UPLB Perspective Vol. 47, Issue 2 (January 9, 2021)

JA N UA RY 9, 2 02 1

U P L B P E R S P EC T I V E

M A G S U L A T. M A G L I N G KO D. M A G PA L A YA .

◆ TA O N 47, B LG. 2

U P L B P E R S P E C T I V E .O R G

DOUBLE ISSUE 20 PA G E S

NEWS | 3-7

PAMANANG KULTUR A SA TAY TAY

FEATURES | 8-15

DEFENDING THE ENVIRONMENT FROM EXPLOITERS

KWADRADO | 10-13

2020: THE YEAR THAT WAS, IN PICTURES CULTURE | 16-17

BUILT BY HUMANS, CONTROLLED

BY ROBOTS

OPINION | 18-19

HINDI TERORISTA ANG MESSIAH

EDITORIAL | 2

THE YEAR WHEN FASCISTS FALL ●

2

EDITORIAL

S I N C E 1 97 3 • TA O N 47, B LG. 2 Ang opisyal na pahayagan ng mga magaaral ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Los Baños Silid 11, 2nd Floor Student Union Building, Mariano M. Mondonedo Avenue, UPLB 4031 EDITORIAL perspective.uplb@up.edu.ph OPINION opinion.uplbperspective@gmail.com ORGWATCH orgwatch.uplbperspective@gmail.com Miyembro, UP Systemwide Alliance of Student Publications and Writers’ Organizations (UP Solidaridad) at ng College Editors’ Guild of the Philippines (CEGP)

JA N UA RY 9, 2 02 1 | U P L B P E R S P EC T I V E .O R G

MARK ERNEST FAMATIGAN Punong Patnugot SONYA MARIELLA CASTILLO Kapatnugot FELIPA CHENG AT DIANNE SANCHEZ Mga Tagapamahalang Patnugot REUBEN PIO MARTINEZ Patnugot ng Balita MICHAEL JAMES MASANGYA Patnugot ng Lathalain SOPHIA PUGAY Patnugot ng Kultura IAN RAPHAEL LOPEZ Patnugot ng Produksyon JERMAINE VALERIO Kapatungot sa Grapiks

CYRIL CHAYANNE CHAN Kapatungot sa Litrato GERARDO JR. LAYDIA Kapatnugot sa Paglalapat KENNLEE OROLA Patnugot ng Opinyon PATRICE BIANCA YAPJOCO Patnugot sa Online KENNETH REMENTILLA Patnugot ng Orgwatch AESHA SARROL Tagapamahala ng Sirkulasyon JAMES JERICHO BAJAR Tagapamahala ng Pinansya

M GA K A WA N I Juan Sebastian Evangelista, Kristine Paula Bautista, Dean Carlo Valmeo, Andrei Gines, Ruben Belmonte, Lora Noreen Domingo, Caleb Buenaluz, Joaquin Gonzalez IV, Taj Lagulao, Gabriel Dolot, Noreen Kay Donato, Claire Denise Sibucao, Jed Matthew Palo, Abel Genovaña, Caren Malaluan, Ma. Victoria Almazan, Paul Carson, Angelin Ulayao, Aubrey Carnaje, Lindsay Peñaranda, Charles Alison Rivera, Giancarlo Morrondoz, Dayniele Loren, Carla Isabelle Dela Cruz, Aron Jan Mitchell Sierva, Beyonce Anne Marie Nava, Reignne Francisco, Michael Ian Bartido, Zea Ancheta, Vince Villanueva, Jonas Atienza, Shane Rachel del Rosario, Antonio Enrique Ongdueco DIBUHO NG PABALAT Aubrey Carnaje

The year when fascists fall

W

hen clocks struck midnight, all the world was in celebration. Our glasses raised as we waited for the horns to honk and for the children to cheer every New Year’s Day in the hopes that once we wakeup the next morning, we can smile and hope for something better.

But even with the lights and glamour that one would expect every year’s end, 2020 will forever be remembered in infamy rather than with fervor. It almost started with a bang, with the world nearly catching fire thanks to increasing fears of a then possible third world conflict and with the eruption of Taal Volcano shrouding the whole Southern Tagalog in ash. Then, we found ourselves drowning.

It took the indecisiveness and growingly apparent criminal negligence of health secretary Francisco Duque III for the Philippines to be caged in one of the longest lockdowns in Southeast Asia. As Duque and his equally out-of-touch cohorts took a shot at downplaying the initial pandemic situation, the Filipinos had to deal with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) stealing about P15 billion from clients, a snail-paced accreditation process for testing facilities that made mass testing that much more difficult to manage, and a healthcare system that has since been outnumbered and penniless in the hopes that they could save as much lives as they could.

The reward for health workers’ valor could not have been any more insulting: a toast for the “heroes” that they have left for dead.

Even after months of roasting even from the likes of his fellow government officials, Duque is yet again mocked for “dropping the ball” on a deal with Pfizer, which could have provided the Philippines early access to a steady supply of vaccines.

How his fascist regime made a killing out of the health sector in 2020 was only the cherry on top, as private corporations found this to be the right time to claim the homes of farmers and fishers for their own.

Cavite for instance is a hotspot for development aggression and reclamation attempts, with about 700 fisher families or more faced with the possibility of being driven out of their homes thanks to Bacoor mayor Lani Mercado Revilla’s 320-hectare reclamation and development project. Even in areas such as in Lupang Ramos in Dasmariñas, Lupang Aguinaldo in Silang, and Sitio Silangan in Bacoor were the receiving ends of harassment from private corporations who seek their lands for personal gain.

Lest one would forget the controversy that blew-up following one massive blaze that

[P] GRAPHIC BY JERMAINE VALERIO

2020 will never be remembered as another year done. Instead, it will be remembered as our ultimate hangover, our reality check, our withdrawal from the state’s deception and suppression. But 2021 can be better.

burned a massive portion of Brgy. Sineguelasan in Bacoor to a crisp, with the community also being plagued by arson attempts and other fire cases. While land-grabbing goes beyond Cavite, including in Batangas and Calamba, none such incidents the regime found any energy to look into. An injustice to the farmers who have fought for their rights to keep their homes.

While jeepney drivers decried “Phaseout King” Duterte for letting them starve in the streets, those who have been tasked with reporting the whole truth and nothing but have been treated like lambs to the slaughter, with one September week being defined by various attacks on journalists, from arrests to killings all across the country. However, it would take the shutdown of the massive ABS-CBN network to shake the general population to their core.

As the fires of the early half of the year slowly died out, the reign of fire later brought rain of blood as powerful stirred winds made

way for a series of storms. Without the broadcasting might of ABS-CBN’s Regional network, the whole Southern Tagalog and the rest of the Philippines would be kept in the dark from the carnage that typhoons Rolly and eventually Ulysses wrought.

Bicol and Cagayan among other areas were drowning in flash floods, and the rest of the country was drowning in a bloodbath. One that was brought upon by the latest cocktail from Duterte’s ivory tower.

Amid calls for mass testing and a less militarized response to the pandemic, Duterte and his fellow lapdogs raised their glasses for the signing of the Terror Law, whose vague measures on what counts as “free speech” and as “terrorist plotting” made it easy for state agents to randomly tag anyone as an armed rebel or a terrorist even if they had no concrete evidence to their claims. Such was an act that made it clear to many that the regime’s priorities never lied with the people’s own.

Even before it was signed, there was definitely buzz surrounding the bill, since the ghosts of Duterte‘s 2016 War on Drugs still haunt and scream “murder” even in our times. With one signature, Duterte’s legacy will be defined by the arrests and most infamously, the many who have died from the culture of impunity Duterte himself popularized among the police and the military.

If it were not a peace consultant being killed in his own Quezon City home, it would be the lone doctor in Negros and her husband the next day, or attorneys, indigenous peoples (IPs) loving mother and her son. All throughout, they were deemed as bricks for Duterte’s empire.

Even as the year reached its natural conclusion, the waters of the storms, by the power vested upon by Duterte their messiah, became wine. That wine was their propaganda, served to the masses to hammer in their version of reality. The flavor was resiliency and misplaced optimism, weaponized for the students to continue studying in a doomedto-fail online class set-up, for the citizens to drown their sorrows into the night and pray that they wake-up to a true sunrise.

The cup was overflowing, but the taste was sour, rotten, and evil.

2020 will never be remembered as another year done. Instead, it will be remembered as our ultimate hangover, our reality check, our withdrawal from the state’s deception and suppression. But 2021 can be better.

May our new year’s resolution be to not let another year pass without removing the venom in our nation’s soul. Let 2021 be the year fascists fall.

NEWS

U P L B P E R S P EC T I V E .O R G | JA N UA RY 9, 2 02 1

3

Barikada sa Lupang Ramos, nagtagumpay Mga magsasaka, itinayo ang barikada laban sa napipintong pagpapaalis sa kanila ng NGCP N I CA R L A I SA B E L L E C R U Z

UPLB Perspective Staff Writer

Ang mga magsasaka at residente ng Lupang Ramos ay binati ng isang mabuting balita ng tatlong araw bago mag-Pasko: pinatigil na ang sapilitang pagpapaalis sa kanila. Ito ay matapos sila’y nagsama-sama muli upang mas mapaigting ang panawagan at paghahayag ng pagtutol sa inisyal na pagpapalayas noong Disyembre.

Matagal nang hinaing ng mga magsasaka ng Lupang Ramos sa Dasmariñas, Cavite ang patuloy na pang-aabuso sa kanila. Mula noong dekada ‘90, samu’t saring pagpapahirap na ang kanilang dinanas sa kamay ng kapulisan at ng pamilyang Ramos na kumakamkam ng lupang ang mga magsasaka ang mismong nagpapayabong.

Sinubukang sirain at lagyan ng barikada ang lupain at tinutulan ng pamilyang Ramos ang mandato ng Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) na nagpapatupad na mailipat sa pangalan ng mga magsasakang naninilbihan kay Emerito Ramos Sr. ang titulo ng Lupang Ramos.

Ang inaakalang paghihirap ng mga taga-Lupang Ramos noon ay dinugtungan ng mas malaki pang dagok na paparating nang taong 2018, ay nakarinig ng putok ng baril ang mga magsasaka na nagmula sa mga armadong lalaking pilit inaangkin ang lupa. Ngayong Hulyo ay naulit na naman ang ganitong tagpo nang muling binisita ng pitong lalaki ang bahay ng isang residente at pumilit pumasok sa kadahilanang may hinahanap umano ito.

Hindi muling nakaligtas ang mga residente nang bigyan sila ng “Notice to Vacate” mula sa National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) at National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR) na nagbabalak tayuan ng tore ng kuryente ang lupa kung saan ilang taon nang naninilbihan at nanirahan ang mga magsasaka.

Ilang dekada man ang nakalipas magmula

Nagkasa ng kilos protesta ang mga residente at magsasaka upang mas mapaigting ang panawagan sa pagdepensa sa Lupang Ramos LITRATO MULA SA ANAKBAYAN CAVITE / FACEBOOK

nang unang nakaranas ng pang-aapi ang mga taga-Lupang Ramos ay hindi pa rin ito humuhupa. Kung tutuusin ay lumalala pa sa patuloy na pananakot sa mga magsasakang ang hangad lang ay agraryong reporma.

Kamakailan lang ay nagsagawa ng barikada ang mga magsasaka at residente ngayong ika-21 hanggang ika-22 ng Disyembre. Bago man iyon, bumuo ng online protest ang mga progresibo kung saan ipinahayag ng iba’t ibang mga organisasyon ang kanilang mariin na pagtutol sa napipintong proyekto ng NGCP bilang pakikiisa sa mga mamamayan sa Lupang Ramos.

Ayon sa nakasaad sa Notice to Vacate na ibinigay sa mga residente, hanggang sa ika-22 ng Disyembre na lang ang ibinigay na palugit upang manatili sa lugar ngunit wala man lang lugar na maari nilang malipatan.

Binabalot ng takot ang mga naninirahan

dito sa maaari nilang kahinatnan matapos ang taon ngunit patuloy ang kanilang pakikibaka at pag-asang makakamit rin nila ang karapatan sa lupang para sa kanila.

“Sasalubungin ng ating mga magsasaka ang kapaskuhan nang puno ng pangamba sa kung ano ang kanilang kahaharapin ngayong may nang muli ang lupang sakahan nila,” ayon sa Anakbayan EAC. Sa harap ng pandemya at sunod-sunod na sakuna, walang humpay ang pagsasagawa ng mga ganitong klaseng demolisyon imbis na magpaabot ng ayuda.

Para sa mga magsasaka, hindi makatarungan ang pilit na pagpapalayas, lalo na’t may kakayanan pala ang gobyerno na magbigay ng lupa dahil pinahintulutan nila ang NGCP na magtayo ng tore pero pag para sa mga magsasaka ay hindi nila maibigay.

Ang mismong mga kamay na kanilang

itinataas sa protesta ang mismong mga kamay na nag-aani ng pagkaing kinakain ng ilang Pilipino sa araw-araw. 372 hektarya ng lupa at 500 pamilya ang napipintong mawalan ng tirahan at kabuhayan. Hindi lang ito basta basta mga numero na maaaring isantabi.

Sila ay kadalasang naisasantabi sa lipunan pero sa pagkakataong ito na sila ang naaagrabyado, sila ay nananawagan na makiisa sa kanilang laban na depensahan ang lupang agrikultural dahil ito na lang ang nag-iisang malawak na lupang agrikultural sa Dasmariñas.

Hinihimok ng mga progresibong organisasyon tulad ng KASAMA-LR ang mga mamamayan lalo na ang mga kabataan na alamin ang kahalagahan ng magsasaka at panatilihin ang lupang agrikultural, dahil anila ang pagkain ng sambayanan ay nagmumula sa tanim ng mga magsasaka.

Five ‘NPA’ slain by cops actually mango farm workers

BY NOREEN KAY DONATO

UPLB Perspective Staff Writer

The national state of impunity continues hitting new lows with a report from human rights alliance Karapatan Timog Katagalugan (TK) revealing that five individuals from Baras, Rizal and suspected New People’s Army (NPA) members were never insurgents after all.

It was at 2 AM, December 17, when mango farm workers including a minor were all massacred in a shootout in Brgy. San Juan, Baras, Rizal by elements of the 2nd Infantry Division and Philippine National Police (PNP) of Region IV-A. The alliance explained that, in contrast to what was said by authorities on social media, neighbors identified them as only caretakers, crop sprayers, and guards of a mango farm on the said barangay for about three years now. Three of the slain, namely

Bakit kaya sapilitang pinababa ng kapulisan ang humanitarian team sa sasakyan nito? Para raw i-check at inspeksyunin? Sa anong dahilan? Para taniman ng ebidensiya at idawit sa gawa-gawang kaso?

K A R A PA TA N T I M O G K A TA G A L U G A N

Statement

Carlito Zonio, Vilma Salabao, and Wesley Obmerga, were found in Antipolo Memorial Homes, while the other two, Jonathan and Niño Alberga, were reportedly returned to their families earlier. The alliance ended their report by pleading to the Commission of Human Rights (CHR) and other human rights organizations to investigate the matter so as to relieve the families of anxiety in waiting to retrieve their bodies.

“We are hopeful that enemies of human rights who made the brutal crime possible will be put into jail and that families of the victims can finally bring home their loved ones to give them proper and decent burial as soon as possible,” they said, appealng to the Commission of Human Rights (CHR) and other himan rghts organizations to investigate the matter.

As per Karapatan-TK’s latest update on the case, the body of Salabao was reportedly

being “held hostage” by the AFP and PNP, following two weeks and seven different attempts to retrieve her body. The bodies of Zonio, Salabao, and Obmerga were yet to be claimed as the AFP and PNP were said to have required papers that proved the families as being related to the victims.

They added that the families and the alliance’s paralegal team were instructed to visit the Antipolo Police Station first so they will be ‘coordinated’ before going to Baras Municipal Police Station. Upon arriving at the Antipolo Police Station, however, the police allegedly harassed a Karapatan-TK member for just documenting the scene.

ONLINE

Visit uplbperspective.org

Read the full story on our website by scanning the QR code http://bit.ly/Baras5

4

NEWS FEATURE

Patuloy ang pagdepensa ng mga residente ng Taytay, Rizal sa isang isang 60-taong munisipiyo na tinuturing ng mga mamayan bilang isang pamana ng kasaysayan.

BY CHARLES ALLISON RIVERA

UPLB Perspective Staff Writer

Mariing tinutulan ng mga residente ng Taytay, Rizal ang demolisyon sa lumang munisipyo para bigyang-daan ang pagpapatayo ng Rizal Provincial Hospital Annex sa 60-taong pagkakatayo ng lumang gusali, itinuturing na itong pamana ng kasaysayan.

Protektado ng Republic Act 10066 o National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 ang mga istrukturang nakatayo sa loob ng higit 50 taon at idinedeklara ang mga ito bilang isang “Important Cultural Property” o ICP, kung saan ipinagbabawal ang anumang uri ng modipikasyon at paggiba.

Pinagtibay ito ng isang liham mula sa National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) noong ika-20 ng Nobyembre kung saan isinaad na dapat ipagbigay-alam sa NHCP at sa Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) ang anumang panukalang pagbabago sa istruktura nito.

Ngunit, sa kaparehong araw, sinimulan ang demolisyon na pinangunahan ng lokal na Pamahalaan ng Taytay at tila ipinagsawalang-bahala ang babalang ito ng NHCP. Sa kabila ng pagpabor ng Taytay Advocates of Cultural Heritage (TACH) sa proyekto, di umano’y pilit iniiba ng kanilang mga kritiko ang kanilang pinaglalaban, kung saan ipinalalabas na hindi sila sang-ayon sa pagpapatayo ng ospital.

Nilinaw ng TACH na hindi sila tutol sa pagpapatayo ng ospital. Ang hindi sinasang-ayunan ng grupo ay ang lokasyon ng proyekto, lalo’t higit ang pagsira sa lumang munisipyo na nagsilbi nang sentro ng bayan sa mahigit anim na dekada nitong pagkakatayo.

Maaari umanong gawan ng paraan ng Pamahalaang Bayan ng Taytay ang paghahanap sa lugar na pagtatayuan ng pinaplanong ospital, ngunit napili ito ng Sangguniang Bayan dahil ang lumang munisipyo ay wala na umanong “pakinabang”.

“There is no more historical value when it comes to that building, because it has been transformed into a modern building,” ani Mayor George Ricardo Gacula II sa isang panayam sa Daily Tribune.

Bakas ng nakaraan

Sa kabila ng pahayag ni Mayor Gacula, malaki pa rin ang halaga ng lumang gusali sa taumbayang nak-

JA N UA RY 9, 2 02 1 | U P L B P E R S P EC T I V E .O R G

PAMANANG

KULTURA

LITRATO MULA SA TAYTAY NI JUAN

agisnan na ang munisipyo.

Lingid sa kaalaman ng marami, itinuturing na itong isang “ancestral home” ng mga mamamayan ng Taytay. Ito ay dahil sa naging ambag nito sa paghubog sa karamihan.

Ang lumang munisipyo, bago naging sentro ng bayan, ay naging tahanan ng edukasyon, kung saan nakatayo ang unang primary school sa Taytay.

Ayon kay Jose Fernandez, isang local historian at miyembro ng TACH, sa makasaysayang lugar na ito namahay ang unang paaralan ng bayan na nakatayo na sa loob ng mahigit isang siglo. “That makes the entire site—building, monument, every piece of material in the surrounding heritage [site] of the town—which endured 120 years,” pahayag ni Fernandez.

Dagdag naman ni Kagawad Cruz, sa isang panayam ng Perspective, na parte ng pagkatao ng bawat Taytayeño ang gusaling tinitibag. “[Ito] ‘yung sinasabi namin na ‘it’s more than just a physical structure, it tells so many stories of our leaders’, and ito yung sumisimbolo ng gobyernong humubog sa pagkatao

Hindi lang ito physical structures, hindi lang ito building, pero isa itong simbolo ng ating bayan na bahagi ng pagkatao natin.

KG D . J O H N T O B I T C R U Z

Kagawad, Barangay Sta. Ana

namin.”

“Lahat ng mga batas na lumabas dahil sa munisipyo na ‘yan, hinubog niya kami bilang tao, bilang Taytayeño, so mabigat sa amin na nakikita na ginaganito lang yung […] na tinitibag lang siya basta-basta, nang hindi man lang tinanong yung taumbayan [kung] ‘okay lang ho ba sa inyo?’”, pahayag ni Cruz.

Ayon din sa Kagawad, magmula nang simulan ang demolisyon, marami sa kanyang mga kababayan ang nagkukuwento ng mga karanasan at istorya ng kadakilaan na naging bahagi na rin na kanilang kinalakhang kasaysayan. “Ang daming nagpadala sa amin ng mga lumang larawan nila sa munisipyo, ang daming lumalapit sa amin na nagkukuwento na noong araw, nag-aalay pa sila ng bulaklak [sa istatuwa ni Gat Jose] Rizal, ‘yung mga [kamag-anak] nagtrabaho doon sa lumang munisipyo, so may koneksyon yung mga tao doon sa gusali”, ani Cruz.

Dagdag pa ni Cruz, hindi na lang ito usapin ng pagiging ‘sentimental’ ukol sa istruktura na gigibain, pero napagtatanto ng mga mamamayan ng Taytay na may koneksyon ang kanilang pagkatao sa lumang gusali.

LITRATO MULA SA TAYTAY ADVOCATES OF CULTURAL HERITAGE

NEWS FEATURE

U P L B P E R S P EC T I V E .O R G | JA N UA RY 9, 2 02 1

5

Dagdag pa ni Cruz, makaaapekto rin ang pagtatayo ng ospital sa puwesto ng lumang gusali sa mga tradisyon ng simbahan, lalo’t higit ang palagiang pagbabaha sa paligid ng bayan.

Mula nang magkaroon ng bagong gusaling pangmunisipyo ng Taytay noong taong 2009, nagsilbi itong extension office building ng ilan sa mga tanggapan ng pamahalaang bayan. Hanggang sa araw ng demolisyon, may 250 hanggang 300 preso pa rin umano ang nakakulong sa lumang munisipyo at kamakailan lang sila nailipat. Higit pa rito, laking-dismaya sa mga tao ang demolisyon dahil wala umanong pasabi mula sa lokal na pamahalaan ng Taytay na gigibain na pala ang kanilang kinagawiang opisina ng transaksyon, at kung saan-saan inilagay ang mga opisinang ito.

Sa mismong araw ng demolisyon, may ilan pa ring residente na pumunta sa lumang munisipyo dahil dito namamalagi ang iba’t ibang government businesses tulad ng pagpo-proseso sa NBI clearance at pag-asikaso sa mga kliyente ng Bureau of Immigration.

Giit ni Cruz, hindi napaghandaan nang maayos ang magiging relokasyon ng mga opisinang ito lingid sa binabanggit ng Pamahalaang Bayan.

Mga hakbang para mapigil

Kahina-hinalang pagpili

Dahil patuloy pa rin ang pagkalat ng COVID-19 sa bansa, walang sinumang makatatanggi sa binabalak na proyekto ng pamahalaang panlalawigan ng Rizal na magkaroon ang bawat bayan sa probinsya ng ospital sa ilalim ng isang hospital system.

Sa kasalukuyan, iisang ospital lang ang pinatatakbo ng Taytay local government unit (LGU) na matatagpuan sa kanilang Poblacion; ang Taytay Emergency Hospital. Ito ay may nine-bed capacity na tumututok sa mga kasong kinakailangan ng agarang paggamot.

Sa pinaplanong pagpapatayo ng Rizal Provincial Hospital System-Annex (RPHS-Annex) sa bayan, madaragdagan ang mga mapagsisilbihan nitong residente bunsod ng 245-bed capacity ng panukalang proyekto.

Inihambing ni Kagawad Cruz ang kakulangan ng pasilidad ng Taytay sa bayan ng Cainta na may mga ospital nang itinayo na pinatatakbo ng kanilang pamahalaang bayan.

Bunsod nito, nanawagan ang lokal na pamahalaan ng Taytay na magkaroon ng pagpapatayo ng RPHS-Annex sa kanilang bayan. Inaprubahan ito ng pamahalaang panlalawigan ng Rizal Setyembre ng nakaraang taon.

Hindi lang ang pagiging ICP ng lumang gusali ang argumento ng mga tumututol sa demolisyon nito. Kuwento ni Kagawad Cruz, hindi idinulog ng sangguniang bayan sa mga residente ng Taytay ang naging desisyong ito. Ayon sa Section 11, Paragraph C ng Local Government Code of the Philippines, ang anumang opisina at pasilidad ng lokal na pamahalaan ay hindi maaaring ibahin ang paggamit o ilipat ang lokasyon nang walang nagaganap na pampublikong konsultasyon o referendum.

Ito ang kinukwestyon ni Cruz at ng TACH,

Ang paggigiba ng munisipiyo upang tayuan ng isang ospital ay mariing tinututulan ng mga residente ng Taytay, Rizal.

MGA LITRATO MULA SA TAYTAY ADVOCATES OF CULTURAL HERITAGE / FACEBOOK

Sa tamang oras, ang bawat bato ng gumuhong munisipyo, ay hustisyang pupukol sa mga tampalasang maysala!

S A V E TA Y TA Y ’ S A N C E S T R A L H O M E

Statement

dahilan upang punain ang kahina-hinalang desisyong ito ng sangguniang bayan.

Pabor sa proyekto, hindi sa puwesto

Nang tanungin ng Perspective kung may rekomendasyon ang kanilang grupo sa ibang mga lugar ng pagtatayuan, suhestyon ni Cruz; ang lokasyon sa lumang dumpsite sa Brgy. Muzon ang pinakamainam, dahil aniya, mas madali itong mapupuntahan ng mga mas nangangailangan ng atensyong-medikal, lalong-lalo na ng mga Taytayeñong nasa “laylayan”.

Kung ilalagay umano ang RPHS-Annex sa lokasyon ng lumang munisipyo, pangamba ng TACH at ni Cruz na magdudulot ito ng problema sa daloy ng trapiko sa paligid ng Poblacion. “Kinonsider kaya nila ‘yung mobility ng mga tao? Kung may emergency, makakarating ba kaagad sa lugar na ‘yan ‘yung mga pasyente?” pahayag ni Cruz.

Ang TACH ay patuloy na lumalaban para mahinto ang tuluyang pagwasak sa lumang gusali, kabilang na ang ilang legal na aksyon para sa pagpapatigil ng demolisyon.

Inihain ang reklamo sa Antipolo Regional Trial Court (RTC) noong Nobyembre para ipawalang-bisa ang Municipal Board Resolutions no. 74 at 84 na nagsasaad ng paglalaan sa lugar ng lumang munisipyo ng Taytay bilang lokasyon ng RPHS-Annex, gayundin ang kahilingang maglabas ng Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) at Preliminary Injunction laban sa demolisyon.

Nagsampa na rin ang kanilang grupo ng formal complaint sa Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) laban sa Pamahalaang Bayan ng Taytay.

Makalipas ang ilang araw, hindi ipinagkaloob ng Antipolo RTC ang TRO dahil ang National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) umano ang may “primary jurisdiction” sa usapin ng cultural heritage.

Nitong ika-11 ng Disyembre, naglabas ng Cease and Desist Order (CDO) ang NHCP na nagpapahinto sa anumang uri ng demolisyon, renobasyon, o modipikasyon sa nasabing gusali. Kinumpirma ni Cruz ang pagtalima rito ng mga contractor ng demolisyon.

Sa mga huling ulat, itinuloy nitong Sabado, ika-19 ng Disyembre, ang paggiba sa lumang munisipyo, sa kabila ng CDO na inisyu ng NHCP. Makikita rin sa post ng TACH na tinanggal na ang rebulto ni Jose Rizal at ni “Inang Bayan” na nagsilbing mga simbolo ng gusaling naging bahagi na ng Kulturang Taytayeño.

Pahayag ni Cruz, mahalagang makita na ang mga pamana ng kasaysayan ay isang indikasyon ng identidad bilang mamamayan ng isang kultura at komunidad.

Sa huli, mahalaga rin umanong mamulat ang mga mamamayan sa kahalagahan ng mga pamana ng kasaysayan sa kasalukuyang henerasyon, dahil ito ang indikasyon ng tunay na pagmamahal sa bayan.

ONLINE

Visit uplbperspective.org

Read the full story on our website by scanning the QR code bit.ly/TaytayMunicipalHall

6

NEWS

JA N UA RY 9, 2 02 1 | U P L B P E R S P EC T I V E .O R G

Covid-19 crisis worsens, health workers struggling with measly wages and working conditions plead: do not treat us as mere statistics.

BY LORA NOREEN DOMINGO

UPLB Perspective Staff Writer

Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center Employees Union-Alliance of Health Workers (JRMCEU-AHW) president Cristy Donguines made one thing clear in a statement: “... stop calling us modern heroes, if behind the net is our pathetic state.”

Donguines’ comment was a cry among the chorus of health workers pleading for the state and its supporters to see them also as lives worth saving.

The AHW went into detail about the harsh realities that health practitioners had to endure in the pandemic, highlighting that the benefits provided by the government barely compensated for the sacrifices made and risks they take on a daily basis.

She cited the COVID-19 Special Risk Allowance (SRA) and the Actual Hazard Duty Pay (AHDP) which were provided only to health workers who were assigned specifically to COVID-19 areas or to handle COVID-19 patients. Specifically, the ADHP only amounts to P136 a day (roughly P3,000 a month). Meanwhile, the SRA provides only a maximum of P5,000 a month, with only P227 a day. Donguines explained that these guidelines were illogical, because the virus circulates everywhere and affects even all the health workers within the facility.

To amplify this call further, health workers gathered in front of the Department of Health’s (DOH) office gate last December 10, asserting their right to living wage, just benefits and compensation, security of tenure, and safe working conditions especially amid the pandemic.

‘STOP CALLING US

MODERN HEROES’

Spared all expenses

AHW said that workers employed in local government units (LGUs) are facing even worse working conditions because they receive even lower salaries than state-run hospitals depending on the LGU’s financial capacity.

This was reported to be true with the case of the health workers at the state-run Philippine General Hospital (PGH), who are still waiting for the COVID-19 AHDP and SRA that the government had promised them six months ago.

All UP Workers Union (AUPWU) public relations officer Joselle Ebesata said that about 16,000 health workers in government hospitals and other medical facilities in the entire country have not yet received their benefits.

In response to the call to release the benefits of health workers, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that the benefits were currently delayed because the institution ran out of funds. This was said to be because PGH was not granted an additional budget for 2020, and all its maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) had been spent because of the pandemic.

On the other hand, health workers from private hospitals were given only a day to submit all requirements to receive ADHP and SRA, or else the extra pay allotted for them

Health workers demand an appropriate wage and safer working conditions, amid the pandemic which puts them at the center of any effort to control it.

PHOTOS FROM ALLIANCE OF HEALTH WORKERS

had issued an Administrative Order forbidding the monetization of such fundings.

Nonetheless, DOH said that they will forward the health workers’ request for partial or full monetizations to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

DOH also clarified that their guidelines for SRA do not specify whom among health workers qualify for these benefits, and that it is up to the hospital management to decide and “certify” that the workers are indeed eligible.

This means that they may have to justify their decisions to the Commission of Audit (COA) post-audit. AHW pointed that the evasive and unclear responses of DOH shows their insincerity in securing the well-being of health workers.

Your health for their wealth

FOLLOW THE MONEY On September 14, AHW also gathered outside the House of Representatives to call for a closer scrutiny of the Department of Health’s budget for 2021.

P2.8 billion 23 hospitals had to cut their budgets, while there is also no provisions for regular free swab testing for health workers. For vaccines, only P2.5 billion are placed under the DOH’s programmable funds.

14,553 Source AHW Research Lora Domingo Design Gerard Laydia

will be forfeited. Unions from private hospitals in Metro Manila called for DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III, frequently slammed for his lax pandemic response management, to extend the deadline for the submission of requirements, saying it is impossible to prepare all necessary requirements in one day.

The health workers also pointed out that the department did not give any prior notice about the deadline or requirements necessary to receive their hazard pay. Instead, they only found out through a Powerpoint presentation.

To add to the health workers’ confusion, on December 7, DOH released Department Order 2020-0759, which supposedly provides meals and accommodation for health workers. The department order also specifies that the funds allocated for this purpose should be used before the year ends.

The AHW appealed that the funds supposedly for meals and accommodation be instead converted into a “monetary benefit [or] allowance” for health workers.

In a dialogue between DOH and AHW on December 16, DOH stated that President Duterte

AHW president Robert Mendoza lamented the government’s allotment of a bigger budget to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) whose employees had recently been involved in a corruption scandal through alleged fraudulent reimbursement schemes, the purchase of overpriced information technology equipment, and manipulation of its financial status.

In their statement, AHW pointed out that the government’s budgeting shows their disregard in ensuring people’s rights to public health access. They added that this action indicates that the government is “hell-bent in pursuing privatization of public health services.”

It can also be remembered that last August, the daughter of fallen frontliner Ma. Theresa Cruz shared how the PhilHealth officer in a private hospital in Taytay, Rizal denied them full compensation of hospitalization and treatment costs supposedly provided for health workers who contracted COVID-19.

This response was contrary to what was stated in PhilHealth’s press releases, wherein the agency had been in the process of releasing P30 billion worth of financial aid for clinics and hospitals, as well as promising full coverage of hospital dues for medical frontliners who acquired COVID-19.

NEWS

U P L B P E R S P EC T I V E .O R G | JA N UA RY 9, 2 02 1

Careering judge’s warrant spree vs. activists

Days after they were arrested last International Human Rights Day, a labor center joined the call for the release of the HR Day 7 by slamming this specific judge.

BY CALEB BUENALUZ

UPLB Perspective Staff Writer

The seven consisted of Dennise Velasco, Rodrigo Esparago, Romina Astudillo, Joel Demate, Jaymie Gregorio Jr. and Mark Ryan Cruz, six trade union organizers, and Lady Ann “Icy” Salem, an editor for alternative media arm Manila Today.

The seven were arrested after separate raids that happened on that day, with Quezon City-based executive judge Cecilyn Burgos-Villavert being linked to the incident, after it was reported that Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and known quarantine violator Debold Sinas came to the judge’s office.

Velasco was first arrested in Fairview, Quezon, at 3 AM, with fellow activist and his partner Diane Zapata claiming that the police instead planted items such as weapons and ammunition to make the arrests, which the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) claimed to have uncovered.

Salem would later find her house raided that morning in Mandaluyong City, with Esparago also being arrested in the same city.

Then, Cruz, Astodillo, and Gregorio were arrested in Panay, Quezon City, followed by Demate in his Sta. Ana, Manila home. The narrative of weapons and ammunition being recovered at the crime scene persisted all throughout.

According to a report from College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP), the seven individuals were arrested by force of CIDG and PNP in the entire Metro Manila.

Meanwhile, progressive party-list Anakpawis has strongly condemned the said attacks against the human right defenders.

7

Pandemic of impunity Read all about it in [P] Focus: a new way of looking behind the news.

simple absolutist rule of Duterte where dissent is nipped in the bud via mass arrests on planted evidence and fabricated charges, and worst, outright murder,” Casilao said.

Queen’s gambit

PA G E 1 3

Anakpawis representative Ariel Casilao said that Pres. Rodrigo Duterte suppresses the democratic rights by conducting an illegal arrest and coinciding it with the commemoration day of International Human Rights.

“This is a dangerous precedent and should cause an alarm, as this is not exclusive to activists who are labelled national democrats and usually red-tagged, but a plain and

Days after the arrests, KMU took to social media and conducted a physical demonstration to slam “Search Warrant Factory Queen” Villavert for providing the warrants that lead to the seven’s arrest.

In a statement, KMU explained that Villavert was included in a short list of Court of Appeals Associate Justice last 2019, adding that a particular raid of October and November respectively might have helped her secure that slot.

“Kaya pala kating-kati at hayok na hayok si Cecilyn Burgos-Villavert sa pagpapakulong sa mga itinuturing na kalaban ng naghaharing pangkating Duterte. Naghihintay pala siyang makaupo sa mas mataas na posisyon sa hudikatura,” KMU secretary-general Jerome

Adonis said in the statement. The Negros raid involved the mass arrests of 57 progressive individuals, including 15 minors, after the offices of Anakpawis, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), Gabriela, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), and the National Federation of Sugarcane Workers (NFSW) in Bacolod were raided by state agents. 21 workers from the Ceres Bus line were also among those arrested.

Yet again, weapons and ammunition were allegedly uncovered.

Villavert was also behind the issuance search warrant that led to arrest Reina Mae Nasino, a political prisoner whose baby daughter River’s death while being away from the mother, including the perceived unfair treatment of the unarmed Nasino during Baby River’s funeral, led to massive public outcry.

Anakpawis believed that Villavert has a strong connection with Sinas Adonis went further by warning of the dangers of having Villavert seated in the Court of Appeals.

D A G L I A N G B A L I TA

I BA ’ T I BA N G M GA U N YO N , N A GTA G U M PA Y SA PA G N EG OSA SYO N

ART EXHIBIT FOR THE F I S H E R F O L K I N CA V I T E

3 8 T H S R H O P E F U LS ANNOUNCED

Matapos ang ilang buwan na pananawagan at pakikipagnegosasyon, nagtagumpay ang mga manggagawa ng Fuji Electric Philippines Inc. na makamit ang makabuluhang dagdag na sahod at ilan pang benepisyo sa gitna ng pandemya. Ayon sa napagkasunduan ng Lakas ng Nagkakaisang Manggagawa ng Fuji Electric Philippines at ng kompanya sa Collective Bargaining Agreement, ang nabuong kasunduan ng mga manggagawa at ng kumpanya, magkakaroon ng karagdagang sahod na P40 sa bawat araw at P10 o lumpsum na P1,800 sa 2020. Para sa taong 2021 at 2022, P50 ang idagdag sa sahod.

Marami ring mga dagdag na benepisyo kagaya ng industrial peace bonus, rice subsidy, meal subsidy, overtime meal allowance, at night shift differential.

Bibigyan din ng ayuda ang unyon para sa selebrasyon ng araw ng mga manggagawa hanggang sa 2022.

Bukod sa sahod at benebisyo, nagkaroon din ng mga bagong probisyon kaugnay ng pandemya at pampulitikang probisyon na

As Bacoor continued to be drowned in wave after wave of reclamation attempts, the fisherfolk in the area decided to stand “Against the Stream” with their art protest. “Against the Stream” was held at a fishing community in Bacoor, Cavite last December 13, 2020 wherein visual artists showcased their unique and striking art works in the form of sails splashed with kaleidoscopes of color.

The protest art exhibit, led by SAKA and fisherfolk federation Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamalakaya (PAMALAKAYA-Pilipinas), featured artworks that portrayed the lives and struggles of Filipino fishermen.

According to SAKA, the makeshift sails displayed on fishing boats that were lined up along the shore of Manila Bay in Bacoor were “designed to remind our fisherfolk that they have allies among the petit[e]-bourgeoisie [the lower middle class] and all oppressed classes in their struggle for basic economic and political rights.” —ZEA ANCHETA

The university will select the new student regent in the General Assembly of Student Councils on the second week of January.

In the race to be the 38th SR, with the new SR expected to succeed Isaac Punzalan in upholding the responsibility of representing the UP system’s students in the Board of Regents (BOR), the nominees pitched how they envision themselves in office.

The UPLB nominee is Siegfred Severino from the College of Economics and Management (CEM). In addition to Severino, other nominees included two from UP Cebu: Renee Louise So (also a nominee for UP Diliman’s Colleges of Law and Mass Communication) and Jhonn Isidor Supelanas of the College of Communication, Art, and Design (CCAD), and one from UP Baguio: Francesca Adrienne Kapunan from the College of Arts and Communication (CAC). In a dialogue last December 8, Severino emphasized a “great power struggle” in the BOR because of the admin-appointed people. —ZEA ANCHETA

mangangalaga sa mga manggagawa sa loob ng pagawaan. Kung kinakailangang ma-quarantine ang trabahador, babayaran ito nang 100% kung ang rason ay konektado sa trabaho at 65% kung hindi.

“Patuloy na magkaisa upang mawakasan ang pagsasamantala ng mga naghaharing uri, magkaroon ng tunay na kalayaan at demokrasya sa ating bansa,” ani unyon sa kanilang Facebook post.

Pangalawang beses na ngayong buwan ng Disyembre na nagwagi ang mga manggagawa sa kanilang pakikipagkasunduan.

Iilang linggo bago nito, nagtagumpay rin ang mga manggagawa ng Nexperia Philippines Inc. nang maberipika ang CBA sa pagitan nila at ng kompanya. Kabilang sa nilalaman ng naturang kasunduan ay ang retroactive pay, o ang mga utang na sweldo sa mga manggagawa, signing bonus at meal subsidy. Dagdag pa rito ang karagdagang sahod mula taong 2021 hanggang 2023 kumpara sa inisyal na offer ng pangangasiwa ng Nexperia Philippines Inc. —NOREEN DONATO AT CARLA DELA CRUZ

O 8

FEATURES

n October 30, decades worth of environmental rehabilitation at the Masungi Georeserve was fenced off by armed men allegedly employed for land-grabbing by a real-estate company. Yet this comes as no surprise as local protected biodiversity areas have consistently been subjected to environmental degradation, brought about by illicit activities. Masungi Georeserve is a conservation area found in Baras town, Rizal. Its name comes from the word “Masungki”, meaning spiked; this is due to the jagged limestone formations found inside the georeserve.

These limestone formations as well as the area’s surrounding rainforests serve as a home to many indigenous plants and animals, such as the purple jade vine and the North Luzon giant cloud rat. In 1993, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) designated the area as a Strict Nature Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary for proper conservation and to prevent further damages.

Three years later, protection efforts were started by the Blue Star Construction and Development Corporation (BSCDC) in agreement with the national government; the agreement was initially intended for housing purposes. In the said partnership, the Masungi Geoeserve would be partially developed by the BSCDC for sustainable ecotourism in the area, which eventually conceived the Masungi Geopark.

The Masungi Geopark is a reforestation project of bare lands, covering 2,700 hectares of the Masungi Georeserve. Some portions are located in the Upper Marikina RIver Basin Protected Landscape which puts it under the jurisdiction of the DENR, as stated in Proclamation No. 296, s. 2011.

Masungi Georeserve, as a publicly recognized protected area, makes private ownership and the use of these lands to be subjected to specific guidelines. This, however, did not prevent numerous fraudulent claims and the appropriation of the forest’s resources.

M

asungi Georeserve has fought against illegal loggers and trespassers way back in 1986. Because of rising public interest and the rapid urbanization of nearby settlements, Masungi experienced more repressive acts over the next decades. Corporations, poachers, and illegal loggers have continuously harassed Masungi and contested its claims over the 2,700 hectares of protected land.

“We have encountered these as early as the 1990’s when protection efforts started,” Billie Dumaliang, an advocacy officer for Masungi Georeserve, said in an exclusive interview with the Perspective.

The battles Masungi fought to protect its forests over the years is a manifestation of rampant land-grabbing in the Philippines.

Back in 2016, Masungi was subdued by over fifty armed men backed by the Tanchoco, Sulapat, and Lugiano families. All of them have illegally put up claims to hundreds of hectares covered by Masungi Georeserve.

Masungi succeeded in protecting their land from these men, but the perpetrators were never charged for their crimes.

According to Masungi Georeserve, from a statement on their website, “These families are not farmers nor people in need, not even real Dumagats, but are plain real estate speculators. Despite having no proof of ownership or title, they are being supported by Mayor Tanjuatco of Tanay and certain DENR

JA N UA RY 9, 2 02 1 | U P L B P E R S P EC T I V E .O R G

D E F E N DI NG The Masungi Georeserve, a bastion of environmental rehabilitation in the country, has

T H E E N V I R O NMENT been in the center of a dispute, in another sorry twist in the quest against the exploiters.

F R O M T H E MONEYED While many are fighting against further damage, they can only do so much without help.

E X P LOI TER S

BY GIAN MORRONDOZ AND T ONY ONGDUECO UPLB Perspective Staff Writers

officials, and tolerated by the local police.”

These armed men opened fire on unarmed Masungi park rangers at least two times and forced themselves into the area. They destroyed the barriers preventing illegal loggers and poachers from entering the reserve.

Combined elements of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) were present during the said encounter but did not interfere with the destruction of the barriers, even though the claimants were not able to present any papers that proved their supposed ownership of the area. Illegal loggers are regularly apprehended by Masungi park rangers.

Despite the presence of evidence, they are rarely convicted. In an incident involving the same families, an illegal logger was caught by park rangers and turned over to the police.

The perpetrator was not arrested.

On November 21, Masungi Park Rangers found another case of large scale illegal logging in the northern part of the Georeserve.

Park Rangers found more than 70 cut trees and 700 poles of buho. Private armed guards without permits were present and the area, all within the protected area of Masungi, was rife with charcoal pits where the cut trees were burned and processed. Aside from land-grabbing families and illegal loggers,

there are other constant threats to Masungi.

At the start of 2020, foreign quarry companies have tried to assert their ownership over a portion of the Masungi Georeserve.

Rapid City Realty and Development Corporation (RCRDC), one of these quarry companies, fenced off a quarter of the area and declared their ownership through alleged mining rights the company obtained back in the 1990s. Aside from RCRDC, Quarry Rock Group Inc., and Quimson Limestone Inc. are also under scrutiny for operating in the Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape which is illegal under the NIPAS Act. The NIPAS Act aims to protect remarkable

FEATURES

U P L B P E R S P EC T I V E .O R G | JA N UA RY 9, 2 02 1

2,700 400

different species of flora and fauna in Masungi

40,000

native trees being taken care of in the georeserve

60m

estimated age of limestones in the area

public lands that sustain unique features, such as animals, plants and even natural structures such as rivers and mountains. In a Facebook post from Masungi Georeserve, the trespassers from RCRDC were even reported to be planning a second attempt.

O

n October 23, an electric utility corporation called Green Atom reportedly fenced off nearly 1,000 hectares of land covered by the Masungi Georeserve. Despite specializing in renewable sources of energy, Green Atom were said to have cut down trees that were planted in Masungi years ago, all the while claiming that they were “protecting” the area from illegal loggers. Green Atom then allegedly deployed armed men around the area it fenced off, preventing park rangers from doing their duties. They did all of this without presenting a single permit.

Eventually, Green Atom released a statement on October 26. They claimed that they were protecting the area on behalf of the Dumagat tribe. Masungi Georeserve contacted the Dumagat Tribe residing in the area and wrote in a Facebook post about Green Atom misrepresenting and exploiting the tribe.

Despite the release of a show cause order

by DENR, Green Atom has yet to leave the area. A video posted on the Masungi Georeserve Facebook page on November 15, shows goons reportedly hired by Green Atom harassing and threatening to harm and drag the people at Masungi. In addition, they released a statement condemning Green Atom’s unwarranted stay at Masungi. Green Atom has not yet addressed this statement.

The company in question is Green Atom Renewable Energy Corporation. Established in 2015, it seeks to aid in “the development of renewable energy power plants in the Philippines and elsewhere in the world.” They specialize in photovoltaic and waste-to-energy plants as seen in their previous projects in Tanay, Rizal, and Naic, Cavite. According to their website, Green Atom is led

Rescue operations during the flooding in Marikina due to Typhoon Rolly.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD

by founder and chairman Ret. Gen. Luizo Ticman, a former PNP director who holds an MBA from the Asian Institute of Management, and President and CEO Rex G. Recarro, a businessman with experience in the energy industries in Libya and Tunisia, with the chairman’s son Lemuell as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). It is a subsidiary of the Rublou Group of Companies, a conglomerate that grew from the former’s butchery business. However, besides the board of directors, they also claimed that “God is the head of the corporation,” and that the company is just a “caretaker to anything that will be in place and will strive to perform its divine

duties as a responsible and obedient keeper.”

Despite their so-called divine beliefs, ironically, the elder Ticman and Rublou are associated with various controversies. In a 2013 Inquirer report, then PNP Director Luizo Ticman was among eight PNP officials involved with the “allegedly anomalous purchase of 75 defective rubber boats worth P131.5 million in 2008.”

Adding insult to the injury, a report from GMA News stated that he was one of the 22, with no less than the former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, implicated in the procurement of second-hand helicopters priced brand new in 2009. Then, in a 2016 post by the

9

Tanay LGU, 14 personnel of Blue Star Corporation, and another subsidiary of Rublou, were charged with “multiple attempted murder, as well as a violation of R.A. 10591 [Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition] and Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines,” after engaging in a gunfight with the 80th Infantry Battalion Philippine Army (80th IBPA). Besides also belonging to Rublou, this is the same Blue Star that partnered with the Masungi Georeserve.

T

he effects of these activities at Masungi were felt almost immediately, not by the land grabbers but the residents of Marikina. In the wake of Typhoon Ulysses, Marikina suffered heavily from flooding. Although already flood-prone due to the city’s low altitude, illegal activities in the Upper Marikina River Basin Watershed was said to have worsened the effects of the consecutive typhoons.

On November 23, the DILG directed LGUs to coordinate with the DENR to crackdown on illegal logging and illegal quarrying in protected areas. In an interview with ANC, Mayor Marcelino Teodoro pushed for the rehabilitation of the Upper Marikina Watershed and tighter enforcement of anti-illegal logging and anti-quarrying policies. On November 28, senators called on PNP and the Philippine Army to eject land-grabbers in the Upper Marikina Watershed.

However, environmental activists stand at the forefront of defending the environment.

They raise awareness and gather support for environmental advocacies, often going toe-to-toe with governments and corporations. This requires immense courage since the country has consistently been hostile towards environmental activists. In fact, the Philippines was the second deadliest country for environmental defenders in 2019 with 113 killed under the Duterte administration alone.

Because land is scarce in the city, corporations head to provinces and municipalities where bigger and greener pastures can simply be taken. In fact, factbook on environmental issues by Adelphi University detailed how the Philippine government has offered land, even those belonging to farmers and indigenous peoples, to foreign and local investors since 2007, which in turn effectively sponsoring this criminal industry.

This paved the way for large-scale acquisitions achieved through coercive means akin to Cortes and Magellan’s conquests: Lupang Aguinaldo farmers were served trumpedup charges, Hacienda Yulo residents had to save themselves from harassment and arson, and now, the Masungi Georeserve has to deal with fences and armed men.

Land-grabbing cases are David-and-Goliath battles, and the Masungi incident is no exception. In the face of corporations with deep pockets and long rifles, the people at Masungi refuse to back down, but they need more than just a slingshot. “We cannot do it alone, we need everyone’s help in facing these battles and fighting for this special place,” Masungi Georeserve emphasized. Simply put, land-grabbing and environmental exploitation at the expense of capitalism neglects environmental preservation, human rights, and the laws safeguarding them in the pursuit of profit.

In line with President Duterte’s recent call for a government-wide probe on corruption, Masungi Georeserve officials urge the President and DENR Secretary Cimatu to take concrete steps dedicated to preserving the georeserve as well as to boost their conservation efforts.

10

KWADRADO

JA N UA RY 9, 2 02 1 | U P L B P E R S P EC T I V E .O R G

PHOTO BY JUAN SEBASTIAN EVANGELISTA

J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 0 After years of being relatively calm, Taal Volcano spewed ashes and harmful gasses that would continue for weeks. Columns of pyroclastic materials would overnight cover Laguna, posing a huge threat to unsuspecting citizens. This photo was taken from the Calamba baywalk during the eruption.

PHOTO BY DIANNE SANCHEZ

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 0 The Oblation is draped with calls celebrating John Carlo Alberto, a revolutionary martyr. John Carlo Alberto was a veterinary medicine student of UPLB who chose to offer his life in the service of the Filipino people, amid the threats of militarization in the Southern Tagalog region.

PHOTO BY DIANNE SANCHEZ

M A R C H 2 0 2 0 Los Baños, Laguna. As cases of the COVID-19 infection were spiking in the country’s capital, the announcement of the month-long Luzon-wide ECQ resulted in panic buying of essential goods across stores. But as that died down, the once-bustling Lopez Avenue has become a ghost town due to the quarantine.

PHOTO BY DIANNE SANCHEZ

A P R I L 2 0 2 0 Los Baños, Laguna. Travel and movement restrictions did not deter civic organizations, like the ARMK and STPB, to serve the university’s constituents and nearby communities who were affected by the ensuing crisis of the pandemic.

PHOTO BY DIANNE SANCHEZ

M A Y 2 0 2 0 Some of the stranded UPLB students were extended with financial aid through the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) of DSWD, as the pandemic paralyzed several economic activities in the country, resulting in mass layoffs and families without a stable source of income.

KWADRADO

U P L B P E R S P EC T I V E .O R G | JA N UA RY 9, 2 02 1

11

THE YEAR IN PHOTOS W O R D S B Y M I C H A E L J A M E S M A S A N GYA

The world transitioned into the first day of 2020 just like any previous year in the last decade—a stark contrast to the events that would soon follow suit in the days and months to come.

It was a year one would find at the back of their consciousness as a period saturated with narratives of the debilitating COVD-19 pandemic, political upheavals, and natural disasters. In the Philippines, the crisis ushered in by the pandemic did not only expose the incompetence of the reactionary government but also unraveled the vulnerability and decadence of the institutions rooted in the neoliberal and fascist traditions.

The people would come to suffer one disaster after another, with the Duterte administration choosing to secure its power at the expense of the lives of medical frontliners, workers, farmers, indigenous people, students, and journalists. For Filipinos, efforts had to be done—from launching donation drives to street mobilizations—as the government has proven to be unreliable in attending to the needs of the people and has rather resorted to implementing unjust measures.

The Perspective has documented 2020 through pictures depicting the events that would further solidify the ranks of the masses against the de facto martial rule of the current regime.

PHOTO BY DIANNE SANCHEZ

J U LY 2 0 2 0 Calamba, Laguna. Multi-sectoral organizations in Southern Tagalog greeted Duterte’s 5th SONA by launching a protest action in Crossing, Calamba, calling for his ouster.

PHOTO BY JUAN SEBASTIAN EVANGELISTA

A U G U S T 2 0 2 0 Without the usual hordes of students in their first month of the semester, and with the pandemic showing no signs of stopping, UPLB’s Freedom Park has been deserted.

PHOTO BY DIANNE SANCHEZ

J U N E 2 0 2 0 Los Baños, Laguna. As the draconian Anti-Terror Law was hurriedly passed in the house of representatives, individuals and sectoral organizations in Southern Tagalog joined the nationwide mass action by marching along Lopez Avenue, condemning the weaponization of the law by the Duterte administration.

 SEPTEMBER 2020 On the 48th anniversary of Martial Law, individuals and sectoral organizations of Southern Tagalog held a mass protest in Carabao Park — the first protest in campus since the lockdown — calling for the ouster of President Duterte and to hold the UPLB administration accountable for its failures in delivering remote learning.

PHOTO BY DIANNE SANCHEZ

12

KWADRADO

JA N UA RY 9, 2 02 1 | U P L B P E R S P EC T I V E .O R G

YEAR ENDER SPECIAL

OCTOBER 2020 The month came after the selection of Jose Camacho Jr. as the tenth chancellor of UPLB, amid his promises to fix the recurring problem of students with MRR and readmission cases.

PHOTO BY DIANNE SANCHEZ



DECEMBER 2020 Mendiola, Manila. On the celebration of the International Human Rights Day, the streets of Mendiola were filled with individuals and sectoral organizations, registering their concerns over the worsening crackdown on activists and increasing human rights violations committed by the Duterte administration.

PHOTO BY SONYA CASTILLO

PHOTO BY SOPHIA ISABEL PANGILINAN

N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0 UP Diliman. Workers, peasants, and other sectors of the society marched together in University Avenue, amplifying the need for mass action in supporting the people’s struggle, in the birthday of Gat Andres Bonifacio.

[P] FOCUS

U P L B P E R S P EC T I V E .O R G | JA N UA RY 9, 2 02 1 D E C E M B E R 2 8 , 2 02 0 | U P L B P E R S P EC T I V E .O R G

PANDEMYA NG IMPUNIDAD

Hindi lamang COVID-19 ang sakit na unti-unting bumabalot sa Pilipinas. Sa nakalipas na apat na taon ng administrasyong Duterte, patuloy ang pagdami ng kaso ng mga ilegal na pag-aresto, pangangamkam, at pagpatay sa mga kritiko at mga progresibo.

Patuloy lang rin ang pagsasawalang-bahala ng mga may hawak ng batas sa walang habas na mga pang-aabusong ito.

DATOS N G K A R A H A SA N

791

Extrajudicial killings, pati ang mga kasong frustrated

Enforced disappearances (desaparecidos)

4,454

Ilegal na pag-aresto at ilegal na paghalughog

100,823 Threats, harrasments or intimidation

3,348

Pilit o pekeng pagsuko ng mga di umano’y rebelde

372,611 Pagbobomba sa mga rural na lugar

4,125

Pagbabawal at marahas na pagpapaalis sa mga nagra-rally

456,913 Forced evacuation due to military operations

BATA S B I L A N G SA N DATA R E P U B L I C A C T N O. 1 0 59 1

An Act Providing for a Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition and Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof Noong taong 2019, sabay-sabay na hinalughog at inaresto ang na mga aktibista sa Manila at Bacolod, dahil sa mga search warrant na inilabas ni Judge Cecilyn BurgosVillavert na gamit-gamit ang mga probisyon ng batas na ito. Ito rin ang ginamit sa mga search warrant ng Human Rights Day 7.

59

Baggao, Cagayan: Si Amanda Echanis, isang pesanteng aktibista, ay inaresto ng AFP-PNP kasama ang isang buwang gulang niyang anak, sa kasong illegal possession of firearms.

Ang karaniwang kaso na naisasama sa search warrant laban sa mga aktibista ay ang ilegal na pagmamay-ari ng mga baril at ng mga pampasabog. Ayon sa grupong KARAPATAN, madalas ganito ang nagaganap sa mga raid: 1. Ang pwersahang pagpasok sa tahanan o opisina, tuwing natutulog ang karamihan o sa tuwing madaling araw; 2. Ang mga tao sa tahanan naman ay pilit pinapababa o pinapadapa habang nangyayari ang paghahalughog.

3. Matapos makapagtanim ng armas o “ebidensya”, saka pa lang tatawag ng mga taga-barangay ang mga pulis upang samahan silang makapag-search, kahit na sa totoo lang ay pangalawa na iyon.

WALANG PASKO SA PANG-AABUSO

●

12.19.2020

12.17.2020

Paniqui, Tarlac: Ang maginang sina Sonya Rufino Gregorio at Frank Anthony Gregorio ay namatay matapos barilin ng pulis na si Jonel Nuezca, dulot ng pagkakasagutan ang dalawang panig.

◆

Ayon sa datos ng grupong KARAPATAN, mula noong Hunyo 2016 hanggang Agosto 2020, libo-libong mga Pilipino ang naging biktima ng mga pang-aabuso sa karapatang pantao.

18

12.02.2020

Baras, Rizal: Limang mango farm workers, na pinaghinalaang kasapi ng NPA, ay pinaslang sa isang shootout ng mga elemento ng PNP. Ang humanitarian team ng Karapatan Southern Tagalog, na kasama ang mga pamilya ng mga nasawing mango farm workers, ay hinarass ng mga armadong pulis noong Disyembre 21, 2020.

●●

●

12.03.2020

12.09.2020

Sa Kamaynilaan: Si Denisse Velasco, isang trade union organizer, ay inaresto matapos magsagawa ng raid ang mga pulis sa kaniyang bahay. Ayon sa kaniyang asawa, tinamnan ng mga armas ang kanilang tahanan. Si Lady Ann Salem, editor ng Manila Today, ay inaresto ng mga pulis. Bukod kay Velasco at Salem, lima pang labor organizer ang inaresto: sina Joel Demante, Romina Astudillo, Jaymie Gregorio, Mark Ryan Cruz, at Rodrigo Esparago — lahat sa kasong illegal possesion of firearms.

●

13

Los Baños, Laguna: Namatay ang alkaldeng si Caesar Perez, na kabilang sa kontrobersiyal na “narcolist” ng administrasyong Duterte, matapos barilin ng mga hindi pa nakikilalang salarin. Kahit si Duterte ay humingi ng paumanhin sa pagkakasangkot ni Perez sa narcolist.

Noong Disyembre 2020, mayroong 20 insidente na naitala ang Perspective, kung saan ang biktima ay ang mga aktibista, mamamahayag, at pati na rin ang mga magsasaka at labor organizers.

Kung hindi sila pinapasok ng mga elemento ng estado, tinataniman sila ng mga ebidensiya upang makulong. Ang iilan ay namatay sa kamay ng mga pulis at ng mga estado sa kuwestiyonableng mga sitwasyon.

Pinasok ang tahanan o hinaras ng state forces Hinuli at kinulong matapos ang mga ‘raid’ Napaslang sa iba’t ibang mga paraan

Tinatawag na search warrant factory queen si Judge Cecilyn Villavert dahil siya ang malimit pagkuhanan ng mga search warrant ng illegal possession of firearms.

STORY ON PAGE 7

◆ 12.17.2020

12.29.2020

Tapaz, Capiz: Patay ang walong hindi-armadong Tumandok Indigenous People, grupong tumututol sa pagpapatayo ng Jalaur Mega Dam, matapos pagbabarilin ng puwersang-militar.

Tatlo sa mga biktima ay kinilalang sina Eliseo Gayas, Mauro Diaz, at Artilito Katipunan.

12.15.2020 Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental: Sina Dr. Rose Sancelan, pinuno ng IATF Guihulngan City, at ang kaniyang asawang si Edwin, ay pinatay ng mga hindi nakikilalang salarin. Kabilang si Dr. Sancelan sa hitlist ng KAGUBAK, isang anti-communist na mersenaryong grupo sa Negros. Sa parehong barangay at araw, ang residenteng si Saelar Aslong ay binaril din.

Danao City, Cebu: Namatay si Atty. Baby Maria Concepcion Landero-Ole, na kilalang tumulong sa pagpapatibay ng kaso laban sa isang pulis sa Carmen, matapos barilin sa kaniyang sariling sasakyan. Ilang abugado na rin ang napaslang sa ilalim ng rehimeng Duterte.

PROT E KS YO N AT PAG - I I N GAT A N G KO N ST I T U SYO N N G R E P U B L I K A N G P I L I P I N A S , 1 98 7

Katarungang Panlipunan at mga Karapatang Pantao

Seksyon 15: Dapat igalang ng Estado ang bahaging ginagampanan ng malayang mga organisasyon ng sambayanan upang matamo at mapangalagaan ng mga taong-bayan, sa loob ng balangkas na demokratiko, ang kanilang lehitimo at sama-samang mga interes at hangarin sa pamamagitan ng paraang

mapayapa at naaayon sa batas.

Seksyon 16: Hindi dapat bawahan ang karapatan ng sambayanan at ng kanilang mga organisasyon sa mabisa at makatwirang pakikilahok sa lahat ng mga antas ng pagpapasyang panlipunan, pampulitika at pangkabuhayan.

Source KARAPATAN, Official Gazette, Perspective archives Researchers Aron Sierva and Zea Ancheta Infographic design Ian Raphael Lopez and Gerard Laydia

Kahit na ginagarantiyahan ng Saligang Batas ang karapatan ng mga mamamayan sa pagbuo at pagsapi sa mga legal na organisasyon, patuloy pa rin ang pagsupil ng estado sa mga progresibo at kritikal na mga samahan. Narito ang ilang mga hakbang kung sakaling salakayin at tangakaing arestuhin ng mga pulis: 1. Kumalma at tumutok sa bawat pangyayaring nagaganap.

2. Maaaring itanong ng pulis ang iyong

pangalan, ngunit hindi ka niya maaaring puwersahing ipakilala ang iyong identidad.

3. Humiling sa kamag-anak o sa sinumang tao na maging saksi sa pag-aresto sa iyo.

4. Kunin ang pangalan at posisyon ng mga taong umaaresto sa iyo.

5. Suriin ang warrant of arrest.

6. Alamin sa arresting officer kung saan ka dadalhin. Nararapat na may kasamang witness para sa iyong seguridad.

14

FEATURES

A veteran photojournalist decides to take a step further with his job of just covering the news through his lenses.

BY GA B R I E L D O LOT

UPLB Perspective Staff Writer

T

hree major typhoons consecutively ravaged the Philippines recently, significantly affecting parts of Luzon. Provinces on and near the path of the typhoons were not safe, especially since one of these typhoons was considered the strongest typhoon yet in 2020. Even during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and of the typhoon season, people have been tirelessly raising money, collecting donations, and initiating donation drives for those affected. One of them is Art Relief Mobile Kitchen (ARMK).

ARMK is a non-government organization (NGO) that is based in Los Baños town, Laguna, and was established in 2013 during the onslaught of supertyphoon Yolanda by photojournalist, Alex Baluyut and Los Bañosbased cultural worker, Precious Leaño.

ARMK, whose creed is “We can and we will feed the hungry”, is a volunteer-based organization where they cook hot meals for the victims of natural and man-made disasters ARMK started its maiden mission seven years ago on November 15, 2013, after super typhoon Yolanda, internationally known as Haiyan, ravaged the country on the 8th of November. Super Typhoon Yolanda was considered as the strongest tropical cyclone to make landfall in recorded history, beating hurricane Katrina that hit the United States in August 2005.

In an interview with FEBC Radio, an international Christian radio network, Alex Baluyut mentioned that the idea came to him when he was having a workshop with the Philippine Center for Photojournalism (PCP) in Los Baños as the typhoon was nearing landfall.

“Nung nag-landfall na siya sa [sic] bisaya, nagtakbuhan na yung mga kasama ko, nagtakbuhan na sa Manila, ako naman yung naiwan doon sa workshop area kasi ako rin yung nagluto ‘ron eh. Para makatipid kami doon sa workshop, ako na rin yung nagluto.

So, nakita ko ngayon lahat yung equipment doon sa workshop area, dun sa kusina. Eh Kung dalhin ko sa Manila to tapos magluto ako don sa Villamor [Airbase]?”

The Villamor Airbase became a tent city for evacuees from Tacloban and this is where ARMK stayed for 22 days and served food 24/7 with donations and volunteers to help them feed the displaced victims and other volunteers & soldiers. After their stint in Manila, they proceeded to Leyte and Samar where they stayed even after Christmas.

Baluyut also mentioned that even before, as he covered events and natural disasters as a photojournalist, he felt that he could do more than just take a photo of the place and its people and leave. This idea of providing humanitarian food aid has been lingering for a long time.

ARMK has conducted 60 or more missions seven years after Yolanda and their most recent missions were in Tiwi town, Albay from November 8 to 15 and Cagayan which were one of the provinces gravely affected by three consecutive typhoons; Quinta, Rolly, and Ulysses. Referring to the Albay mission, Alex said that it was a success considering they served more than 7,000 meals.

ARMK is currently in Cagayan with their

JA N UA RY 9, 2 02 1 | U P L B P E R S P EC T I V E .O R G

Providing comfort, one hot meal at a time

Cagayan Relief Caravan which is a collaborative project with an NGO called Project Pearls, Gourmet Gypsy Art Cafe, and the University of Cagayan Valley.

People behind ARMK

Precious Leaño and Alex Baluyut are no strangers to social and cultural work. Precious, a cultural worker and communications consultant, has a background in the arts as an exhibition curator and organized art workshops for the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in the 1990s.

She is part of the Artists Incorporated, a cultural organization based in Los Baños, where she is occasionally called on to be an educator during conferences such as the Malikhaing Guro ng Pilipinas.

Alex Baluyut, a photojournalist and educator, has been in the industry for three decades covering events such as the Marcos era and the EDSA uprising. He is the grandson of Rosario Dimayuga-Luz, a respected Filipino interior designer. He is also the nephew of Arturo R. Luz, the Philippines’ seventh National Artist for Visual Arts. He was part of

Nakikita ko, as a journalist, that photos should speak of the times, pero nakukulangan ako.

Pag aalis ako from a disaster, kukuha ng litrato tapos aalis na.. Wala na ba akong maibibigay?

ALEX BALUYUT

Photojournalist

the Associated Press until he left to pursue his longing for documenting the people’s struggles in Mindanao and later worked as a freelance photojournalist in Manila.

As an educator, he co-founded the Photojournalists’ Center of the Philippines, a non-profit organization established to educate and professionalize aspiring photographers. He also became a faculty member and mentor at the Konrad Adenauer Asian Center for Photojournalism at the Ateneo de Manila University.

Their careers and experience in their fields were not just something to brag about but also proved essential when it came down to organizing relief and humanitarian missions all over the country. “PJ (Photojournalism) taught me the logistical mind to move in the straightest and most safe method which I use greatly in our movements. PJ taught me to trust my deepest instincts in making decisions which sometimes means life and death in war-torn situations and lastly, PJ made me exposed to the realities of the real world and how to function in many environments,” according to Alex. The main reason why Alex’s

FEATURES

U P L B P E R S P EC T I V E .O R G | JA N UA RY 9, 2 02 1

15

apart from their few committed volunteers, the community itself served as the base of their operations that provided on-ground volunteers from the local government units (LGUs), local NGOs, local churches, and schools.

“Nun[g] umpisa, sa Villamor, ang dami talaga. Hundreds come and go. Some [are] friends and some [are] friends of friends.

Tapos, as the years went on, unti-unti [r] in nawawala then I realized, it was not the amount of volunteers that would really stay with you [and] understand the vision. Also, I realized what was important din was the organizing capability of ARMK. I then started to utilize the volunteers from the communities itself,” Alex added.

Their vision according to Alex is “ To make people realize the importance of community, not just kitchens but a community [where] we care for each other, [where] the first thing you ask is kumain ka na ba? The cultural bond that food and the preparation of it makes us stronger as people.”

ARMK, as a non-partisan organization, partners with different groups and individuals and advocates for inclusivity & unity among individuals which fuels their missions because according to Precious and Alex, “Kahit sino papakainin namin, basta gutom.”

Culture, art, and social awareness

partner, Precious, agreed with the idea of a humanitarian food aid was that she already had the experience of organizing people and events as a cultural worker. Their first mission also consisted of local artists, mostly friends of Precious, who volunteered to help with their operations.

Precious and three other artist friends already cooked for a cultural event in October, prior to their first mission, which was held inside UPLB called “Wika, Sining, at K” where they were able to feed a hundred attendees. According to her, they decided to do it a little differently in 2013 by cooking for the attendees because they noticed that people would go out of the event, which was inside the university, to grab some food outside because it was a weekend where all the carinderias and food stalls closest to the campus were closed. This event not only was a success but it made her realize that this could be done again for humanitarian work.

ARMK is an organization that engages with the community and utilizes its resources to maximize their capacity to serve and provide aid for the survivors. According to Alex,

On their 12th day, ARMK distributed hot meals at the Annafunan Elementary School in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ARMK

It is evident that art and social awareness go hand in hand, seeing the founders being immersed in the arts as a cultural worker and photojournalist venturing into humanitarian work. There has always been a connection between culture, the arts, and anthropology.

Alex mentioned that as a photographer, he has covered many crucial events in the country such as disasters, wars, and repression during the Marcos regime, to name a few, but he felt that he could still do more than just take photographs and leave. His experience in his craft made him aware of the many social issues the country has seen throughout the years and he used what he knew to take action.

“Nakikita ko, as a journalist, of course it’s important that photos speak of the times, the truth, etc. pero parang nakukulangan ako.

Pag-aalis ako let’s say pupunta akong isang disaster, kukuha ako ng litrato tapos aalis na ako, parang kawawa naman ‘tong mga ‘to.

Wala na ba akong maibibigay?”

For ARMK, it’s not just a matter of serving food but it’s also understanding the community’s culture, beliefs, and their overall condition. According to Precious, it is important, as a cultural worker, to look at culture or our culture especially in a time of a disaster may it be a pandemic, typhoon, or war. In this case, food serves not only as relief but also as a symbol of cultural and social sensitivity.

“Halimbawa, kami ay nasa Sulu, hindi namin sila papakainin ng sinigang, hindi nila kultura ang sinigang. In Marawi, we cooked halal meals (a specific diet practiced by the Islamic religion), so importante yung kultura.”

Lastly, Art Relief Mobile Kitchen started as a group of artists who volunteered for a cause, in which they got the name, but it is more than what they are composed of according to Precious.

“Anong saysay ng pagiging artista? Ang isang artista ay nag aalay ng kanyang gawain para makita ng iba. Yung truth mo ay inilalabas mo. So yung truth namin ni Alex nailalabas namin sa ginagawa namin. Yung truth na nakikita namin na ang mga tao ay magtutulong-tulong sa isang disaster nakikita namin yon at ‘yon ang pinakikita namin.”

16

CULTURE

D E CJA EM ER UPPLLB BPPE ER RS SPPEC ECTTIIV VE E.O .OR RG G NB UA RY2 8, 9, 2202 020 1 || U

Sa pelikula o maging sa libro, ang pangunahing karakter ay hindi lamang nakakulong sa iisang katauhan.

BY REIGNNE FRANCISCO UPLB Perspective Staff Writer Hindi lang basta-bastang pinatatakbo ng protagonista ang kwento, pwede ring isa siyang tagapangalaga ng kalusugan na may responsibilidad sa pagbabayad ng buwanang renta at may pamilyang sinusustentuhan.

Lahat ng tao ay ganito: sunod-sunod ang mga nakaatas na gampanin mula tahanan hanggang trabaho. Kaya nga alanganin ang nauuso ngayong distance learning—online, modular, o kombinasyon ng dalawa—upang ipagpatuloy kahit papaano ang edukasyon.

Maliban kasi sa mga madadalas nating marinig na suliraning umiiral ngayong may pandemya, tila ginawang halo-halo ang katauhan ng mga estudyante ng naturang set-up na ito ng “pagkatuto.”

Ika-24 ng Agosto noong nakaraang taon ang inisyal sanang simula ng klase na iniusod pa ulit ng dalawang buwan ng DepEd. Nakisama pa rito ang CHED nang i-anunsyo nito na ang mga kolehiyo sa bansa ay maaari nang magbukas ng klase sa Setyembre.

At kagaya ng inirereklamo ng mga tinaguriang “reklamador” ng mga tao, palpak ang naging desisyon ng dalawang ahensya ng edukasyon. Ang pinagsama-samang problema sa modules, kawalan ng mga gadgets, kilos-pagong na internet connection, maging ang mas nagpapabutas sa bulsa na data, ay klarong manipestasyon na hindi lamang bigo ang parehong ahensya sa agenda nilang ipagpatuloy ang “edukasyon” sa ganitong sitwasyon, kundi parehas ang mga ito na naglalabas ng mga memo at polisiya na hindi inklusibo sa kabila ng tahasang panawagan ng sangkaestudyantehan na #NoStudentLeftBehind.

Sa kabila ng mga halatang kakulangan sa aspetong ito ng distance learning, isa pa sa kinahaharap ng mga estudyante ay ang bumubuo sa pagiging tao ng bawat isa kahit na hindi ito rektang nakikita ng isang pares ng ating mga mata—ang hindi na mamukhaang imahe ng ating mga katauhan.

Sa ganitong uri ng sitwasyon, kailangan pa bang magpatuloy ang bagong moda ng pagkatuto kung gayong marami nang napag-iwanan habang mas lalo pang tumataas ang banta sa ating kalusugan?

SA PAGITAN NG PAGKATAO AT

PAGKATUTO

Mga katauhan sa iisang katawan

Walang umiiral na katauhang kolektibo. Ang ugali ng isa kaharap ang kaniyang mga kaibigan ay iba sa ipapakita nito kasama ang kaniyang mga magulang. Kaya naman ang pagiging anak at mag-aaral sa kasalukuyang moda ng pagkatuto ay nakakalito.

Habang tambak ang mga labada ay may pending na mga ipapasa mamayang alas-dose ng madaling-araw. Habang nasa zoom meeting nang sobrang aga ay hindi na nakasasabay na mag-agahan kasama ang pamilya. Sinira ng distance learning ang hulmahan ng ating pagkilos. Sa loob ng dalawa hanggang tatlong buwan ay mabilis nitong pinalabo ang ating mga gampanin—mga katauhan—na parang mga matang tumataas ang grado habang halos kalahating araw tayong nakayuko sa harapan ng ating mga modules o gadgets.

Dobleng-pasanin ito para sa mga working students na maaaring online din ang trabaho o lumalabas pa ng bahay para makapaghanapbuhay. Ang pag-aaral ay natatabunan ng mga katauhan bilang parte ng pamilya at manggagawa. Ang mga face masks at face shields ng mga ito sa tuwing lumalabas ay

tila isinuot na rin ng kanilang mga katauhan kung kaya’t hindi na mawari ang itsura ng pagiging anak sa pagiging estudyante’t manggagawa.

Kapwa-tao ang ating pagkatao

Ang isa’t isa ang nagtatakda ng porma ng ating mga katauhan. Sa Relational-Cultural Theory (RTC), sinabi nina Miller at Stiver (1997) na ang paglago ng tao ay nakaayon sa pagiging konektado nito sa iba. Kaya nga natural na sa atin na magkaroon ng ugnayan katulad na lang sa loob ng tahanan, sa eskwelahan, kalye, at iba pang mga lugar.

Ngunit pinilit ng kasalukuyang sitwasyon, isama pa ang pagpupumilit ng mga ahensya ng edukasyon na ipagpatuloy ang academic year, na mawala ang ugnayan ng mga tao sa isa’t isa. Sa bawat ‘connection lost’

MGA KUHA NI SOPHIA ISABEL PANGILINAN

tuwing online ang klase ay ang humihinang koneksyon sa pagitan ng isang estudyante at ng kaniyang mga kasama sa bahay. Kasabay ng lumalawak na distansya sa pagitan ng mga tao ay ang paglalatag ng espasyo ng distance learning. Literal na upang maipagpatuloy ang “pagkatuto” ay kinakailangang dumistansya sa lumililok ng anyo ng ating pagkatao. Halo-halong katauhan, pagkataong nawalan ng hulmahan Bago pa man magsimula ang klase ngayong taon, may mga isyu nang kinahaharap ang paparating noong distance learning hinggil sa usapin ng mental health. Ilang kaso ng suicide sa mga mag-aaral ang naitala matapos ang pag-anunsyo ng DepEd at CHED na tuloy ang “edukasyon.”

Kasama sa mga numerong ito ang grade nine student na taga-Albay noong ika-16 ng

Hunyo dahil sa gastos na hatid ng internet fees para sa online class, third year student na taga-Bohol dahil sa kawalan ng laptop, grade eleven student na taga-South Cotabato dahil sa pressure; at lahat ng ito ay dala ng kasalukuyang moda ng pag-aaral. Malinaw na mental at pinansyal na pasanin ang distance learning na ito para sa mga estudyante.

Ilang ulit na ring humingi ng national academic break ang mga mag-aaral sa kalagitnaan ng pang-akademikong taon dahil sa mental exhaustion na nararanasan sa mga sunod-sunod na deadlines, lalo na nang dinaanan ng tatlong bagyo ang bansa noong Nobyembre kung saan libo-libong tahanan ang lumubog sa baha. Ngunit hindi ito pinakinggan ng mga nasabing ahensya.

Ito ang mga patunay na mas nararapat pang paigtingin ang mga panawagan na #NoStudentLeftBehind, isama na ang ligtas na pagbabalik-eskwela. Matatandaang inanunsyo ng administrasyon na susubukan nilang simulan ang face-to-face set-up ngayong 2021 sa mga lugar na may mabababang kaso ng COVID-19. Ngunit kumakailan ay nagkaroon ng bagong strain ang naturang virus na kumakalat na sa ibang mga bansa.

Malaki ang pananagutan ng gobyerno sa kasalukuyang nangyayari sa bawat magaaral sa bansa. Ang mga napag-iwanan at nahihirapan ay parehong resulta ng mga hindi pinag-iisipang polisiya ng administrasyon.

Kailangan ng maayos na pagtugon at hindi ng isa na namang ‘band aid solution.’

Dahil kung iyong huli na naman ang paiiralin, papaano na ang susunod pang mga semestre? Pipili na naman ba sa pagitan ng pagkatao at pagkatuto ang mga estudyante?

CULTURE

U P L B P E R S P EC T I V E .O R G | JA N UA RY 9, 2 02 1

B U I LT B Y H U M A N S ,

CONTROLLED

BY ROBOTS Confronting the challenges brought about by massive changes in life and society.

BY PHILIP XAVIER LI

UPLB Perspective Staff Writer

I

t takes only a quick retrospective to conclude that technology has become closely linked with our daily lives and society. It has revolutionized the transfer of information; it has played its role in revolutions; and now it sees itself weaponized to foster the dismantling of democracies worldwide as well as the increasing ruthlessness of the neoliberal order.

So has data, its partner in crime, which has become an increasingly important asset to numerous fields of science. Data is how personalized content is served to you, how companies know who and how to target consumers – and sometimes, it can be powerful and damning in the proper hands.

As these two become hot commodities in our society, it becomes important to holistically consider their implications to give ourselves a better understanding of the problems at hand and how we can effectively solve them.

With this in mind, the Philosophical Society of UPLB’s recent series of educational discussions focus on technology and its implications, especially in the new normal. Of particular note are their talks on technological determinism, critical thinking, and the Industrial Revolution 4.0.

The latest one, which we happen to be witnessing, is marked by the rise of the socalled internet of things (IoT) and networks,

among others. The fourth IR can be characterized, more than by society’s increasing interconnectedness, by the way it makes data incredibly valuable.

To be clear, data has been important for much of history (surveillance is one infamous example), and while the third IR brought the world wide web and globalization to prominence, the rise of Big Data is relatively recent and thus particularly relevant to this era.

At the same time, this decade alone has been marked by a string of controversies that brought our previously-unthinking trust in technology into question. Wikileaks democratized the release of sensitive information

(at least for a while), while the Snowden revelations made the topic of mass surveillance into the public spotlight. Facebook in particular has allegedly been involved in electoral interference, the rise of anti-vaccine hysteria and far-right extremism, and even aided in genocide. While previous industrial revolutions have brought similar problems, it can be argued that our current problems are radically different in scope, one might find this sort of recurring theme distressing and ask whether this problem lies with humans or technology.

However, it is dangerous to confront this problem through the lens of technological

17

determinism – a philosophical theory that suggests that technology is responsible for determining the values of development in human society. It focuses on the agency of both humans and technology, and humans’ capability to freely create and then alter technology after the fact as well as technology’s capability to achieve autonomy, free will and influence and to effect change in human affairs.

How we approach our relationship with technology can have considerable consequences, and the most notable example is in the homeland of tech innovation, Silicon Valley. Its ideologues’ libertarian approach to free markets mixed with a belief in technological determinism resulted in the view of progress becoming the result of free-market driven technology innovations, rather than coming from existing power structures (Barbrook & Cameron, 1995).

The result has been a belief not only in the ability to fix problems through ruthless innovation and by extension the arrogance of tech’s top men in their ability to do so. Look no further than the persistence of opaque “algorithms” in content moderation – to the detriment of creators and consumers alike.

But the real threat is that our most pessimistic opinions on technology automatically take on a technologically deterministic viewpoint.

The belief for instance that social media is negative stems from this: it assumes that the problems of social media are inherent within the medium itself and disregards any influence on the end of the user.

In that case, does technology foster online harassment? It also precludes any hope of prefiguration – the belief that we must act according to the society we wish to see is obviously a rendered moot if you think humans inherently can’t do anything. It paints a very grim picture of the future to think that we are, in the end, slaves to our own inventions.

Ultimately the question remains: what does this say about tech and data, and our relationship with the former? If ruthless technological determinism has contributed to the dangerous digital landscape we are in, do we look to its inverse for a solution? Perhaps there is value in an anti-deterministic viewpoint on human agency. And if technology as well cannot affect our affairs, then the only entity that can is ourselves.

18

OPINION

JA N UA RY 9, 2 02 1 | U P L B P E R S P EC T I V E .O R G

Cops: Rotten to the core NO FURY SO LOUD IAN RAPHAEL LOPEZ

T

here is no question that many Filipinos are utterly disgusted with another killing of unarmed civilians, carried out by a cop full of hubris.

Two innocent lives lost yet again due to the grotesque selfishness of an angered policeman is too much. It is clear that policeman Jonel Nuezca broke all established conventions of how these so-called “law enforcers” should act and dispose of their duty. Nuezca is now facing a lifetime in jail, a slurry of administrative and criminal cases, aside from the possibility of him rotting in hell.

But it is worth repeating that this latest incident is on top of other shootings that have been carried out by the police, such as the case of former soldier Winston Ragos.

Scores of activists, journalists and rural folk have been rounded up by the policemen with trumped-up charges and planted explosives.

Thirty thousand people – yet to be charged of any related offense on illegal drug use – have been killed under the regime’s disastrous war on drugs. Only a few cops have been prosecuted for the genocide that the regime has effectively carried out since 2016.

Going by the police’s mantra, we should presumably feel “safe” when they are around. In this basic surface test, the national police have failed. Many people say that they do not feel safe upon seeing elements of the law. Personally, I am averse of situations involving a lot of armed law enforcers, since they killed a teenager named Kian delos Santos in 2017. He was to take a test, but was instead dragged into a mud pit and shot at the back. But who do you call, the famous graffiti

[P] GRAPHIC BY JERMAINE VALERIO

says, when the police murders? Since Duterte won in 2016, the police have amassed incredible power in Filipino society. Suddenly, their salaries have increased. New firearms were bought non-stop. Duterte would defend them ad nauseam after every controversial move. In recent times the so-called President would egg “his policemen” to continue the killings, especially when their life is in danger. I got your back, Duterte would say. The PNP, an institution rotten to the core since

time immemorial, has greatly benefitted from the culture of impunity in our times.

While people entering the police force might have noble intentions, the prospect of using the people’s money for despicable atrocities negates all the idealism.

Is the police rotten only because of its current sins? No. The very concept of a select few people, enforcing laws made upon consensus, is flawed from the get-go. Giving these select few the power to ascertain which

action is a crime or not, let alone giving them access to firearms to carry out this task, leads to immensely dangerous possibilities.

A radical idea, therefore, is to reallocate much of what is spent on law enforcement to social programs like education, housing, jobs, and the like. The idea of locking up people in jail to “reform” them is not going to work, lest they return to a society where there are people still being utterly disadvantaged when it comes to opportunities.

Most petty crimes are always linked to social problems like poverty, joblessness, and the lack of mental health facilities, and funding should be instead put into solving these problems. Surveys across the world show that most crimes being responded to by the police are petty ones, so why not nip the problem in its bud? With people being able to realize their full potentials, the need for policing diminishes; and there we can only see a killing-free society we are aspiring for.

Of course, there are also those heinous crimes that are a result of the vestiges of a backward-looking, oppressive society. Only an ideal society free from these shackles will wipe off these problems. We do know that the road to that ideal society is long and winding, and we should not waste time being challenged by the monstrous efforts it requires.

We should take up this call, along with the growing movement to unseat the people in power who are directly responsible for the horrid intoxication of the police forces. We cannot wait while our lives are being held at the mercy of those rotten to their core. ―――――――― Ian Raphael Lopez is one of the anchors of Today’s Rundown, which can be seen every Saturday, 5 p.m. live on [P]’s Facebook page.

Disenchantment of the privileged conyo kid HODGE PODGE J O H N A LT H A N I F A M A D O R

L

anguage and communication have always confused me until I started to make my statements. I grew up in a uniquely English-speaking household in a southern municipality of Cebu – so I thought I was special.

My step-grandfather was Welsh, and my “Mama Mia-type” personality grandmother thought it was best for me to learn English exclusively. This had its consequences since I struggled to understand my teachers and peers. English was used at home and in the classroom, with a mix of Cebuano and Filipino subjects that I have never gotten a grade of higher than 70. Since I almost did not understand anything other than English, I was for the longest time convinced that, like my grandad, I was a foreigner. We had to find radio frequencies and tv channels that had the most English so that we could understand.

And so RJ100.3 was our go-to radio channel.

Typhoon Ondoy had just destroyed the National Capital Region. The Ramon Jacinto radio station was, fortunately, able to withstand the storm and continued broadcasting, with news updates and reports in between the Classic and Hard Rock. I remember this was in

the afternoon because my grandparents had switched on the TV Set for the evening news.

The first images of Metro Manila: Hundreds of people stuck on a bridge surrounded by 2-story high floods. This also became the first time I heard a socio-political statement from my grandmother. Something she picked up from her circle of friends who I view as elitist and spend too much time in detached social clubs. My grandmother said that there were “too many squatters in Manila” and that “they deserved it”. And I thought she was right.

High school came and was much like a Tale of Two Cities, the best of times and the worst of times. Because I enrolled in Philippine Science High School, the premiere state high school, 12-year old me thought I was better than everyone else. Only to be gutted by the reality that I did not excel as much as I expected. That there were resemblances of discrimination, bias, and incompetence as anywhere else. That there were facilities and ambitious buildings in a campus found at the top of a mountain, only to crumble like a house of cards when a magnitude 7.2 earthquake shook the neighboring island of Bohol, exposing corruption in the bidding and construction of the buildings.

We pioneered the shift to K-12, but we were not consulted nor explained thoroughly. If anything, we were victims of policy

implementation without free prior and informed consent. I thought that the institution and I were better than everyone else, and I was wrong.

If there’s any consolation to this Dickensian narrative, it’s that I was grounded by reality, and better values and principles emerged.

Through crises, the bond and interaction between our batchmates grew. With prior idealisms smashed, we began to see the cynicism of the world. How Science and Technology were detached from the poor. How patents, intellectual property rights, and other information gatekeeping has kept science behind closed doors and stunted progress. How the government would not acknowledge or receive policy or innovation proposals. How the scientific status quo was detached.

We began to subscribe to the movements of open-sourcing information, and almost unanimously, we became political. At the height of the 2016 presidential campaign, Pisay scholars were inspired by the rhetoric of being from the masses to the masses to spite and disdain the snobbish, elitist political and scientific establishment. We were consumed by the rhetoric of political and intellectual subversion. We supported Duterte. But because our solidarity was not grounded on ideology, we became victim to personality politics and a fascist’s rhetoric. By the historical definition of fascist

from Italy, we, in turn, became fascists or were at least complicit. We were collectively wrong.

During the week of Duterte’s proclamation, we were terrified. There was an unofficial curfew for minors, so going home on a Friday was a gamble because, by the time we got home, it would have already passed curfew. My friends and I would rush the kilometer home in the darkness and I had never felt this unsafe in my hometown. Day after day, the body count went up. Then in 2017, Kian Lloyd Delos Santos was shot – and this validated our fears.

This was our disenchantment. We were gullible to fall victim to the fascist’s propaganda machine, and we have learned our lessons. I am pleased to know that most if not all my batchmates were equipped with the core values of truth, excellence, and service to the nation entering university, and have become leaders in their degrees, organizations, colleges, and universities. This collective vigilance and principles are great consolations to have come out of all of this. Perhaps, this time we just might be right. ―――――――― UPLB Perspective is accepting opinion articles that touch on relevant issues concerning news, politics, culture, and personal experiences. Send your articles or queries to our e-mail: opinion.uplbperspective@gmail.com

OPINION

U P L B P E R S P EC T I V E .O R G | JA N UA RY 9, 2 02 1

19

Hindi terorista ang Messiah MUMBLINGS KENNLEE M. OROLA

H

igit dalawang libong taon na ang lumipas nang ipinanganak si Hesus, at hanggang sa kasalukuyan ay patuloy nating ipinagdiriwang ang araw na iyon.

Di pa man din nailuluwal ang batang Hesus ay napasailalim na siya sa kapangyarihan ni Haring Herodes – isang pasista. Nasa sinapupunan pa lamang ay biktima na siya ng pang-aapi at pangha-harass. Ang buong buhay ni Hesus ay kanyang ginugol hindi para sa pansariling kasiyahan, bagkus ibinuhos nya ang kanyang buhay para sa mga maralita at kapus-palad.

Hindi ko malilimutan ang laging sinasabi sa amin sa simbahan—na mamuhay katulad ni Hesus. Mamuhay ng simple at may pagpapahalaga sa kapwa. Kung nabubuhay si Hesus sa panahon ngayon, tiyak na maaakusahan siyang isang terorista tulad ng mga taong lumalaban para sa kapakanan ng mga api at masa. Gayun na lamang kadaling magbigay ng pasya ng mga kinauukulan sa ngayon. Tila iisa na ang ibig sabihin ng radikal, aktibista, at terorista.

Kung babalikan natin ang naging buhay ni Hesus, hindi siya nagdalawang-isip na mamuhay kasama ang masang pinanggalingan niya. Mga taong may sakit, mga taong nasa laylayan, at mga taong itinataboy ng lipunan. Nag-oorganisa rin siya ng mga pagtuturo at hindi kailan man natakot magsalita at magalit sa kamaliang kanyang nasasaksihan.

Isang tunay na imahe si Hesus ng aktibista. Isang Diyos na nagkatawang tao upang makisalamuha sa mga taong hindi pinapakinggan ang boses. Hindi siya natakot

Hindi nalalayo ang sitwasyon ni Hesus noon at sa kadiliman sa ngayon.

Patuloy na kinikitil ang mga taong namumuhay para sa mga taong nangangailangan

[P] GRAPHIC BY MICHAEL IAN BARTIDO

kalabanin ang mapang-aping batas ng imperyalistang Romano at hindi nanginig sa harap ng lahat ng pananakot at intimidasyon.

Si Hesus ay isa ring biktima ng may kinikilingang hustisya. Siya ay pinahirapan at ipinako sa krus dahil sa pagiging radikal, dahil sa pagiging matapang, dahil sa paglaban sa mga may kapangyarihan. Namatay siya dahil sa mga opisyales na inuuna ang pansaraling interes, at dahil sa isang sistemang panghustiyang nakahilig sa

mayayaman at may kapangyarihan. Isang patunay na hindi kailan man magiging makatarungan ang bitay bilang parusa dahil sa hindi pantay na paglatag ng batas para sa mga mahihirap.

Hindi nalalayo ang sitwasyon ni Hesus noon at sa kadilimang nangingibabaw sa ngayon. Patuloy na kinikitil ang mga taong namumuhay para sa mga taong nangangailangan tulad ni Hesus. Patuloy ang pandarakip at pagiintimida sa mga taong hindi

natatakot isigaw at ituro ang mga maling sistemang nagpapahirap sa bansa.

Hindi pa rin tapos ang paghalik ng dugo ng mga aktibista sa lupa.Nagpapatuloy pa rin ang pang-aapi at pasismo.

Nais kong makita ng mga kapwa ko Kristyano at Pilipino na hindi hiwalay sa pangalan ni Hesus ang paghilig sa maralita at paglaban sa nagmamalabis. Hindi siya tumigil hanggang sa kanyang huling hininga sa paglaban laban sa isang bulok na sistemang pumapatay, nagpapahirap, at sakim. Hindi mga aktibista at radikal ang kalaban kundi ang mga taong walang alinlangang namamaslang, silang mga lulong sa kapangyarihan, at mga ganid sa yaman.

Ngayong Pasko matuto sana tayong lumubog sa masa at masadlak sa hirap na kanilang hinaharap sa araw-araw. Tulad ni Hesus mamuhay sana tayong lumalaban para sa mga taong higit na nangangailangan nang walang bakas ng takot at pangamba. Alalahanin natin ang turo ng simbahang mamuhay katulad ni Hesus. Mamuhay kasama ang taumbayan. ―――――――― Kennlee Orola is the opinion editor of the UPLB Perspective.

S K E T C H PA D

Kape

M

ainit-init pa ang bago kong timplang kape nang umupo ako sa harapan ng aking tinutuluyan.

Sariwa ang hangin at makulimlim ang kalangitan dahil sa magdamag na pag patak ng ulan. Pinagdiriwang ang kasiyahan ng Pasko at Bagong Taon pero bakit ganon?

Mabigat sa pakiramdam ang ihip ng hangin.

Tahimik ang lahat ngunit parang ito’y senyales ng isang malakas na bagyo na paparating.

Payapa kong iniinom ang aking kape nang dumaan si Ka Javier sa aking harap. “Happy anib!” aniya. Si Ka Javier ay isang lider-magsasaka na naging kasapi bunsod ng walang habas na pagkamkam sa kanilang lupain at sa pambubusabos ng mga militar. Siya’y aking kinamusta at tinanong sa kanyang mga pinagkakaabalahan. “Ayos naman. Nakalibre sa ididilig na tubig para sa mga pananim dahil sa ulan.” pabiro niyang sinabi.

Humigop muli ako sa aking tasa habang nakikipagkwentuhan kay Ka Javier nang dumating ang kaniyang asawa, si Ka Esther.

“Javier! Uwi na at kakain na. Nako’y inaabala mo pa itong si Karl.” Natawa kaming tatlo at inalok ako ni Ka Esther na sa kanila na magNoche Buena. Ito rin kasi ang unang Pasko na hindi ko makakasama ang aking pamilya.

Bigla kong naalala ang mga panahon na ako’y ipinagluluto ng aking nanay. Mainit na sabaw para sa maulan na panahon. Kamusta na kaya sila? Mag-iisang taon ko na silang hindi nasisilayan at nakakausap. Pinapaalala ko na lamang sa sarili ko na ito ay lagi’t laging para sa sambayanan. Na kaakibat ng lungkot na ito ay ang paghahangad ng tunay na reporma.

Pagdating ko sa kanilang bahay ay nadatnan ko rin doon si Ka Santiago, ang kumander ng aming brigada. Isa siyang katutubo at sa pagkakaalam ko ay dalawang dekada na siya sa kilusan. Walang nakakaalam kung bakit siya’y sumapi pero ang bali-balita ay namatay ang kaniyang asawa’t anak sa isang engkwentro sa kabundukan. Walang may lakas ng loob na siya’y tanungin at kausapin patungkol sa kaniyang kwento. Basta’t ang malinaw ay sumali siya sa rebolusyon dahil sa hindi pantay na pagtrato sa mga ordinaryong mamamayan. Habang kami’y kumakain, ibinalita ni Ka Santiago ang sinapit ng isa sa aming mga kasamahan. “Wala na si Ka Diego.” Natahimik ang buong hapag-kainan. “Doble-ingat tayo.

Lalo na’t pinapalakas ng estado ang mga operasyon sa lugar natin. Maraming nagmamatyag at bawat sulok ay may matang nagbabantay.”

Araw-araw ay may balita tungkol sa mga

pagpatay at engkwentro; dumating na sa punto na hindi na nagugulat ang sambayanan sa ganitong uri ng pasismo. Kaliwa’t kanan ang pagdanak ng dugo at ang masahol pa ay walang nagbabayad para dito.

Hindi ko mapagkakaila na ang unang bagay na sumagi sa aking isipan ay takot. Bago pa lamang ako sa labanan at nariyan pa rin ang pangamba. Laganap ang represyon ngunit minsa’y nagdadalawang isip pa rin ako sa aking pinasok. Hindi pa ako sing tapang nina Ka Javier at Santiago o kumpara sa iba pa naming mga kasamahan. Handa nilang ipahayag ang kanilang mga saloobin samantalang ako’y may pangangamba pa rin. Nariyan ang takot ko sa aking kahihinatnan sakaling ako’y patuloy na lumaban sa mapang-aping sistema.

Totoong nariyan ang pangamba ngunit para kanino ba ang laban na ito? Aking tinahak ang landas na ito dahil namulat ako sa tunay na ugat at dahilan ng rebolusyon. Marami pa akong kailangan na matutunan ukol sa pakikibaka pero masasabi kong ito’y isang hakbang na upang ipaglaban ang interes ng taumbayan. Matapos ang hapunan, nagpasalamat at nagpaalam na ko kina Ka Santiago, Javier at Esther. Naglakad na ako pauwi habang pinagmamasdan ang langit na puno ng mga bituin.

Malamig ang panahon at mabango ang simoy ng hangin. Ako’y nakauwi na at nagtimpla uli ako ng isang tasang kape para pababain ang aking kinain kina Ka Esther. Habang umiinom ay naalala ko na naman ang mga larawan ng aking nakaraan.

Kasabay ng malakas na pagbuhos ng ulan, tumulo ang aking mga luha. Napagtanto kong nakaukit na lamang sa aking puso’t isipan ang mga alaala na ito. Nakakapanibago ang buhay sa nayon pero isang mensahe lamang ang aking napulot sa paninirahan dito: paigtingin ang hanay at huwag matakot sa pasismong minamandato ng mga berdugo na nakaupo sa pwesto. Ang paglaban ay para rin sa mga susunod na henerasyon. Sapagkat masa ang dapat na nagbibigay at nagdidikta ng kapangyarihan. Pinunasan ko ang aking mga luha at ininom ang lumamig ko na kape. Dahil tulad ng kape na ito, minsa’y hinayaan ko nang lumamig ang pag-ibig ko para sa masa.

Habang ako’y nagliligpit ng pinag-inuman, pinag-isipan kong mabuti ang aking susunod na hakbang. Tumila na ang ulan at ako’y napangiti na lamang sa lumamig na tasa. Sabay paalala at bulong sa aking sarili, “Pilit mang palamigin, patuloy na iinit at aalab ang himagsikan.”

20

EDITORIAL

JA N UA RY 9, 2 02 1 | U P L B P E R S P EC T I V E .O R G

PASISMO:

SINTOMAS NG NABUBULOK NA ESTADO

B

unsod ng krisis pangkalusugan, nagiging mas desperado ang estado sa pagpapanatili ng kapangyarihan sa kanilang mga kamay. Malinaw sa mga nakaraang buwan na unti-unting nawawala na sa kontrol ang naghaharing-uri matapos lumitaw ang mga sintomas ng mabilis na pagkabulok ng sistema - ang pagbagsak ng ekonomiya, ang paghina ng mga industriya, ang kawalan ng trabaho.

Ayon sa Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), bumagsak ang Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate ng bansa ng 16.5% noong ikalawang sangkapat ng 2020, ang pinakamababang naitala sa bansa mula noong 1981, panahon ni Marcos. Itong takbo ay nagpatuloy hanggang sa Oktubre, noong naitala ng Asian Development Bank (ADB) na ang Pilipinas ay makararanas ng pinakamatinding pagbagsak ng ekonomiya sa buong ASEAN region.

Humina rin ang mga industriya tulad ng manufacturing (21.3%), construction (33.5%), at transportation and storage (59.2%).

Ang pagbagsak ng ekonomiya ay indikasyon lamang ng mas malaking problema. Dahil sa pandemyang Covid-19, napilitan ang mga pagawaan na magbawas ng gastos at tuparin ang mga health protokol na ibinababa ng administrasyon sa kanila. Nagkaroon ng mga malalawakang tanggal-trabaho sa mga pabrika, dahilan upang higit na tumaas ang unemployment rate noong Abril sa pinakamataas na naitala na 17.6%.

Bagamat bumaba ito noong Oktubre sa 8.7%, tinatayang 3.8 milyong Pilipino pa rin ang wala pa ring trabaho. Kasabay nitong pinapahirapan ang mga Pilipino sa mataas na inflation rate at pagtaas ng gastusin dahil sa mga neoliberal na polisiya tulad ng Rice Tarrification Law at mga bagong porma ng anti-mamamayang TRAIN Law. Na gda ra hop p a ra ma nat i li sa kanilang pinansiyal na

posisyon, humahantong ang naghaharing-uri sa karahasan upang patahimikin ang mga grupo’t indibidwal na nagpapanawagan para sa hustisyang panlipunan - sa kapayapaan batay sa katarungan. Paano ba naman huhuthutin ang kaban ng bayan kung ipanggagastos ito sa mga batayang serbisyong panlipunan?

Upang siraan ang mga lehitimong panawagan ng mga demokratikong pwersa, humahantong ang estado sa mga McCarthyistang taktika ng panre-redtag sa mga progresibong grupo kasabay ng pagpapairal ng huwad na naratibong sila’y mga teroristang grupo. Parte lamang ito ng isang komprehensibong digmaang sikolohikal ng rehimen upang itanim sa mga mamamayan ang ideya na masama ang pakikibaka.

Nito lamang Disyembre, nagsabit ang National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) ng malalaking poster sa EDSA na kinaaakibat ang mga party-list na kasapi ng Makabayan Bloc sa mga rebolusyonaryong pwersa ng Communist Party of the Philippines - New People’s Army - National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

Maski ang komunidad ng UPLB ay hindi nak a i w a s sa mga tarpaulin na pinapakalat ng NTF-ELCAC, matapos matagpuan ang dalawang poster ng panre-redtag sa bulletin board ng College of Economics and Management (CEM) at Umali Subidivision.

Liban pa rito, nais ibalik ng huwad na party-list na Duterte Yout h a n g ‘di makataong Anti-Subversion

NGUNIT WALANG SAYSAY ANG MGA ATAKE NG ESTADO SA PANGMATAGALANG DEMOKRATIKONG LABAN NG MGA MAMAMAYAN. IBUSABOS MAN ANG TAONG BAYAN, WALANG MAGAGAWA ANG ESTADO SA HINDI MAIIWASANG ARAW NG PAGHUHUKOM KUNG KAILAN BABAGSAK ANG NAGHAHARING-URI. Law na pinawalang-bisa na ng administrasyong Ramos noong 1995 bilang ligal na suporta sa crackdown ng gobyerno sa mga aktibista. Maaalala na ito ang batas na mas pinadali na para sa pwersa ng estado na dumampot at kumulong ang mga inosenteng sibilyan nang walang sapat na basehan.

Habang patuloy na lumalala ang kalagayan ng bansa sa pagsasawalang-bahala ng rehimeng Duterte sa pandemya, mas lalong tumitindi ang mga atake ng estado laban sa mga ordinaryong mamamayan at progresibong grupo. Naging mas tutok na ngayon ang estado sa mga mamamayang nakikibaka tulad ng peryodista at unyonista dahil sa mga panawagang pinapaingay nila para sa sahod, trabaho, at karapatan.

Noong ika-10 ng Disyembre, sa pandaigdigang araw ng karapatang pantao, nasaksihan muli ng taongbayan ang sagad-sagarang atake ng pasistang estado sa mga mamamayang lumalaban. Nang walang sapat na batayan,

dinetina ng kapulisan ang 6 na unyonista at isang mamamahayag sa magkakaibang raid sa kamaynilaan matapos umanong taniman ng mga opisyales ang kanilang mga tahanan.

Pare-parehong kaso ang inihain sa kanila illegal possession of explosives and firearms.

Naging laganap din ang mga pamamaslang at pag-aresto sa mga peace consultant ng National Democratic Front of the Philippines, kahit prinoprotektahan sila ng Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) na pinirmahan sa pagitan ng nasabing grupo at ng Gobyerno ng Republika ng Pilipinas (GRP).

Sa magkakalapit na araw, pinaslang si Randall “Ka Randy” Echanis, isang lider-pesante at tagapangulo ng Anakpawis party-list, at naging sunod-sunod ang aresto ang mga peace consultant sa Angono at Misamis Oriental. Kahit si Amanda Echanis, anak ni Ka Randy, ay kasama sa mga inaresto para sa “illegal possession of firearms and explosives”, sa gitna ng pagtulong niya sa mga relief operation sa Cagayan.

Mistulang nais ibaliwala ng estado ang mga napagkasunduan sa Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) upang atakihin ang mga pangunahing tao na kasama sa usaping pangkapayapaan. Muli, wala sa bokabularyo ng pamahalaan ang kapayapaan, bunsod ng layuning kill, kill, kill ng rehimeng ito.

Pinatunayan ng kasaysayan na sa kapasyahan ng sambayanan, ang kapangyarihang pulitikal ay nababawi sa makauring pagkakaisa at pakikibaka. Ang bawat kilos-protesta, welga, diyalogo, at barikada ay magsisilbing hakbang para sa lipunang malaya sa karahasan.

Ang pagkilos ay ang lunas ng pagsasamantala.

[P] GRAPHICS BY JERMAINE VALERIO