be physically satisfying, it will sweep off the livelihood of vendors who, since time immemorial, have relied on the market for survival. These local stakeholders are neglected and were not even given a chance to share their inputs on the structure based on their necessities and experiences considering that they are the primary individuals who will be most affected by the big change. It seems like the statement of Aling Corazon is accurate after all— local stakeholders are deemed insignificant by the local government. This begs the question as to whom both the mallification and the local city really are for.

Privatizing a publicly-maintained territory is definitely an act of robbery to the vendors.

The stall rent (or increase thereof) is one thing, and another is the possibility that small-scale vendors would be left with no area reserved for them. Considering that only two basement floors of the seven-story building are allocated for the market—there would be a competition for space, if not jam-packed. Additional rental payment demands an increase in their products as well, therefore, victimizing both sellers and buyers at once. Not only the voices of the vendors have faded, but their assurance of employment stability will turn into a mere smoke dissipating in the sky.

Aside from this, the BCPM

PAGE DESIGN JAN PEARL EAZRYE REYES

served as the most notable icon of the City’s heritage as all the highland and lowland souvenirs, vegetables, fruits, dry goods, and Cordilleranmarked woven fabrics can be seen. This place is where the distinct identity of the City is manifested since upon entering the market, the culture is strongly felt through the exhibit of well-known products: Sundot Kulangot, Ube/Strawberry Jam, fresh vegetables from Benguet, and the Baguio Walis, among others. The public space is also open for spontaneous Cordilleran performances (i.e, dances, speeches) and a threat to its loss awaits since a private corporation can now intervene and make its own terms on the public territory. This privatization is a scar not just to the livelihood of the vendors but also to the long-lived culture of the City and the Cordillera—a scar that will surface once the City was fondled by wrong hands.

The impropriety of the BCPM mallification is attested through the persistent resistance of the vendors themselves, as they continue to express their disapproval through posters saying “Save Baguio Market,” “Baguio Not For Sale,” “No To Mallification,” among others. There is also a consistent synchronized noise barrage in the market every 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. displaying their firm objection, along with the online petition to stand against the BCPM mallification.

The protest of the vendors against this idea is symbolic of their roles as a local resident: to keep the City’s identity free from any sort of defacement brought by reckless modernization. It is a must, then, for the local government to reconsider

GRAPHICS KATRINA ANG

CULTURE 17 the proposal of the Baguio Market Vendors Multipurpose Cooperative (BAMARVEMPCO).

Aside from cutting the budget down, the proposal from the City’s own people would definitely adhere to the rightful change they need, while also allowing the preservation of the market’s culture and legacy.

The development of BCPM is agreeable, and probably every city locals would be glad to witness such change. However, a modernization that forsake and disregard the proposition of the masses is a modernization that should be fought against, for change must be for the people and by the people. No corporation, however big and powerful they are, should weigh more than the City’s own offspring. Modernization must always be subjected to the residents’ approval and must value the culture they uphold. To give justice to the modernization, may the voices of those like Aling Corazon not be lost to the void nor vanish into thin air. Local stakeholders are more than a fire smoke—they are the fire themselves, burning red alike to their determination to reclaim and liberate the territory they’ll forever own. ▼

“

The protest of the vendors against this idea is symbolic of their roles as a local resident: to keep the City’s identity free from any sort of defacement brought by reckless modernization.

18 LATHALAIN Bakas sa mga pader ng lansangan ang hinanaing ng mga mamamayan.

Hindi ang mga poster na nagsasabing, ‘Vote for’ kundi ang mga bandalismo na turing ng karamihan ay dumi subalit sining ng mga naglakas-loob upang ipabatid ang kani-kanilang mga panaghoy.

Elementarya pa lamang, tinuturuan na tayong gumuhit – hindi lamang ng mga letra kundi pati mga larawan.

Naalala ko pa noong puro bura ang aking papel dahil sa mga lagpas na linya at sobrang panggigigil sa krayola. Noon pa ma’y manghangmangha na ako sa mga taong kayang maniobrahin ang mga kulay.

Sa paglabas ko sa aming tahanan, napansin kong maraming ilustrasyon ang nakaukit sa mga poste at gilid ng mga pader. Tila may ipinaparating.

Napatanong ako sa aking sarili, sining nga ba ang mga bagay na ito? Sa bagay, napakalawak ng sining. Wala itong sinusunod na pamantayan.

Iba-iba ang pinagsisilbihan nito.

May mga nalilikha para sa estetika lamang ngunit mayroon ding mga taong lumilikha ng sining dahil sa politikal na esensiya nito na matatagpuan kung saan-saan.

Sa Lansangan Sa Ma y n i l a , laganap a n g m g a

Tomo 47 Isyu 1 September 2021 itinuturing na ‘vandal.’ Marahil ay walang matinong materyales upang lapatan ang kanilang obra kung kaya’t sa mga pader na lamang nila ipinipinta. Ngunit kung iisipin, maaaring gumagawa sila rito ng obra upang mabigyang pansin ang kanilang mga daing.

Noong madaling araw ng Hulyo 26, dalawang aktibista sa Bicol ang pinaslang ng kapulisan. Hindi dahil natiyempuhan silang nagpipinta sa lansangan kundi dahil sa kanilang panawagan na itigil ang karahasan ng kasalukuyang pasistang namumuno na si Duterte. Matatandaan ding nadakip ang apat na miyembro ng Panday Sining noong 2019 matapos lumikha ng ‘protest art’ sa mga poste ng Light Rail Transit (LRT) sa Maynila na nananawagang tapusin ang panunupil sa mga aktibista.

Ilan ito sa mga krimeng naganap sa ilalim ni Duterte. Kinilala ng mga pulisya ang ‘protest art’ na nalikha bilang bandalismo na siyang sanhi sa patuloy na pagdanak ng dugo sa lansangan.

Sa lansangan maaaring matagpuan ang sining – kaakibat ng mga panawagan ng masang api. Itinataguyod nito ang boses ng sambayanang tinalikuran nang karamihan. Burahin man ng pasistang namumuno ang obra ng masang api, mayroon at mayroon pa ring sining na mananawagan para mawasak ang mapaniil na sistema. Sapagkat mas matimbang ang sining sa lansangan kumpara sa mga itinuturing na magagarbong sining sa mga museyo ngunit

pawang nagsisilbi lamang sa iilan.

Sa Pakikibaka Tanyag ang paggamit ng iba’t ibang uri ng sining sa tuwing protesta. Madalas gamitin ang mga placards tuwing protesta ng mga aktibista, bitbit ang kani-kanilang mga panawagan.

Ilan sa mga alagad ng sining ay sina Ka Parts Bagani at Kerima Lorena Tariman. Kapwa sila artista ng bayan, ngunit kapwa ring pinaslang ng pwersa ng estado.

Walang kalaban-labang pinatay ng mga militar si Bagani, isang kilalang rebolusyonaryong pintor at ilustrador, noong ika-16 ng Agosto habang si Tariman nama’y naging biktima ng engkuwentro sa Negros Occidental noong ika-20 ng Agosto.

Pinapatunayan nito na ang mga galamay ni Duterte ay walang pakundangang ginagamit ang kanilang mga armas sa mga sibilyan, pati na sa mga artista ng bayan. Pilit na nililimitahan ng sistemang ito ang mga artistang lumilikha ng makabuluhang sining na tumutuligsa sa kanilang paghahari-harian. Sapagkat kapag ang mga piraso ng mga obra ay pinagtagpi-tagpi, maaari itong maging instrumento ng pagbabago.

Makakabuo ang kanilang sining ng mensaheng makapagbubuklod sa masa at makapagpapatumba sa kasalukuyang bulok na sistema.

Sa Internet Matatandaan din noong nakaraang Hulyo na nagtrending ang #Tumindig post ni Tarantadong Kalbo sa iba’t ibang social media platforms.

Larawan ito ng mga taong hugis kamao na nakaluhod n g u n i t mayroong

isang pumiling tumindig. Sinundan ng mga netizen ang post na ito ng samu’t saring komento at reaksiyon na ‘domino’ ang naging epekto.

Ayon sa isang panayam kay Kevin Raymundo, artista sa likod ng Tarantadong Kalbo, hindi lamang siya gumagawa ng sining para lamang sa estetika – gustuhin man natin o hindi, ito ay laging politikal.

Hindi maitatangging politikal ang sining sapagkat kaakibat nito ang sitwasyong naoobserbahan ng mga manlilikha sa lipunan.Likas itong pampulitika sapagkat nilikha ito ng mga taong may sariling pagkiling na naninirahan sa politikal na mundo.

Dulot ng mala-pyudal at malakolonyal na sistemang umiiral sa ating bansa, naluluwalhati ang mga nararanasang paghihirap sa lipunan na karamihang naitatampok sa mga sining. Ika nga ni Alice Guillermo, ang sining ay hindi pumapagitna dahil nanggagaling ito sa mga tunggalian na nararanasan sa lipunan.

Sining sa Bawat Sulok Ngayon, batid ko na ang sining ay hindi maikakahon sa ideyang pangestetik lamang – higit itong lumalalim sa tuwing nagagampanan nito ang kaniyang pinakalayunin. Iba-iba man ang kahulugan ng sining sa mundo, mas nagkakaroon ng silbi ang sining kung nailalaan ang esensiya nito sa pagpapalaya at hindi sa pagsisilbi sa iilan lamang.

Sa kaliwa’t kanang pagputol sa mga kamay ng mga pintor, sa pwersahang pag-aresto sa mga artistang nais ipabatid ang kanilang mga obra, at sa walang habas na pagpatay sa mga artista ng bayan, nakatitiyak tayo na ang sining ay para sa kanilang ipinaglalaban.

Ito ay para sa taumbayan – hindi para sa pansariling interes ninuman kundi para sa makamasang sining na nakasandig sa pambansa at makamakamasang pagpapalaya. Ang sining ay para sa masa at sa mga susunod pang nais gumuhit nang malaya laban sa mga baril ng pasista gamit ang bumabahang pintura. ▼

Nang tapatan ng bumabahang

PAGE DESIGN JETHRO BRYAN ANDRADA

GRAPHICS ARMEL JAKE FLORES

PINTURA ang baril ng mga PASISTA WORDS JETRO PAJO

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FEATURES NEWS 19 3

Kindling wildfires a set of

WORDS JUSTINE RHYS MARTIREZ

Amid a global health crisis, Duterte found it best to add more torment to the people—signing Executive Order No. 130 that lifts the ban on large-scale mining. The said law lifts the 9-year ban on new mining agreements and orders the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to review existing mining contracts “for possible renegotiation.”

However, this means allowing mining companies previously closed by former Environment Secretary Gina Lopez to resume their operations—a move environmentalists condemned due to its looming environmental degradation.

One such closed company is the Nueva Vizcaya-based coppergold mine OceanaGold Philippines Inc., formerly shut down in 2019 for continuing operations despite permit expiration as well as human rights and environmental violations. The local government and indigenous peoples were relieved then; however, Duterte this year approved the renewal of its 25-year mining permit.

The fire was sort of extinguished, but Duterte is keen on letting it burn again. After all, it only takes one lit matchstick to start a series of wildfires.

received closure orders while five were suspended for committing “serious environmental violations.”

But four years later, they continued to operate, an apparent display of this administration’s ‘culture of nonimplementation.’

The National Economic and Development Authority declared Nueva Vizcaya a “watershed haven and agroforestry hub”—the “life support system” of Region 2 and its neighboring areas, serious reasons why Governor Carlos Padilla had appealed to discontinue the mining operations because Didipio and Runruno need protection as subwatersheds of the Cagayan River.

However, these watersheds are in critical danger. In 2018, the Institute for Policy Studies and MiningWatch Canada revealed that elevated levels of toxic minerals such as manganese, arsenic, and selenium, among many others, were found in rivers and streams around the mine, gravely affecting marine life in the surrounding waterways.

The report also revealed that over 100 native hardwood trees around the site died due to OceanaGold’s tailings, but the company had no intentions to reforest. They failed to refute the findings; yet, it is still set to operate.

Burning the environment In 2016, Lopez ordered an audit of 41 large-scale mines in the country—23

Incinerating human rights The Duterte admin’s infamous crackdown on activists includes

PAGE DESIGN JETHRO BRYAN ANDRADA

environment and land defenders. The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development documented at least 98 cases of “attacks, intimidation, and harassment against human rights defenders in the Philippines… 27 were killings that mostly targeted land and environmental defenders.”

Global Witness also reported in 2019 that the Philippines had the highest number of killings of land and environmental defenders with 30, 16 of which were mining-related deaths—making the country “one of the worst places in Asia for attacks against defenders.”

For OceanaGold, a 2011 Commission on Human Rights (CHR) report revealed that the company violated the “Right to Residence... of several Didipio residents,” with the demolitions done with “unnecessary violence and destruction” as “houses had been bulldozed off cliffs and set on fire.”

With violence undertaken for their operation, it is a big question mark why the Duterte admin set off to continue its renewal when such cases may happen in the future, especially that they do not enforce the laws to these large companies as they do the Filipino people.

Smoldering indigenous peoples and their domains The Philippines is enchanted with unique and bountiful natural resources that mining companies always targeted. However, these

GRAPHICS JETHRO BRYAN ANDRADA

e n d o w e d areas are mostly indigenous peoples’ ancestral domains—a minority that Duterte and past presidents repeatedly exploited.

OceanaGold’s renewal came after the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples issued a Certificate of Non-Overlap indicating that the mining area is outside the ancestral domain of the Bugkalot tribe, a move that Alyansa Tigil Mina strongly denounced.

“The NCIP has neglected to promise and protect the rights of indigenous communities – the Bungkalots, the Tuwalis, and the Ifugao – who are residing and living in their ancestral domains affected by the mines,” they said.

OceanaGold is also infamous for violating indigenous rights. The 2011 CHR report revealed that the company caused the demolition of 187 houses in Didipio, resulting in these families’ displacement, “the majority... were forced to leave Didipio for good and abandon their indigenous community, customs, traditions, and way of life.”

Now with the law in effect, more indigenous peoples around the country will suffer from the dire effects that new mining companies will bring.

As the country suffers under a devastating health crisis, Duterte decided to add this to his arsenal of incompetence. With several wildfires waiting to happen, it is not only the environment that will burn down—as fire razes everything and everyone.

But if we burn, they will not burn with us—as they are cowards who run away from the damages they caused. ▼

20 LATHALAIN

Tomo 47 Isyu 1 September 2021

Kung wala ng kwenta at bulok na ang pesteng puno, dapat nang tibagin at patayin ang ugat. Huwag lang bawasan ang mga sanga. Ganoon din sa gobyernong puno ng katiwalian. Kung ang tatapyasin lang ay pili at iilan, hindi ito mawawala hangga’t hindi tinatanggal ang pinaka-ugat ng pang-aabuso.

Kamakailan, ang pag-aalburuto ni Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III matapos umanong “warakin” ng Commision on Audit (COA) ang reputasyon ng kanyang departamento ay hindi nakaligtas sa malikhaing imahinasyon ng mapang-asar na mga Pilipino. Ginawang meme at punchline ang mga kawalang-hiyaan ng mga opisyal bilang pagkundena ng kanilang kamalian. Gaya nang paggamit ng “Mañanita” at “Voltes V” matapos magdiwang ang dating PNP Chief Debold Sinas ng kanyang kaarawan sa kabila ng pagpapatupad ng social distancing at pagbawal sa mga pagtitipon dala ng COVID-19.

Ang paglabag ni Sinas at pagaalburto ni Duque ay pagpapakita ng kapabayaan at pagsasawalang-bahala nila sa kapanakan at sa kahirapang dinadanas ng mga mamamayan na matinding naapektuhan ng pandemiya.

Habang si Sinas ay malayang nakakapagdiwang ng kaarawan sa kabila ng pagtaas ng kaso ng COVID-19, may mga Pilipinong hindi makalabas ng bahay upang maghanap-buhay. At habang si Duque ay umiiyak sa kanyang “nawarak” na reputasyon, may mga healthcare workers na nagmamakaawang dagdagan ang kakarampot na tulong na bigay ng DOH. Ngunit, sa kabila ng mga kapalpakan at kapabayaang ito, nanatili pa rin sina Sinas at Duque sa pwesto. Naging malaking salik ang pagtatanggol at pagdepensa pa ng sarili nating pangulo sa kanilang kapabayaan.

Sa hindi pagtanggap ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa panawagang patalsikin sila, pinagtitibay ng kanyang administrasyon ang katiwalian sa gobyerno.

Sa insidenteng ito, makikita natin ang naging papel ng pangulo sa pagpapatuloy at paglawak ng tiwaling pamahalaan

minsan niyang pinangakong magiging malinis ang pamamalakad. Pinapakita ng pagsasanggalang ng pangulo sa kanyang mga kakampi na anumang kamalian na kanilang ginawa at magagawa ay ipagtatanggol niya.

Kaya naman, kahit na tapyasin ang mga bulok na sanga’t tangkay, magpapatuloy lang ang pagdami nila hangga’t nabubuhay ang puno. Matanggal man sa posisyon ang ilan, ay magpapatuloy pa rin ang katiwalian hanggang di napapanagot at patuloy ang paglalim ng ugat ni Duterte sa gobyerno. Ang pababago sa sistema ng pamamahala ay dapat nakatuon sa kung sinong namumuno at ugat nito.

Nananatili ang kanilang depensa hangga’t nasa kanila ang kapangyarihan.

Nakatalaga sa Saligang Batas ng Pilipinas na bilang pribilehiyo ng pagkakaluklok, ligtas ang presidente sa anumang paratang ng pakakasala sa batas habang siya ay nakaupo sa pwesto. Kaugnay dito, nagpahayag si Duterte ng planong pagtakbo bilang Bise Presidente sa darating na halalan. Pinaliwanag niya sa pagtitipon ng PDP-Laban noong Hulyo 17 na ang pagtakbo niya ay para maka-iwas sa nakaambang mga kaso sa kanya kaugnay ng paglabag sa mga karapatang pantao ng ibinandera niyang “war on drugs.”

Pinaliwanag naman ni UP Law dean Atty. Pacifico Agabin na nakabase lang ang ideya presidential immunity sa mga desisyon ng Korte Suprema.

“Maraming duties at functions ang Presidente kaya hindi siya dapat maistorbo upang harapin lang ‘yung mga criminal or civil actions na naka-file sa kaniya. Kaya, meron siyang immunity from suit,” saad niya.

Kaya naman para sa Bise Presidente, hindi lubos at nakaangkop lamang sa sitwasyon ang pagbibigay ng immunity.

“Meron silang qualified immunity in the sense na puwede silang makasuhan pero puwede nilang ipadi-dismiss ‘yung kaso kung ma-prove nila na ‘yung aksiyon na ‘yun in question sa kasong ‘yun eh classified under official functions,” pagpapaliwanag ng dekano.

puno ng katiwalian: pag-aalaga at pagpapalago ng kabulukan SULAT NI JAN PEARL EAZRYE REYES

DISENYO NG PAHINA HANNAH ANDREA VALIENTE

DIBUHO MARIA CLAIRYLLE FLORENTIN

“

Ang pagdami ng mga sanga ng kurapsyon at pangaabuso ng administrasyon ay hindi mahihinto sa pagpapabagsak ng mga nasa puwesto at patuloy na pagkundena lamang.

Ang pagpapahayag ni Duterte ng kanyang muling pagtakbo upang makaiwas sa mga pananagutan niya sa batas ay patunay na ang serbisyo niya ay hindi para sa bayan kung hindi para sa kanyang pansariling interes at interes ng kanyang mga alipores. Sa pagpapatuloy niya sa kapangyarihan, ang pagdedepensa, pagsuporta, at pagpapanatili ng mga tiwaling opisyal at maling sistema ay maaaring magpatuloy pa.

Ang pagdami ng mga sanga ng kurapsyon at pangaabuso ng administrasyon ay hindi mahihinto sa pagpapabagsak ng mga nasa puwesto at patuloy na pagkundena lamang. Kasabay ng pagpuntirya sa ugat ng katiwalian, kailangan na rin itigil ang pagtatanim ng bunga ng bulok na puno.

Ang pagluklok muli sa mga kagaya ni Duterte at ng kanyang mga alipores ay pagsisimula lang ng bagong siklo ng pangaabuso. Upang makamit ang reporma at tunay na demokrasya, kailangang siguraduhin na ang mga opisyal na ating ilalagay sa puwesto ay hindi kasing bulok ng dating puno. Mabuting isaalangalang sa nalalapit na halalan ang mga namumunong tunay na tumayo para taumbayan. ▼

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FEATURES 21

GOING BACK TO

a crumbling home WORDS IMARI JAZMINE TAMAYO

The life of an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) has always been romanticized. Many Filipinos believe that families with OFWs live glamourous lives; imported goods, expensive gadgets, and branded clothes are the things that always catch people’s eyes. They often forget the sacrifices made in exchange for these things.

For years, many OFWs have endured being away from their families because of the lack of opportunities in our country. A foreign environment, lonely nights, and unsafe working conditions are only a few challenges that they face once they leave our borders.

Some even encounter fake companies and abusive owners that prevent them from returning home.

Despite these risks, the government continued to push for many Filipinos’ departures. In 2018 alone, it was estimated that there are 2.3 million OFWs all over the world.

The reason behind this is the strong remittance inflows that they provide the country with.

These remittances help alleviate poverty, provide stable cash flow and circulation, and allows the country to withstand financial crises.

Because of their sacrifices, OFWs were named the country’s modern-day heroes.

However, now that they are the ones in need, who will be there to save them?

A Bitter Homecoming It has always been every OFW’s dream to come home to the Philippines. However,

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OWWA showed the grievances and difficulties that they had when applying for these benefits.

Some OFWs said that they were asked to provide several documents to confirm their eligibility for the benefits. Others said that it has already been months since they submitted their requirements but they have not yet heard from the agency. The lack of urgency on behalf of the government deprives these citizens of they expected to come back the benefits that they are entitled to have. when they have already improved their families’ financial status. No Need for Renovations The Philippine government has always one predicted that their means praised OFWs for their endless contribution of income would be taken away to the country’s economy. However, gratitude without any warning. should not stop with mere words.

The pandemic did not only The government should step up its affect the world’s healthcare. It programs in making sure that every OFW also affected many companies and returns to the Philippines safely.

They should businesses that provided for many have a sense of urgency when it comes to Filipinos abroad. Many OFWs were repatriating our fellow men who are stranded laid off and were forced to come back to abroad.

Moreover, quarantine facilities and the Philippines. swab tests should be readily available to As of August 2021, the Overseas Workers ensure everyone’s safety.

Transportation to Welfare Administration (OWWA) reported that their home provinces should be provided as 654,546 OFWs have been repatriated since the pandemic began. However, there are still well.

Accessible and consistent financial many Filipinos who are stranded abroad. assistance should be given to OFWs. We As of July 2021, almost 50,000 OFWs should respond to the urgent needs of the worldwide are still waiting to be sent home people and junk the lengthy bureaucratic according to the Department of Labor system that delays the distribution of and Employment (DOLE). Moreover, the assistance.

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) admitted In the long run, the government should that the shortage of quarantine facilities provide better opportunities within the prevents them from helping OFWs in coming country to every citizen. Filipinos deserve home faster. to live comfortably without being away from their families. They should never need to Airing the Dirty Laundry The government reassured many displaced leave the Philippines just to put food on the OFWs that their needs will be provided for table.

For years, Overseas Filipino Workers once they come back to the country. However, have kept the country afloat through their these promises began to vanish one by one. sacrifices.

It is only right to provide for them The “DOLE-AKAP for OFWs” promised now that they are the ones in need. ▼ a PHP 10,000 cash assistance to displaced OFWs. This cash assistance program began back in April 2020 but many OFWs said that they have not yet received this benefit.

Last March, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) also urged displaced OFWs to file for loan programs to start their small business. Despite loans being available, not every OFW has the capability to grow a business. Applying for loans without any stable source of income may lead to bankruptcy and further debt.

Even if OFWs would want to avail these benefits, they must go through a lengthy process before receiving these aids. Various Facebook comments found in the posts of

GRAPHICS CHELSIE ASUNCION

upboutcrop You must have heard about it, stories of armed men on the hunt, raiding houses at the dead hours of midnight. They come barging at your doorstep with a death note in hand.

And like a well-rehearsed magic trick, they suddenly pull out a rifle, a hand grenade, or small gun out of nowhere. A few words describe the outcomes that result after — illegal arrests, killings, and massacres.

From war on drugs to war on dissenters Cut from the very same cloth which created Oplan Tokhang, the raids employ very similar tactics to the notorious drug operations. But instead of planted drugs, victims are planted with explosives and firearms; killed victims are also framed as ‘nanlaban’ encounters. At least a small grenade is uncannily seized in these raids to ensure that targets are charged with illegal possession of explosives as this is a non-bailable offense which means victims are sent straight into jail.

According to human rights group Karapatan, as of March 2021, there have been 1,205 victims of illegal search and seizure since Duterte took office. A chunk of these reported searches were

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upboutcrop@gmail.com conducted just after the pandemic had struck, usually targeting offices of progressive organizations and the homes of union leaders and peasant organizers.

Among these raids were the ‘Tumandok Massacre’ in 2020, where nine indigenous leaders were killed and 17 others were arrested; the ‘Bloody Sunday’ in the Southern Tagalog region which resulted in the arrest of six individuals and killing of nine including known labor leader Manny Asuncion; and crackdowns in Metro Manila and in Northern Luzon where known victims include mothers Reina Mae Nasino, whose three-month old child’s death, baby River, sparked massive outrage from the public, and Amanda Echanis, the daughter of slain activist Randall Echanis.

Free pass to abuse Search warrants contain the place to be searched, the names of the persons involved, and the items to be seized. It is applied for by a witness under the grounds of having probable cause. This judicial mechanism however is prone to abuse. Most of the applications are submitted by law enforcers themselves and probable cause, accompanied by the affirmation of an accomplice judge, can be easily concocted for a specific target.

Moreover, most of the search warrants issued in these raids come from

WORDS ADRIANNE PAUL ANIBAN

courts outside their region making it nearly impossible to be predicted.

The implementation of these searches are also very questionable.

In the case of arrested activist Pol Viuya, it was said that the recovered grenade was found casually hanging in his window. Other silly reports include firearms or explosives that were seized under a pillow, inside an eco bag with brown rice, and on a shelf along with ‘sari-sari’ items.

Progressive groups point at the surge in the arrests and killings of activists to the factory-like production of search warrants by the very same judges. It was Quezon City Executive Judge Cecilyn Burgos Villavert who was behind the Bacolod and Manila arrests in 2019, and the Human Rights 7 arrests in December 2020. While Manila First Vice Executive Judge Jose Lorenzo dela Rosa and Manila Regional Trial Court Judge Jason Zapanta issued search warrants in the crackdown in the Southern Tagalog region.

Justice yet to be served.

Due to persistent calls for the review of search warrant issuance, much needed correction was made when the Supreme Court limited the power of executive judges to issue warrants only within their region’s jurisdiction, stated in a

PAGE DESIGN KESSHAMMINNE CARREON

memorandum released last July 19. This includes an amendment requiring the use of body cameras by police during the execution of warrants. There have also been reports of legal wins such as the quashing of the search warrants issued by the mentioned search warrant factories by courts in Capiz, Bacolod, and Mandaluyong.

Justice however is far from achieved.

Many of the arrested remain in jail even in the midst of the pandemic, not to mention the countless lives that have already been taken.

Moreover, the bloodstained hands of the law enforcers and judges behind these raids continue to run free and are left unpenalized.

The search warrants have become Duterte’s personal death note, listing those who’d dare to oppose him – instituting a de facto martial law regime to maintain his hold of power.

But true power is within the people.

As elections draw near, may we look back into the countless deaths brought by the administration’s rabid attacks on the people. Let us seek justice for the people that have been terrorized by holding the people behind these attacks accountable so that the next names that are written in the death note are no other than the names of Duterte and that of his allies. ▼

GRAPHICS ADRIANNE PAUL ANIBAN