MANILA, Philippines – Adamson University (AdU) drew flak online after it released a memorandum on Friday, January 31, directing Chinese students to observe self-quarantine for two weeks as a precautionary measure against the 2019 novel coronavirus (nCoV). 

This memorandum was released a day after the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed the first case of nCoV in the country – a 38-year-old woman who came from virus epicenter Wuhan and traveled to Cebu and Dumaguete before she was admitted to a government hospital in Manila.

Issued from the Office of the President of Adamson University and posted online by the AdU Student Government, the memorandum stated that this decision was made “to ensure a healthy and virus-free environment.” 

“Thus, we have made a decision that all Chinese students, both graduate and undergraduate, observe self-quarantine starting today until February 14, 2020,” the statement reads.

It added that Chinese nationals are advised to postpone all transactions inside the university for the stated period of 2 weeks. 

It also urged professors and students to maximize use of the e-learning system so as not to hamper the continuous delivery of learning for the affected students. 

Meanwhile, local students and all other students will continue with their classes.  

Racism? 

But Filipinos on social media aren’t pleased with the safety precaution ordered by Adamson University to its Chinese students. 

Some of them pointed out how this decision from the University stirred racist attacks on Chinese nationals. 

Nearly 10,000 people have been infected in China and new cases were found abroad, with more than 20 countries now affected by the disease. (READ: FAQs: Ano-ano ang alam natin tungkol sa 2019 novel coronavirus?)

Why not include travel history?

Some netizens also questioned the memorandum for singling out Chinese students and not the others with a travel history to the affected countries. 

Better communicated

Others defended the university saying that the memorandum was intended for good. Some said that the use of words in the memo should be phrased better. 

Soon after the memorandum posted online went on fire, the university apologized to the public. It also made clarifications to its earlier memorandum. 

“The Memorandum modifies the previous one released, and we apologize for the misimpression it may have created,” the statement reads. 

It clarified that those "who travelled to and from countries with confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV, including China and/or Hongkong, within the last month, or who may have in close contact or had exposure to a potential source of infection during their travel abroad” were ordered to observe self-quarantine and seek medical attention for at least 2 weeks. 

It further noted that Chinese students and guests who were not limited by the conditions earlier stated, were not included in those directed to undergo the self-quarantine advisory and would be allowed to enter the campus, as opposed to their earlier statement. 

The university also assured its community that it was working its best to ensure the health and safety of everyone. 

The 2019-nCoV that originated from Wuhan, China, has so far killed 213 and sickened nearly 10,000 people across the country and worldwide. The World Health Organization already declared an international emergency over the virus.

As of Friday, January 31, the DOH is monitoring 31 patients for the novel coronavirus. – Rappler.com 

“Nothing about us without us” is a well-known anti-oppression slogan which means that policies will neither be effective nor achieve their intended impacts if these do not emanate from the people directly affected. This slogan captures why women’s rights defenders and peace workers have been calling for a women’s agenda for each of the 5 provinces in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Aside from recognizing the common needs and diverse identities of women in the region, these province-wide agendas will be able to respond to the unique contexts and aspirations of each area. However, for a local women’s agenda to work, it must come from Bangsamoro women from all walks of life, from different sectors, and with diverse roles and responsibilities. Women are not merely asking for seats at the policy negotiating table to face current leadership – rather, we want our own leadership to be recognized and respected. (READ: [OPINION] Standing with women leaders in ending violence, building peace)

The sad reality is that, oftentimes, during public consultations or calls for participation, women tend to be lumped together into a single, monolithic sector. Women have various identities and roles, just like men, and this should always be considered in policymaking. Usually, women from the academe, from the public sector, and young professionals can speak up for themselves and articulate their needs. However, women who are Muslim religious and traditional leaders are often left behind or ignored by their male counterparts. Women who are fishers and farmers tend to be invisible because they belong to male-dominated sectors, doing “men’s work.” The other sectors women belong to, and this is not an all-encompassing list – the internally displaced, orphans, out-of-school youth, widows, persons with disabilities – are the most vulnerable because not only do they tend to be the poorest, but because their needs are presumed to be the same as the men who speak on their behalf. (READ: [OPINION] Building social capital with the Bangsamoro is a must)

That is why Al-Mujadilah Development Foundation (AMDF), a local women’s organization based in Lanao del Sur, organized the Maswarah O Mga Bae in Lanao which convened more than 200 women from 40 municipalities in Lanao del Sur to create a women’s agenda on the areas of health, education, livelihood, protection, peace-building, political participation, and sustainable environment and resources. We ensured that women and girls from at least 20 sectors, including those least represented during Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) consultations, were able to participate in creating a shared vision of what a gender-responsive BARMM government looks like. The resulting Meranaw’s Women’s Agenda – along with the gender provisions in BOL and the Bangsamoro Women’s Agenda co-created with feminist network WEACT 1325 – will be used as the starting point for lobbying from the municipalities up to the regional government.

We Bangsamoro women have taken many steps forward but, admittedly, the fight is far from over. In Lanao del Sur, most policymakers and leaders are from established clans predominantly based in urban areas. Even during consultation processes, invitations are sent to those either based in, or from, the cities of Marawi or in Iligan. People from the rural areas – men, but more so women – are unable to participate and their voices are not heard unless leaders go directly to them. In the rare times they are consulted, there are limited provisions for transportation or follow-up communication. Sometimes, communities do not understand all the convoluted processes and jargon that go into decision-making. They become impatient. Policy discussions tend to be very technical and are not presented in their local languages. No wonder many do not see engagement in policy processes as a good investment of their time. 

From my decades-long experience of not just working, but living, in the region, I have found that Bangsamoro women in rural areas tend to stick to the most accessible and visible form of governance – the programs or activities directly implemented in their areas. Therefore, their absence from consultations results in a policy and needs mismatch. There is no sense of ownership and, thus, government investments are not sustained. One cannot blame the rural women. After all, how can you appreciate a solution if you were never part of identifying or even solving the problem? The pervasive feeling of being an “outsider” merely adds up to the pent-up mistrust brought about by decades of poor governance. 

I hope we can spark and sustain genuine conversations on how to ensure that Bangsamoro women will not be left behind in this new form of government. At the moment, only 12 women sit in the 78-member Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA). On a positive note, women leaders have heard our calls, such as the Offices of MP Anna Tarhata Basman, Minister Raissa Jajurie, and MP Maisara Latip-Dandamun. On the other hand, it is also only the women leaders who are currently prioritizing issues important to Bangsamoro women, which are also issues which affect everyone, not just women. 

It may take a long while before those in power proactively engage with women without us having to constantly bang on their veritable doors. We need strong policies that will protect women and children, particularly the widows, combatants, and orphans. The Qur’an is very clear about attending to the needs of these specific sectors. We all need to work together to ensure that policies do not reinforce patriarchal and harmful practices, such as child, early, and forced marriages. We also need to closely monitor the Gender and Development Code of BARMM – it will merely be a scrap of paper without proper implementation.

If we truly want the Bangsamoro women to be equal partners in development, then all policies and decisions affecting us should be made with us. – Rappler.com

Zahria Pandao Muti-Mapandi is the Executive Director of Al-Mujadilah Development Foundation (AMDF), a Lanao-based women's organization for social development committed to promote women's rights, good governance, and peace building towards gender-just communities. In the pursuit and attainment of this mission, AMDF members, serving as Allah's vice-regents (khalifah), are guided by the principle of unification of creation (tawhid).

Social media is rife with xenophobic remarks against the Chinese. Stories of tourists from the Mainland not respecting local customs or traders being rude in Divisoria are nothing new. However, this stereotyping intensified recently after the novel coronavirus, which originated from a market in Wuhan, China, had reached the country. 

“Buhusan nyo ng alcohol lahat ng chekwa na masasalubong nyo (Douse all the chinks you run into with alcohol),” says one post.

Tactless and insensitive remarks like this one are not going to help. They are only going to hurt people who are already suffering without alleviating the problem at all. Worse, it will only widen the cultural divide between our countries. Common sense dictates that this is anathema to good diplomatic, economic, and geopolitical relationships. (READ: [OPINION] Hate and xenophobia have no place in the coronavirus outbreak)

Some Filipinos are quick to accuse Chinese culture of being disgusting and revolting. Pictures of a Chinese man allegedly defecating outdoors in Intramuros recently made rounds online. Previously, another viral post showed pictures of a Chinese tourist burying dirty diapers into Boracay's white sand.

But even though these are outrageous crimes, we have to remember that for every rambunctious Chinese tourist, there are tens of thousands more who are good people trying to enjoy our beautiful country. Before anyone condemns them for eating bats and snakes, please remember that some Filipinos eat rice field rats and bulls’ penises. Yup, the star ingredient of Soup No. 5 is an animal’s phallus. 

Though I am in favor of a complete but temporary ban on people who’ve been to China recently, I have the interests of our nation's health at heart, and not some misplaced belief that the Chinese are natural carriers of disease. (READ: [OPINION] Filipinos, disease, and fear)

The Chinese are also an oppressed people. Unlike us, they don’t have freedom of speech and expression, media is tightly controlled, and there is no full freedom of movement. The 2019 Human Freedom Index even ranked the Philippines as way ahead of China in terms of human rights, at 76 versus 126 despite the former’s relatively minuscule economy. 

The Chinese are under increasing state surveillance. Their government has been installing countless security cameras equipped with facial recognition. In draconian fashion, jaywalkers may find their pictures and names publicly shamed on billboards the following day. 

The Chinese government also recently introduced the social credit system, where simple violations like jaywalking may reduce your "score." Having a low grade will restrict your access to trains and loans, for example, while behaving like a "good" citizen by following laws and promoting the government online will earn you perks. This system may look like it's establishing good public order, but at the same time it requires everyone to be an agent of state propaganda. 

Love using Facebook and Google? If you live in China, say goodbye to them, too. Their social media platforms automatically detect, delete, and report posts or search terms that are deemed critical of the Communist Party, like the bloody Tiananmen Square massacre. Being too opinionated may land you jail time.

Most pressingly, the city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, has been placed on lockdown, without a clear plan for providing its trapped citizens with essential supplies. 

But the Chinese and Filipinos also have plenty in common. The Chinese are also led by leaders who simply want to gain more and more power through corruption. The plight of China’s Uighurs and Tibetans and the victims of the Philippines’ failing drug war both attract international condemnation. Both Chinese and Filipinos are just trying to get by with what they have. And both countries have confirmed cases of coronavirus infection and death. 

If we have to express anger brought about by this precarious situation, we have to channel it towards our governments, as day by day they are failing the same people who voted them into power. We should not direct our anger towards our Chinese neighbors, who are suffering just like we are, both from the coronavirus and nefarious leaders. 

So before we hit the "share" button on another discriminatory post, perhaps we should step back and ask ourselves, “Is this going to help? Am I condemning an entire country for the actions of just a few?” Most importantly: “Aren’t they victims like me?” – Rappler.com

Rob Julian M. Maghinang is a proud Iskolar ng Bayan from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Manila. His opinions are his alone and do not represent any of the organizations he is affiliated with.

As fear and anxiety spread over the coronavirus— which originated from Wuhan, China and traveled to other countries, including Canada, which has 4 cases confirmed – I started wearing a mask. 

As someone who has often been mistaken for Chinese, I knew that I had to be prepared, not just for the coronavirus, but for the xenophobia and racism that came with it. (READ: As coronavirus spreads, Duterte hits 'xenophobia' vs Chinese)

But I didn’t want to don a surgical mask – apart from having no desire to stand out in public, experts have said that unless you’re sick or you’re a healthcare worker, you’re better off washing your hands regularly. (READ: WHO launches campaign against China virus misinformation)

So I decided to hide behind a mask of “wellness.” I made sure I looked more vibrant than usual. I never went in public without proper clothes and makeup on. I made sure I had honey candy in case my throat scratched. I had tissue paper, in case, God forbid, I needed to sneeze. And I had a hand sanitizer, which I obsessively “washed” my hands with in public. 

An overreaction you say? When SARS arrived in Canada in 2003, it not only left a trail of 44 deaths. Toronto lost about $1 billion as tourists stopped coming, retail slowed down, and many Chinese-operated businesses lost money. It also left deep emotional scars – on children of Chinese descent who were bullied and taunted by their classmates in school, on temporary workers who lost their jobs, and on Asian-Canadians shunned in public transport and elsewhere.  

This time around, with social media normalizing ugly behaviors and peddling lies and misinformation, the coronavirus backlash has not only been swifter, but harsher. 

Canadian and foreign media have written about the troubling number of racist incidents and comments directed at people of Chinese and Asian descent as a result of the coronavirus. In Markham, Ontario, a restaurant named Wuhan Noodle not only lost 2/3 of its customers after the outbreak, it continues to deal with countless prank calls and prank web reviews. In Vancouver, a video of a man telling a woman of Chinese descent that she “dropped her coronavirus,” has gone viral.  

News websites have become repositories for casual racism. “Did Chinese New Year happen?” asked one commenter on a CBC article about the coronavirus, to which someone responded, “Yes, it was the year of the fried rat.” Wrote another: “Quarantine all Chinese until Chinese virus is gone.”

This view was ultimately echoed by parents at a Toronto-area region, who submitted a petition calling on a district school board to track down students who recently traveled to China and ask them to “stay home and keep isolated.” The school board responded by urging parents not to see the coronavirus as a “Chinese virus,” and not to “make assumptions about students or staff based on their race or travel history.”

So far, no one has avoided sitting beside me or any other Asian-looking person on the streetcar and subway. But last week, as I walked down a street near my home, someone who was approaching suddenly veered her course in order to avoid me. I was the only person on the street, so it wasn’t like it was crowded. What was I to make of that? 

When SARS hit Toronto, it “tested the multicultural model often presented as the reason for making that city a livable global metropolis,” wrote York University professors Roger Keill and Harris Ali in an article published in the Canadian Journal of Cultural Studies. “Billed as the ‘Chinese disease,’ SARS connected seamlessly with previous periods of racializing disease assumed to originate from migrants and foreigners in North America.”

Amy Go, interim executive director of the Chinese Canadian National Council for Social Justice, told Al Jazeera that xenophobic reactions to the coronavirus are reminiscent of the “Yellow Peril” in Canada at the turn of the 20th century. In the 1880s, more than 15,000 Chinese laborers arrived in Vancouver to help construct the Canadian Pacific Railway. They were soon accused of stealing jobs and bringing filth and disease. Once the railway was completed, Canada imposed a head tax on Chinese immigration, marking the first time the country excluded immigrants on the basis of ethnic origin. Decades later, during the Second World War, Canada interned more than 22,000 Japanese-Canadians, citing “national security.” Not only were they evacuated and segregated, their homes and businesses were sold to finance their detention.

The likelihood of these discriminatory acts being legislated today may seem far-fetched. For every Canadian who hurls a racial slur, you can see that there are 3 or more who come to the defense of those being insulted. A Toronto journalist recently lost his job after he tweeted a photo of himself with an Asian barber wearing a mask, and said, “Hopefully ALL I got today was a haircut.” Government leaders including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have condemned racism related to the coronavirus. 

And yet, there is an increasing realization among many that instead of simply saying “This does not represent who Canada is,” Canadians can do better by acknowledging that racism still exists in their country and that it’s about time they discuss and confront it. 

As for me, I’ve decided to shed my own mask, or at least its emotional component. Not only is it exhausting to constantly hide under a mask, I have decided to confront my own fears of being at the receiving end of xenophobia. I’m also prepared to stare down racism in the face. – Rappler.com

Marites Sison is a Toronto-based journalist.

MANILA, Philippines– Rappler's Maria Ressa, Senator Leila de Lima, and former chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno were the faces of courage in an exhibit that celebrated the 3 women for fighting for their rights and freedom.

Titled "Designing the Colors of the Signs of the Times: The Color of Courage and Fear," the exhibit aims to reflect the sociopolitical landscape of the country. It also hopes to depict the colors of courage and fear through the large-scale artworks of the 3 women.

The portraits are divided into two – one side depicts fear and the other, courage.

They were produced by young student-artists from the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde's Fashion Design and Merchandising program as part of their finals project, under the guidance of artist-educator Ramon Manuel De Leon.

It was made possible through the college's Center for Campus Art.

Ressa, De Lima, and Sereno have been at the receiving end of the Duterte administration's attacks.

De Lima, a fierce critic of the Duterte administration, has been imprisoned for more than two years now over drug charges, which she said were fabricated by the government. (READ: De Lima in jail: 'I never imagined Duterte would be this vindictive')

Rappler and its journalists have been the target of attacks – both online and offline – following critical reports about Duterte, his allies, and his so-called "drug war." (LIST: Cases vs Maria Ressa, Rappler directors, staff since 2018)

Maria Ressa and several other Rappler executives have had to post bail numerous times since 2018 for a string of cases filed against them and the company.

Meanwhile, former chief justice Sereno was ousted via quo warranto – a move seen by many as the culmination of efforts by the Duterte administration to unseat her. It's also the first time that the Supreme Court removed its own chief, in a petition widely slammed for violating Sereno's constitutional right to an impeachment process.

Running until April 18, the exhibit is open to the public at the De La Salle University College of Law, Rufino Campus, 38th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. – Rappler.com

I never really felt that being Chinese-Filipino was any different from being a pure-blooded Filipino. I call the Philippines my motherland; I respect, more than any other, the Philippine flag; I memorize both the Panatang Makabayan and national anthem by heart; I speak Filipino as well as any other fellow Juan; I love eating sinigang and lechon; and I have always embraced our polluted, traffic-choked, sweltering Metro Manila streets as home.

But recently, I found this notion crumbling whenever I would see fellow Filipinos, whom I have always considered family, treating each and every Chinese national (including those originally from the Philippines) with disgust and prejudice because of the sudden mass outbreak of the novel coronavirus (nCoV). Indeed, the virus originated from the city of Wuhan in China, but China being ground zero for the virus has resulted in numerous adverse effects for all of its citizens, the most rampant of which is (extreme) xenophobia.

In the past few weeks, unfortunate stories of Chinese individuals all over the world, including the Philippines, have constantly been making rounds on different social media platforms. I see and hear of Chinese nationals being shunned and treated with utter disgust for being who they are. All individuals who “look” Chinese are ostracized and stayed away from. Many are also refused basic services such as cab rides and the use of certain facilities such as public comfort rooms and elevators. Once an individual is classified as Chinese, no matter what their citizenship, he or she is automatically denied these rights. (READ: [OPINION] Like us, the Chinese are victims of the virus and a despotic government)

Selected schools and offices have also issued a notice for mandatory self-quarantine that singles out only Chinese individuals. Recently, Adamson University was mired in controversy because of this issue. Many more stories like these abound, both locally and internationally.

I have never seen the Chinese be more sorry just for being Chinese. I have also never felt more ashamed for having a Chinese family name.

As a Chinese living in the city of Manila, which serves as a home to many Chinese locals in the country and houses renowned hospitals (e.g. San Lazaro Hospital and Metropolitan Hospital – which both reported and confirmed cases of the coronavirus), discrimination, however disheartening, was to be expected.

Recently, I noticed how some Filipinos have become more wary of me. For example, when staff at food establishments ask for my name and I tell them my family name, they always seem to give a certain look or make an awkward pause. Similarly, the other day, when I went to the grocery store with my mother and she spoke in Chinese, I noticed how the people around us looked our way, when in the past it didn’t matter. So I just put my head down and hurriedly spoke in Filipino to show them that I was from the Philippines – that I’m Filipino, like all of them, and free from the virus.  

Through this whole ordeal I have constantly felt that Filipinos have this ridiculous and untrue notion that Chinese families such as mine all feast on exotic mammals at home, like how they perceive those in mainland China, and that we could thus carry the virus and infect them. Instead of doing proper research on the topic to curtail its spread and help the masses be aware and alert of the virus, some Filipinos choose to blow things out of proportion and throw their own baseless opinions here and there.

I see posts on Facebook claiming that being infected by the virus equates to automatic death, when in fact Chinese public officials have stated time and again that although the virus has a high contamination rate, its mortality rate, on the other hand, is very low. In fact, most of those affected make a full recovery and the others who died didn’t not because of the virus per se, but because of old age or other ailments that compromised their immune system. Public health experts also noted that panic over the virus outside of China is “unproductive and unwarranted,” asserting that there are reasons for hope during the coronavirus outbreak. (READ: WHO launches campaign against China virus misinformation)

First, the virus was identified and determined more quickly than ever before. Chinese authorities had already sequenced the virus and shared it with laboratories around the world only a week after it was discovered. Second, advancements in medical technology since the discovery of coronaviruses in the 1960s have allowed clinical laboratories and virologists to conduct thorough research into the way these viruses work.

Fear will not stop the spread of the virus and will only lead to negative social impacts. Instead, the public should take precautions to avoid getting sick, with the most effective preventative measure being everyday actions such as increased handwashing, avoiding face touching, and steering clear of contact with anyone who is sick.  

In the middle of the coronavirus outbreak, along with keeping up with news regarding any development with the epidemic, I find myself re-evaluating what it means to be a Chinese-Filipino in the Philippines. Having lived in the Philippines the entire 17 years of my existence, I have never considered being able to function normally, in its most basic sense, as a privilege. Walking the streets peacefully, hailing a Grab ride, ordering food in my name, speaking in Chinese to my family in public places – all of these were mundane tasks that were simply part of my daily life, and which I considered basic rights.

But the masses’ reaction to the recent Wuhan coronavirus outbreak made me realize that there lingers a divide between Chinese-Filipinos and pure-blooded Filipinos despite having shared one home country for hundreds of years. It dawned on me that my view of Filipinos as a family might have only been one-sided, and that the notion is not shared by everyone.

Experts claim that a cure for the coronavirus is in rapid development. It is my hope that we may also soon see an improvement in cultural acceptance wherein all individuals, no matter what race or nationality, are treated with empathy and respect (and not ostracization) even and especially during times of crisis. – Rappler.com

Col Tiu is a Chinese-Filipino grade 12 senior high school student and a proud Manilenya.

MANILA, Philippines — Dr. Manuel Muhi, the current Vice President of Academic Affairs of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) has been appointed as the 13th president of the university. 

The announcement was made by the PUP Board of Regents, the university’s highest decision-making body, in a special meeting held at the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Office in Diliman, Quezon City on Friday, February 7.

Muhi was the Chairperson of PUP's Department of Civil Engineering from 1996 to 2004. He became its Dean from 2006 to 2012. He eventually served as PUP’s Vice President for Research, Extension, Planning and Development from 2012 to 2015. (READ: The search is on: Who’s the next Polytechnic University of the Philippines president?) 

Muhi holds a degree in Civil Engineering from PUP in 1988, and received his master's degree in Engineering from the Technological University of Delft - International Institute for Infrastructural, Hydraulics and Environmental Engineering in the Netherlands in 2000. He earned his PhD in Technology from the Technological University of the Philippines (TUP) in 2008. 

Aside from his position in PUP, he is a registered Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Engineer, and also works as a licensed civil engineer and a professional engineering manager.

Muhi's vision includes making PUP a "national polytechnic university." (READ: [OPINION] A National Polytechnic University?)

He also summarized his goals for the university in a 10-pillar agenda that hopes to empower academic and administrative leaders, pattern “responsive and innovative curricula and instruction,” and create a productive environment through the provision of state-of-the-art facilities, as well as the enhancement of the university’s learning management system. 

"PUP will ensure inclusive, equitable, quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities through a re-engineered polytechnic education," Muhi said.

The other contenders for presidency were Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of National Defense College of the Philippines Theresita V. Atienza; Director and Head of Academic Programs in PUP Lopez, Quezon Rufo N. Bueza, DPA;  College of Communication Dean Divina T. Pasumbal, PhD; and College of Education Dean Ma. Junithesmer D. Rosales, DEM.

Met with criticism 

Before the the announcement of the newly elected president was made, progressive groups such as the League of Filipino Students (LFS), National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), Alyansa ng Kabataang Mamamahayag (AKM), Gabriela Youth, Sinag Bayan, Kabataan Partylist, Anakbayan, and Samahan ng Mag-aaral para sa Sambayanan (SAMASA-PUP) staged a protest outside the CHED office. 

The mobilization was organized to express the groups' disapproval on the position on certain issues of some aspirants including presidential candidate Rosales' remarks on military presence within the university ground and Atienza's stand on budget cut of student publication funds. 

Other groups also called out the alleged campus militarization and violation of academic freedom in the university.

SAMASA-PUP pointed out that the election process was rushed claiming that 30 more days should have supposedly been allotted for the discussion between the student body and the candidates regarding the needs and demands of the PUP community before the announcement of the new president was made. 

Muhi was part of the PUP Executive Committee with incumbent president Dr. Emanuel de Guzman. 

Under the administration, the university student handbook was revised to add Mandatory Random Drug Testing (MRDT) and higher general weighted average (GWA) requirement for Latin Honors. These provisions were criticized by student groups for being "anti-student".

Muhi will take over de Guzman's position who served the university from 2012 to 2020. – with reports from Hyacinth Estrada and Dan Navarro/Rappler.com

Since my daughter, Lala, started going to a med school almost two years ago, I have become more empathetic towards the plight of doctors and the challenges they face due to their chosen profession.

There was this one time when, after reading a particularly heartbreaking article written by a young physician that left me weeping buckets, I ended up imagining my daughter as the writer. That prompted me to message her, “Are you sure about wanting to become a doctor? I hope that you don’t feel obligated to become one. Should you decide to not continue, you have our full support.”

You see, taking up medicine was not her idea. My husband and I “mind-conditioned” her to enroll in a med school because both sides of our family are in dire need of a doctor. Between us is a history of serious medical conditions such as diabetes, coronary heart disease, cancer, and hypertension. My father already suffered multiple strokes that left him partially paralyzed, my father-in-law died without any warning due to a brain aneurysm, and my husband, at the age of 40, underwent a kidney transplant as a result of long-standing diabetes.

Being the obedient daughter that she was, and apparently having realized the practicality and urgency behind our decision, she eventually capitulated to our express and ardent wish.

Lala has always been passionately patriotic. When the subject of the possibility of working abroad would crop up in casual family conversations, she would seriously declare that it will never be an option for her. “Pinaaral ako ng gobyerno, tapos iiwan ko rin pala ang Pilipinas? (I received my education through the government, only for me to just leave the Philippines?)” she would often argue. (Lala is a product of the Philippine Science High School and the University of the Philippines, and was a recipient of the DOST academic scholarship for 8 years.)

That sense of patriotism, coupled with her inherent compassion for the less privileged, has always been a source of utmost pride for me and my husband. 

Today, however, amid all the stories surrounding the deadly novel coronavirus– and the vital and dangerous role that medical practitioners play in battling this epidemic – those same qualities are now a source of grave worry and overwhelming fear for me.

As her mother, I worry and fear that Lala will be unwittingly exposed to the dreaded virus in the course of her life as a med student. Or that she will be assigned to a hospital where patients under investigation (PUIs) have been admitted. Or I imagine that, out of sheer compassion, she will feel the need to hold the hand of a PUI to, somehow, allay the latter’s fear. (READ: [OPINION] It’s time to talk about the moral injury being done to our healthcare workers)

But when I think of what someone else’s child in Wuhan may be experiencing right now, I realize that I have every reason to be thankful.  

In Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the 2019-nCoV outbreak, Chinese doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals are on the frontlines.  

I have read about nurses who cut off their long hair or shaved their heads to save time putting on their protective gear, precious and critical time that they would rather use attending to their patients. There are those who wear adult diapers because they cannot afford to go to the bathroom, or those whose faces are full of sores and blisters due to the thick, heavy, and tight goggles they have to wear all the time. There are those who are on their feet all day, with hardly any time to spare to grab something to eat, and when severe exhaustion takes over, they end up sleeping on hospital floors and benches because all the beds are occupied. 

There are those whose hands, bleached by so much disinfectant, become white as snow, and those who are forced to face their patients without any protective gear due to lack of supplies. There are also those who find themselves physically attacked by their patients, or their patients’ relatives, due to desperation and hopelessness.

I also read about those who refuse to quit working because they know that there’s already a massive shortage of health professionals in Wuhan and that their services are badly needed: a seven-month-pregnant nurse who, later on, contracted the virus; a 28-year-old pharmacist who died of cardiac arrest after working 10 days straight; a 34-year-old ophthalmologist who died due to the virus that he warned people about; a 51-year-old doctor who succumbed to a fatal heart attack while treating his patients; and a 62-year-old retired ENT specialist who died of the virus after he went back to the hospital where he used to work to help treat patients.

Surely, there are countless others whose stories of heroism still remain untold. Hopefully, the world will get to hear them all.

In a few years, when Lala eventually becomes a full-fledged physician, and if our own country happens to come face to face with a situation akin to what China is confronting right now, I am certain that she too will not hesitate to put her own life at risk to courageously save others. She too will fearlessly work on the frontlines if that is what it takes to fulfill her sworn duty. She too will proudly wear her patriotism and compassion like a badge of honor because, well, that’s how she is.

As her mother, I will still continue to worry and fear for her safety, but I will also stand tall knowing my daughter is doing something right and kind and humane. I’m sure that that is what the parents and families of all those Wuhan heroes are feeling right now. 

Finally, in light of this virus outbreak, I have only prayers to offer. 

I pray that the sacrifices of these heroic men and women do not go in vain. I pray that people will be inspired to do whatever they can to help alleviate the impact of this global health emergency. I pray that, from the example set by these heroes in Wuhan, the world will learn a valuable lesson or two about patriotism and compassion. – Rappler.com

Lorelei Baldonado Aquino, 46, is a University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman alumna. She works as a freelance writer and an active volunteer for Team Pilipinas, a group established for those who want to do their own small share to be part of the solution to our country's myriad of problems. She is also the blogger behind Mom on a Mission.

MANILA, Philippines – The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) and other groups on Monday, February 10, called on the public to help defense press freedom and support the franchise renewal of embattled broadcast network ABS-CBN.

Solicitor General Jose Calida filed a quo warranto petition against the media company, asking the justices to cancel its francise.

The petition came a little over a month before the franchise of ABS-CBN, granted by Congress, expires. Claiming it did not run his political ads during the 2016 presidential campaign, President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly warned the company that its franchise will be revoked, even taunting management to just sell. (READ: Timeline: Duterte against ABS-CBN's franchise renewal)

“This proves without a doubt that this government is hellbent on using all its powers to shut down the broadcast network whose franchise renewal...So much so that it would risk trampling on Congress' authority to legislate franchises,” NUJP said.

The University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication (UP CMC) raised the same concerns, saying the petition highlights how the government goes to great lengths to silence critical voices in media. UP CMC added that the attacks are reminiscent of the pre-Martial Law era, which sought to undermine media's independence and ability to report on government's actions and hold public officials accountable.

It recounted how in recent years, the Philippines has witnessed multiple tactics from the government to attack the media – from the legal harassment of ABS-CBN and Rappler to the spread of false claims against groups such as Vera Files.

Uphold independence

The New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) also slammed the petition. "Filipinos and advocates of press freedom should reject this move and assert their right to a free press," asserted HRW researcher Carlos Conde, 

NUJP called on Congress and the Supreme Court to uphold their duty as independent and co-equal branches of government that are not at the beck and call of the executive.

“We must not allow the vindictiveness of one man, no matter how powerful, to run roughshod over the constitutionally guaranteed freedoms of the press and of expression, and the people's right to know,” NUJP said in a statement.

Reminding the public of the upcoming anniversary of the 1986 EDSA revolution this month, the UP CMC asked Filipinos ensure that the freedoms regained 34 years ago will remain.

"Government actions such as [the filing of the quo warranto petition] show us the volatility of this hard-won freedom, the need to remain vigilant so as to not allow history repeat itself," it said.

As many as 11,000 jobs are on the line in a possible ABS-CBN closure.

The NUJP has been holding weekly Friday protests to call on the government to renew the franchise. It's also leading a signature campaign against the ABS-CBN shutdown, which will be submitted to Congress for review. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines– When threats to press freedom have become rampant, what can campus publications do to rise triumphant in this new age of student journalism?

Student journalists face new challenges as widespread propaganda operations muddle conversations in digital platforms and get in the way of objective reporting. This is further aggravated by the intimidation of the press, which has extended to cover even campus journalists as well.

Since 2010, the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) has recorded almost 1,000 campus press freedom violations involving actual censorship of editorial content, harassment of student writers and editors, administrative intervention and withholding of funds among others.

CEGP said almost 200 student publications from different state and local universities and colleges nationwide are on the brink of being defunded. (READ: The different faces of press freedom violations vs campus journalists)

The oldest and broadest alliance of college editors attributed this partly to the implementation of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act or the Free Higher Education Law since its implementing rules and guidelines do not require the collection of student publication fees.

Aside from struggles with funding, several publications face intimidation from state forces due to their reporting and activities.

These incidents happen despite the existence of RA 7079 or the Campus Journalism Act of 1991. (READ: Does the Campus Journalism Act protect press freedom?)

Hoping to unpack the challenges faced by student journalists today, Rappler's civic engagement arm MovePH is leading a huddle, an action-oriented gathering among students, groups, and advocates.

In the huddle, we explore how we can help forward the state of campus journalism, and find ways to amplify voices in the community despite the hurdles. (READ: Why campus journalists should go beyond classrooms)

Join us as MovePH hosts a huddle on the state of campus journalism on Saturday, February 22, 1pm to 5pm at the Rappler HQ.

We’ll also introduce the revamped version of the MovePH network– an ecosystem of civic action enablers and doers collaborating towards sustainable progress and nation-building.

Campus publications, especially, play an integral role in this network as journalism takes a step beyond mere objective reportage, into the realm of advocacy and social involvement. 

Student journalists are highly encouraged to join the huddle. Click the button to below to register or fill out this form.

An email will be sent to confirm your reservation to the Huddle.

Aside from the Huddle, MovePH is also doing a series of roadshows around the Philippines to bridge the online gap by bringing the conversation to communities. – Rappler.com

CEBU CITY, Philippines - Criza "Lisa" Mendez, a banana cue vendor, has been serving the students, teachers, and alumni of University of the Philippines Cebu for more than 30 years.

She is the proud owner of the best-selling banana cue and pinaypay of Brgy. Lahug, Cebu. Her stall can be found inside UP Cebu High School, where she's seen by many as a motherly figure. 

UP High School principal Dr Catherine Rodel shared that Manang Lisa has always been well-loved by the students, and has become an indelible part of the community.

“Manang Lisa cares for the students. She would allow students to make utang (loans) for snacks, especially to the ones who do not have any baon (allowance),” Rodel added.

However, Manang Lisa's world turned upside down when she suffered an aneurysm. 

It was through a viral social media post by UP Cebu alumna Chastity Manuel Sermon that students found out their favorite banana cue vendor was admitted to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center due to her aneurysm. A surgery to repair an aneurysm would cost about P200,000.

Hoping to help the beloved banana cue vendor, Sermon called for donations for Manang Lisa's recovery. (READ: A new bayanihan: Filipinos use social media to help people in 2019)

It was her way of giving back for all those years she found a lovable mother in Manang Lisa while studying in UP Cebu.

“She treats us all like her kids, always smiling and making us feel better if we are stressed with school. She’s close to us all from UP, and she's loved so much by both alumni and students," Sermon said.

The UP Cebu Student Council, along with its alumni, was quick to act. With the help of social media and a GoFundMe account, the student council was able to raise more than half of the amount needed for Manang Lisa's operation. 

After her operation on Tuesday, February 4, Manang Lisa can now talk and eat properly. Aleza Mae Mendez, her daughter, gave her thanks to all those who donated to support her mother’s swift recovery. She recounts her experience with the doctors and UP graduates who were willing to come to the rescue. 

“We were so happy. No one ever forgot about her. Everyone helped by giving medicine and our daily needs at the ward,” Mendez said.

Those interested in providing further financial assistance for Manang Lisa's recovery, may send in donations through any of the following methods:

• Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)
• Account name: Aleza Mae Mendez
• Account number: 1029217323 
• Contact number: 09184762437
• UP Cebu Student Council's GoFundMe

– Rappler.com

John Tan Sitchon is a Rappler intern from the University of San Jose Recoletos in Cebu City. He tweets at @TheJohnSitchon.

MANILA, Philippines – The Consortium on Democracy and Disinformation (D&D) on Tuesday, February 11, decried Solicitor General Jose Calida’s Supreme Court petition against ABS-CBN, calling it a "parasitic assault on press freedom" and a "perversion of the rule of law."

"This is deeply disturbing, because shutting down the largest media network in the country will not only cause the loss of thousands of jobs and affect the lives of millions who are loyal consumers of the news and entertainment produced by the network; it will be a terrible attack on press freedom, and on democracy itself," said the consortium of individuals and institutions committed to democracy and engaged in the  campaign to counter disinformation.

ABS-CBN has been the subject of presidential ire, and President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly warned the company that its franchise will not be renewed after it expires on March 30. 

Congress has the mandate to issue, renew or cancel broadcasting franchises, but Calida on Monday brought the matter to the High Court.

“That SolGen will abuse the quo warranto remedy, despite the constitutional fact that Congress retains the power to review broadcasting franchises, only underscores the grave threat this petition poses to our fundamental freedoms and our democratic processes,” the group said.

D&D noted that Calida's petition is based on "patent disinformation" about the use of Philippine Depositary Receipts (PDRs) by media companies.

PDRs are financial instruments used by media entities to allow foreign investments without violating the constitutional rule that media companies should be 100% Filipino-owned. PDRs are a common, lawful practice, and their legality has been upheld by the SC. (READ: Misconceptions on PDRs)

In his petition, Calida just listed the foreign companies that have been issued PDRs by ABS-CBN, saying the scheme has allowed foreign influence over the Philippine media. This claim was debunked by the media giant, saying that its PDRs were evaluated and approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as the Philippine Stock Exchange. 

D&D also chided Calida for admitting that he had not yet read all the supposed evidence gathered by his office against ABS-CBN, "displaying the kind of conduct that allows disinformation to fester and injustice to undermine the democratic project."

Unusual action

The group also slammed the solicitor general for confronting ABS-CBN reporter Mike Navallo during the filing of the petition. Instead of responding to reporters' questions, Calida chose to say his move had nothing to do with politics, the group observed.

“That makes Solicitor General Calida’s unusual legal action itself political; that makes his no-politics statement blatant disinformation; and that makes the quo warranto filing a parasitic assault on press freedom and the rule of law,” D&D said.

The statement was signed by at least 6 institutions and more than 30 individuals, including Vera Files, Mindanews, the UP College of Mass Communications, Foundation for Media Alternatives, Rock Ed Philippines, and Rappler.

“To the rhetoric of intimidation and the infrastructure of disinformation, the administration now adds, through this quo warranto filing, another perversion of the rule of law,” the group said. 

Other media outlets have also been under attack under the Duterte administration, such as Rappler, which is facing a number of government investigations and cases; the Inquirer, whose owners have been brought to court; and Vera Files, which has been subjected to disinformation and harassment. – Rappler.com 

MANILA, Philippines– Weaving together advocacy and hobby, several Filipinos teach stitching while discussing the many struggles experienced by farmers today.

It’s through stitching that some of these women get to release the negativity and stress they experience.

“Nagtatahi ako kapag nabuburyong na ako. Dito ko 'binubuhos ang lahat,” said Zenaida Soriano, national chair of Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women. (I stitch when I’m stressed. It’s where I pour my emotions.)

When she is not busy coordinating with peasant women in the countryside or speaking at rallies, Soriano stitches calls, slogans, and statements on banners using retaso (cloth scraps) and katsa (flour cloth sack) from the local bakery.

On February 8, she led “Magtahi ay Di Biro: Kuwentuhan and Letter-Patching Workshop vs Rice Liberalization” at the Studio Soup Zine Library in Cubao Expo, Quezon City.

The usually quiet zine library was turned into a workshop, with around 20 young women and men sitting on the floor or standing at tables, cutting cloth or stitching on katsa, surrounded by threads and threaders, pins and needles, patterns, fabrics, scissors, and rolls of measuring tape. 

The event aimed to discuss the severe effects of Republic Act 11203 or the rice tariffication law. The law lifts import restrictions on rice, a measure the government hopes will make the food staple more affordable for Filipinos.

Farmers and consumers felt the effects of the law during the first harvest season of 2019. Upon the enactment of the law, farmgate prices of local palay plummeted to as low as P7 per kilo because of the influx of imported rice. (READ: [OPINION] The price we pay when we neglect our farmers)

The farmers said there are too many cheap rice imports in the market because of rice tariffication, and retailers no longer want to buy from local producers. (READ: Butterfly effect: How rice tariffication bill affects everyone)

Having to sell their produce at low prices, farmers and peasants are unable to pay the debts they incurred to be able to plant, or even to buy their own food supply. (READ: Rice tariffication: Birth pains force farmers' kids out of school)

Hoping to ease the hardships faced by farmers, P10 billion worth of tariff revenues will go to the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund for better farm equipment and seeds. This may not be enough as the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) came up with a study showing that rice farmers across the country have suffered about P61.8 billion in lost incomes.

It has been a year since the rice liberalization law has been implemented. Organized by the Rural Women Advocates (RUWA), “Magtahi ay Di Biro” aims to look back at 2019 and the repercussions of the rice tariffication law. 

After a brief discussion by Soriano, the participants were taught how to measure, cut, and sew letters on katsa. 

They collectively worked on a banner that says, “Junk rice liberalization law.” The banner will be used during the anniversary of the signing of the law on Friday, February 14, where peasant groups will lead a protest action to call for the repeal of RA 11203.

The workshop “Magtahi ay Di Biro” aims to demonstrate collective work while leading a public discussion on farmers, consumers, and the ailing rice industry of the country.

The ambitious activity weaves a spool of tasks in one afternoon: a discussion on the rice tariffication law guided by data gathered by the researchers of Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women, lessons on blanket stitching, and production of a prop material for a protest.

Soriano hopes other farmers, consumers, millers and rice stakeholders will organize similar activities, sign the petition to repeal the rice tariffication law and enact the Rice Industry Development Act (RIDA).

She added that both RIDA and the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill prioritize the development of agriculture and provide the adequate support services and subsidy to farmers.

“Let us stand against rice liberalization, which has been threatening not only the livelihood of rice farmers but also the country's food security based on self-sufficiency and self-reliance," Soriano said. – Rae Rival and Faye Cura/Rappler.com

The Taal volcano eruption and novel coronavirus outbreak have highlighted the complex interplay of scientific evidence and public policy making. While scientists explained the technical aspects of alert level warnings and viral transmission, several public officials downplayed, if not dismissed, their advice as merely one of the many contending factors in decision making. A local official caught the limelight for openly doubting volcanologists’ alert warnings and encouraging people to defy lockdown orders. To the dismay of medical practitioners, the Health Secretary initially refused to ban entry of travelers from China to preserve diplomatic relations.

Academics and technocrats readily came forward to defend colleagues and argue for evidence-based policy-making. The clamor was for government to listen to experts, favor science over politics, and reserve seats for scientists in congress. Alongside threats to limit funding for research, recent circumstances indeed demand deeper appreciation and steadfast application of science to address societal issues. (READ: [OPINION] Speaking truth to power: Why the government should listen to scientists)

However, a constructive discourse should not keep the bob swayed to the scientific evidence side of the pendulum. Understanding the dynamics of political decision making is crucial to effectively apply scientific findings.

Admittedly, I am not a scientist. My background is in law and policy as former legislative staff, a policy reform advocate, lecturer on public policy, and now faculty member of a public affairs school in a university that hosts the country’s foremost academicians and scientists. These experts undeniably offer reliable technical knowledge that can provide rational basis for government and individual actions. In the medical field, scientific consensus on the perils of smoking have led to high excise taxes, strict labeling, and no-smoking zones to regulate cigarette use. In agriculture, climate forecasting enables farmers to plant crops that will to optimize profit and at the same time protect the environment. (READ: [OPINION] Scientists should have a privileged position in government)

But we must also acknowledge that policy making is an inherently political process. It involves the difficult task of harmonizing or choosing among competing social values. Policy work is unfortunately not a mechanical exercise dependent on formula nor confined to laboratory experiments. For instance, in post-disaster planning, a Geographic Information System (GIS) can generate meticulous flood hazard maps specifying danger zones. A purely technical approach would outrightly declare those areas off-limits to residents. The process of re-zoning however goes beyond color-coded charts. It entails contextualized sensitivity to the people’s sense of individual and community identities which are often tied to the land they and their ancestors have cultivated for decades. 

To be clear, the point is not to politicize science nor undermine technical findings. I do not wish to excuse politicians’ ignorance nor defend officials who disregard expert opinion or scoff at scientists while accusing them of being stuck in ivory towers. Neither is the intent to completely remove politics from the policy process and reduce governance to technical decision making, disembedded from culture and relationships. Rather, the call is for an earnest and pragmatic openness and cooperation among scientists and policy makers to understand different perspectives, priorities, and roles that must coalesce to reach the best possible decision.

Indeed, policy makers are not scientists, and scientists are not policy makers. We have seen the problem with public attorneys evaluating the health effects of a vaccine. I have also witnessed how some of the best minds in science can be the worst public managers. Though there exists a rare breed of scientists who are effective public administrators and vice versa, we must acknowledge that different skill sets and passions characterize the two professions.

It is when these unique specializations work together by listening to and complementing each other that we have a comprehensive understanding of issues and options. Government must therefore institutionalize platforms and mechanisms for scientific evidence to become part of decision-making. Technical working groups and expert advisory systems are some of the initiatives that have been in place but need to be strengthened to make them efficient, inclusive, and transparent. For their part, scientists must be ready to articulate findings clearly and convincingly, with thoughtful appreciation of deeply held and contested ideals and claims. Investments in research must therefore incorporate interdisciplinary approaches including science communication.

This thinking on evidence and politics is not new. Policy science has evolving schools of thought on the policy process driven by knowledge and power as well as scientific practice and democratic participation. Some scholars prefer the term evidence-informed over evidence-based to describe decisions that properly consider but are not beholden to technical input. Higher learning institutions have been promoting multi- and interdisciplinarity among the hard sciences, social sciences, and the arts in teaching, research, and extension services. Moreover, development practitioners have realized that successful reforms need to be both technically correct and politically possible.  

Perhaps today’s issues demand a louder voice for science. But after Taal and the coronavirus, the tension between science and policy is a reality we will continue to grapple with, for such tension is indispensable to ensure constant deliberation towards good governance. Much work needs to be done to sensibly link science and politics, two worlds with distinct assumptions and rules. Yet science and politics should not operate in their own bubbles if they both aspire to solve pressing world problems. – Rappler.com

Atty. Damcelle Torres-Cortes is an Assistant Professor at the College of Public Affairs and Development, University of the Philippine Los Baños.

MANILA, Philippines – Legal experts, civil society organizations, and sectoral groups will gather in an international forum on Friday, February 21, to tackle how the law is being used to muzzle democratic dissent. 

The International Forum on Lawfare: Weaponizing the Law vs Democratic Dissent will be held at the Teresa Yuchengco Auditorium in De La Salle University in Manila, where experts and various groups would discuss the implications of "lawfare" – described as the perversion of the law and its weaponization as a tool to silence dissent. 

The forum is organized by De La Salle University, Alternative Law Groups, Human Rights and People’s Empowerment Center, and Committee for the Freedom of Leila de Lima, in partnership with online news site Rappler. 

There will also be simultaneous breakout sessions in the whole-day event that puts the spotlight on lawfare and its relation to law practice, media, the political opposition, civil and political rights, religion and economic, and social and cultural rights with subsections including women, youth, and LGBT.  There will also be sessions on labor, the urban poor, and agriculture.

The phenomenon of lawfare is known globally. The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians dealt with a total of 564 cases of human rights violations against parliamentarians from 43 countries in 2018 – twice the figure recorded in 2013. The cases are mostly in Asia and the Americas.

Lawfare in the Philippines

The Philippines has also witnessed state weaponization of the law against activists, journalists, and opposition leaders, more recently under President Rodrigo Duterte.

Duterte's critics have faced legal challenges among them Senator Leila de Lima, detained for nearly 3 years over drug charges widely believed to be concocted to silence her.  She had decried this as political persecution stemming from her vocal opposition to the government’s bloody campaign against illegal drugs.

Former chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno was ousted from office through a quo warranto petition – a move perceived by many as the culmination of the Duterte administration's efforts to unseat her.  It marked the first time for the Philippine High  Court to remove its own chief, a process that had been strongly criticized as it violated Sereno's constitutional right to an impeachment proceeding.

Like De Lima, Sereno had also drawn the ire of Duterte for criticizing Duterte's anti-drug policy, including his public release of unvetted drug lists.

Another administration target is former senator Antonio Trillanes IV who was recently charged with conspiracy to commit sedition over the "Bikoy" narcolist videos. His long-dismissed rebellion case was reopened after Duterte signed Proclamation No. 572 that attempted to void the amnesty granted to him in 2010. 

Journalists are also on the receiving end of Duterte's attacks. 

Rappler and its reporters have become subjects of attacks – both online and offline – for critical reports about the Duterte administration's drug war. Maria Ressa and several other Rappler executives have had to post bail numerous times since 2018 for a slew of harassment suits filed against them and the company.

Aside from the political opposition, some members of the Philippine clergy have also been subjected to persecution and harassment. Priests including Fr Flaviano Villanueva and Albert Alejo were charged with conspiracy to commit sedition for their alleged participation in the so-called Bikoy videos.

Through the lawfare forum, organizers intend to enlighten the public about the pandemic of lawfare and consolidate multisectoral approaches and efforts to fight it.

Other aspects of the forum will also highlight the so-called “red-tagging” of civil society organization leaders and human rights activists. The economic and social costs of lawfare against civil, political, and cultural rights will also be tackled. 

Speakers at the forum include Sereno, former UP law dean Pacifico Agabin, and Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) chairman Jose Manuel "Chel" Diokno, among others. 

Foreign experts and personalities are also expected to join the event, including United Nations special aapporteurs and other foreign political leaders. 

Around 500 attendees from different universities including law schools, lawyer groups, media, nongovernmental organizations, and civic groups are expected to attend the event. Those interested to jointhe forum may register here. – Rappler.com 

MANILA, Philippines – Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) threw support behind the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN, days after Solicitor General Jose Calida filed a quo warranto petition against the embattled broadcast network.

In a statement on Thursday, February 13, KBP shared it was confident that ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal will be approved despite recent efforts from the government to close down the network.

Claiming it did not run his political ads during the 2016 presidential campaign, President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly warned ABS-CBN that its franchise will be revoked, even taunting management to just sell.

Among recent attempts to void the franchise is Calida’s filing of a quo warranto petition against the media company on February 10, as he asked justices to cancel its franchise. The petition comes over a month before the network’s franchise expires on March 30.

NUJP and other groups have called on the public and Congress to defend press freedom and support the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN, saying the attacks against the broadcast giant threaten people’s right to know.

KBP assured that it will continue to support and help work for the renewal of the franchises of ABS-CBN and other KBP networks knowing it is “for the best interest of the public.”

The broadcasters’ association explained that 45 applications have been enacted into law, while 9 have been approved by the Congressional Franchise Committee. It added that its history of approved franchise renewal applications might mean the same for its fellow KBP member ABS-CBN.

“The KBP trusts that these pending applications will be favorably acted upon just like all other prior applications for renewal,” it said.

KBP released the statement a day after President Duterte led the oath-taking of their newly-elected officers and board of trustees, and hailed the “vital role” of media, even after Calida moved to void the franchise of ABS-CBN. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines –  It was a different kind of Valentine’s Day for hundreds of journalists, artists, and civic leaders this year, as they wore red and took to the streets to protest government efforts to shut down media giant ABS-CBN.

About 500 people gathered in Esguerra Street in Quezon City on Friday, February 14, for the Red Friday protest organized by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), Altermidya Network, the Concerned Artists of the Philippines, Defend Jobs Philippines, and ABS-CBN employees and their supporters.

“We thought that since it’s Valentine’s Day, we’ll make it red instead of black.... We showed love not just for ABS-CBN but our love for freedom of speech, our love for democracy,” Photojournalists' Center of the Philippines (PCP) Chairman Fernando Sepe Jr said in an interview.

Sepe was referring to the Black Friday protest usually held by the same groups advocating press freedom, where participants wore black shirts.

While a large crowd joined the protest, organizers said more people should come out to show their support for press freedom, one of the pillars of democracy.

'"Yung kahilingan nating manatili ang demokrasya, kailangang mas marami pang magpakita ng suporta hindi lang sa ABS-CBN. Ipakita natin na gusto natin ng right to choose, right to information, gusto natin na mapreserve ang pillar of democracy that is the freedom of expression,” Sepe added. 

(There should be more show of support not just for ABS-CBN but for our desire to uphold democracy. Let's show that we want our right to choose, right to information; that we want to preserve the pillar of democracy and that is the freedom of expression.) 

Public also affected

Sepe also said that ABS-CBN's predicament not only affects its employees and their families but also the general public as the possible closure of one of the biggest network in the Philippines would limit the public's sources of information.

"It's very important that we have a choice and if we lose that right to choose, we lose part of our democracy," he said.

Campus journalists from the College Editors’ Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) and Philippine Collegian joined the protest in solidarity with ABS-CBN.

“Relevant ang laban ng ABS-CBN bilang isang national mainstream media. Kapag nagkataon na ito ay mapasara, malaki ang epekto nito, may chilling effect...pati na roon sa mga bulnerableng sektor katulad ng community press, alternative press, at especially and campus press,” Ryan Martinez of the CEGP National Secretariat said in an interview.

(ABS-CBN's battle is relevant as one of the national mainstream media [in the country]. If ABS-CBN is shut down, it would have a huge effect; a chilling effect...even on those in the vulnerable sectors such as the community press, alternative press, and especially the campus press.) 

ABS-CBN has been on the receiving end of President Rodrigo Duterte's attacks. Duterte has repeatedly warned the company that its franchise would not be renewed after it expires on March 30. (WATCH: 'We're on the side of truth,' says ABS-CBN exec on franchise renewal)

Congress has the mandate to issue, renew, or cancel broadcasting franchises, but Calida on Monday, February 10, filed a quo warranto petition against the media network before the Supreme Court. The House of Representatives led by Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, a staunch Duterte ally, has also dragged its feet on the franchise renewal, saying it was not an urgent measure.

Ghost of Martial Law

Labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) joined the rally to show support for the 11,000 ABS-CBN workers who could lose their jobs if the media giant’s franchise is not renewed. 

KMU Secretary General Jerome Adonis noted that ABS-CBN has been reporting on the labor sector's grievances and has amplified its calls to protect workers' rights. 

“Maraming manggagawa ang mawawalan ng trabaho. Ito ay hindi lamang isyu ng labor. Ito rin ay tungkol sa pagkitil sa malayang pamamahayag (There will be a lot of workers who will lose their jobs. This is not just an issue of labor, this is also an issue of curtailing the freedom of expression)," Adonis added.

Members of the Concerned Artists of the Philippines (CAP) showed their support by selling shirts and pins calling for the protection of press freedom.

“We stand for artists' rights and welfare and anything that threatens the economic livelihood and security of our fellow artists and cultural workers in the industry and media workers. We will give our voices and solidarity for that,” CAP Secretary General Lisa Ito said in an interview.

“We hope to convey the message that the state of repression that happened under the Marcos dictatorship can very well happen now but the people have always chosen to fight and we have won against repression,” she added. 

NUJP and other groups have called on Congress to grant the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN, saying the attacks against the broadcast giant threatened the people’s right to information.

NUJP Director Sanny Fernandez said in Filipino that the Red Friday protest sent a "good message to the citizenry that the people are not ignoring the issue and are continuing the fight to safeguard the gains we won after Martial Law." 

Honk for press freedom

ABS-CBN employees and their supporters held up signages to passing motorists, urging them to honk in support to press freedom. 

The organizers also out up a freedom wall where participants can write their message of solidarity with the network.

“Mas na-e-enganyo kami na lumaban dahil sa suporta ng mga tao (We are encouraged to fight because of the people's support),” one of the workers said. 

A TV production director who had worked for the network for over two decades said public support for ABS-CBN gave him hope amid fears of a shutdown.

"Nakakalungkot isipin na isang araw, gigising ako na wala na 'yung ABS-CBN kagaya ng mga nararamdaman ng mga supporters (It's so sad to think that one day, I'll wake up without ABS-CBN, just as what the supporters fear)," the employee said.

Bacolod protest

In Bacolod City, over 70 members of the media, progressive groups, and representatives from the academe and Catholic church stood up for broadcast giant ABS-CBN at the public plaza on Friday, in solidarity with their colleagues in Quezon City. 

The rally, held at the Marker of the Fallen Journalists, was led by officers of the JUNJP and its local chapter. 

NUJP President Jose Jaime Espina urged the public to join the call in protecting press freedom because if the government can shut down ABS-CBN, it can shutter other media entities until only the government-run media is left to give information to the people.

“When that happens, the public will have no access to information.... The duty of the media is to serve the people’s right to know,” Espina said.

Marchel Espina, NUJP-Bacolod chapter president, called on the government to stop the coordinated attacks against the media. “Since the start of the administration of Mr Rodrigo Duterte in 2016, the media are the constant subject of his vindictiveness,” she said.

This has created a chilling effect on the media. We don't want journalists to constantly look behind their backs because of their reportage.... We can't have a government dictating what we have to report," she added.

Felix Pasquin, parish priest of Our Lady of Candles Parish, said,  “Press freedom is an important element of democracy and what the government is doing is not reasonable. We are here to show that the Church values press freedom." 

Teacher John Pagunsan and Grade 12 student Joshua Villalobos underscored the role of the media in democracy and their responsibility as watchdogs of the government. 

Also joining the rally were Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Negros and the Baciwa Employees Union, which showed solidarity to the more than 11,000 workers of ABS-CBN, called on the government to renew the franchise of the broadcast network. – With reports from Marchel Espina/Rappler.com

Like 80.6% of Filipinos, I was raised Roman Catholic. I was baptized before I could even speak, received confirmation as a tween, and regularly took Holy Communion until I was 15 years old. A year after that, I lapsed. 

My own journey towards unbelief is too complicated to be summarized in a single essay, and involves some topics I simply don’t have the energy to discuss publicly. But if I were to pinpoint the primary reason for my own unbelief, it would be cognitive dissonance. (READ: [PODCAST] I've Got An Opinion: I don't believe in god)

I was taught about a God of social justice, yet saw hypocrisies and cover-ups everywhere in the life of the Church. I was taught about a God who forsook the material world by a church obsessed with ivory statues to golden cups. I was taught not to worship false idols, yet the levels of opulence I saw in the Church and her followers left me with the feeling that they were simply using money as their proverbial golden calf. 

Desperate to alleviate the dissonance I felt, I embarked on a personal search for Jesus. What I found wasn’t a reignition of faith – it was the final straw.

Zealot

Most of you would agree when I say that books can change lives. One of those life-changing books – for me, at least – was Reza Aslan’s Zealot, my first foray into the discovery of the historical Jesus.

In that book, I expected to find a sanitized hippy who preached an apolitical gospel of tolerance. Instead, I found a radical whose “turn the other cheek” doctrine was a form of civil disobedience against oppressive Roman laws. I found a preacher who looked at the dregs of his society – adulteresses, Samaritans, tax collectors – and saw their inherent dignity. I found a zealot who wanted to free Jerusalem from imperialist Roman occupation, and for it was executed.

But most importantly, I found a revolutionary who despised the wealthy and powerful of his society. And not just the wealthy, but wealth itself – in his Sermon on the Mount, he said explicitly that one could not serve both God and money.

The milquetoast, apolitical Jesus Christ had died for me. In his place was Jesus of Nazareth – a Jewish radical from a long-exploited people who wanted an end to not just his people’s exploitation, but all exploitation everywhere. And like Mr. Aslan himself, I found the latter far more compelling a character than the former.

Disillusionment

There comes a time in every reader’s life when they need to put the book down and go back to the real world. But when they do, they aren’t the same anymore; in some regards, they never can be the same. So it was with me.

Because of my background, teenage me often rubbed elbows with the Philippine business community. Many of these businesspeople claimed to serve God – and hey, who am I to say that their claims weren’t sincere? – but simultaneously saw money as a pillar of their worldview. And when these interests conflicted, money usually won. (READ: [OPINYON] Hindi ko kailangan ng relihiyon upang maging mabuting tao)

But these people didn’t pop out of thin air. These people professed their Catholic faith because Catholic doctrine taught them a whitewashed Jesus who didn’t get involved in politics, didn’t criticize structures of exploitation, and didn’t condemn money as a false idol. Which were, of course, all things the historical Jesus did. (READ: [OPINYON] Ikinasal ako sa isang atheist)

I knew in that moment that I could no longer claim membership in the Catholic Church in good faith – not just because of the hypocrites in her, but because of the inherent hypocrisy in her system. So, with no small reluctance in my heart, I left.

Later, I would develop more complicated problems with the Church that are too numerous to recount here; however, all these problems stem from the same inherent paradox. Imperialism, sexual abuse scandals, inaction during crises…all these arise from the Church’s unwillingness to put its money where its mouth is. All these are inherent in the system. 

And it’s a system I can’t stay complicit in anymore. The Bible says not to believe in any false idol, be it the golden calf or the invisible hand – if there’s any lesson that’s stayed with me since becoming an unbeliever, it’s that one. – Rappler.com

Alfonso Divinagracia is a 22-year-old writer based in Makati. He likes philosophizing by himself over coffee and is currently taking up grad school in UP Diliman.

“Sir, puwede bang magsuot ako ng gown sa prom?”

(Sir, could I wear a gown to prom?)

This was the question of Kenny, my former student who identified as gay. I was his classroom adviser, and I instantly said "Yes!" He then told me about the silver-colored gown he designed himself, and I saw in his eyes that he was so thrilled. 

But the next morning, the joy in his eyes was replaced by melancholy; he told me that some of the other school officials were not up to scratch with his plan, and he decided to skip prom. I tried to talk to some of my colleagues about it, but with no luck. The principal had made her final decision. 

As a gay teacher myself, I was puzzled. They were okay with me being flamboyant. But I do remember one teaching teacher telling me, though, “It’s okay naman for us na bakla ka, kasi you are wearing boy clothes (It's okay for us that you're gay, since you are wearing boy clothes)."

It was always my choice to wear "boy" clothes, do not get me wrong. But what strikes me is the fact that the acceptance of my gayness lies in the clothes I wear. Does it mean that if I were wearing “girl” clothes, my colleagues would think less of me? (READ: 3 ways companies can promote SOGIE equality in the workplace)

This incident perturbed me as an educator. Is our school accepting of other gender identities and sexual orientations? Apparently, most schools have some degree of conditional acceptance of gender expression. This became my springboard for writing the dissertation for my doctorate. I investigated to what extent schools were heteronormative.

As scholars define it, heteronormativity is the way in which society places expectations upon people to look and act heterosexual in all situations. To put it in perspective, ”act heterosexual” means the male-masculine and female-feminine stereotypes. This expectation of heterosexuality within schools often serves to silence or further marginalize gender non-conforming and queer and questioning students, teachers, and administrators.

When heteronormativity is left unchecked in schools, it poses several adversities for students, educators, and the community. Firstly, it limits the choices for gender identity and expression by potentially encouraging conformity to rigid gender role norms. Secondly, pervasive heteronormativity limits the social, emotional, and academic life of students. It gravely impacts gender non-conforming students who may be viewed as deviant and may be subject to further marginalization and discrimination. Lastly, heteronormative culture can hamper an individual's ability to express who they are, irrespective of their gender and sexual identities. (READ: End gendered uniform restrictions for LGBT students)

Although acceptance of the LGBTQ seems to be improving in the recent decade, the Philippine school system cultivates a heteronormative culture that is rarely challenged or disrupted. A United Nations Development Program report published in 2014 revealed that LGBTQ people are subject to discrimination in the guise of 'academic freedom,' which allows educational institutions to create their policies. These discriminations include the gender-insensitivity of the existing curriculum, a culture of bullying, and the existence of anti-LGBTQ policies (e.g. required haircuts and even masculinity tests). There were even instances when LGBTQ people were made to sign “contracts” to ensure they did not express their sexual orientation and gender identity and expression (SOGIE), an imposition on one’s sense of self that is not required for those whose SOGIE conforms to society’s expectations.

The solution

In response to transitioning into a homonormative institution, the Department of Education (DepEd) recently released D.O No. 32, s. 2017 or the Gender-Responsive Basic Education Policy. It outlined guidelines for how DepEd employees could promote and uphold the rights of children, regardless of gender orientation, and foster a nurturing learning environment for all. Though the policy is promising, mainstreaming sound practices for handling students’ gender preferences and addressing homonormative culture is yet to be established.

But these policies, while strong on paper, have not been adequately enforced. In the absence of effective implementation and monitoring, many LGBTQ youths continue to experience bullying and harassment in school. The adverse treatment they experience from peers and teachers is compounded by discriminatory policies that stigmatize and disadvantage these students, and by the lack of available information and resources about LGBTQ issues in schools.

When students face these issues – whether in isolation or together – the school can become a difficult or hostile environment. In addition to bullying and discrimination, exclusion may cause them to lose concentration, skip class, or seek to transfer schools – all impairing their right to education. For the right to education to have meaning for all students – including LGBTQ students – teachers, administrators, and DepEd need to work together with LGBTQ advocates to ensure that schools become safer and more inclusive places for LGBTQ children to learn.

Specific action needs to disrupt marginalization occurring in the classroom and the broader school environment. We need more transformative queer pedagogies and gender complex approaches to counteract heteronormativity and cisgenderism in the education system. Also, we need an expansion of the Gender and Development seminars and programs. Although women empowerment and women studies are still integral in this training, it should also include dialogues and discussions on LGBTQ awareness, and the issues they confront will help to lessen the aversion of teachers and school administrators towards them.

Understanding that gender fluidity spectra exist will primarily mitigate the negative attitudes towards the LGBTQ. Note that when conducting training on gender and sexual diversity, topics should be targeted on the value of acceptance and openness of the participants, no matter what age, religion, specialization, or position. (READ: [ANALYSIS] Sodom, Gomorrah, and the fate of gender equality)

Most important, the roll-out of DepEd Order. 34 s. 2017 is necessary. With the formation of gender-sensitive committees in schools, it will give an avenue for schools to consider breaking the stereotypes of sexes. Administrators should also educate themselves about this policy and start implementing the said provisions in their schools. – Rappler.com

Ronnel Joseph T. Competente is a Japan MEXT Scholar at the University of Tsukuba and a DepEd teacher at Tinago National High School. He is also a part-time Assistant Professor at the University of Nueva Caceres, Naga City. His doctoral dissertation has led him to study homonormativity and approaches in sexual and gender diversity in his school district. 

MANILA, Philippines– LGBTQ+ groups were up in arms about the alleged profiling of transgender women in Makati City, caught especially in a viral video that circulated online on Friday, February 14.

It was in the video where two cops, Patrolman Timmy Paez and Police Corporal Juliel Atal, can be seen accosting Anne Pelos and inviting her to go to their headquarters for “profiling.”

Pelos said she was on her way home along Makati Avenue when the police stopped her.

In a now deleted Facebook post, Makati City Police dubbed their alleged profiling of transgender women in the city as “Oplan X-Men” in a bid to “rescue ladyboys” from exploitation and human-trafficking.

However, Makati City police chief Rogelio Simon said "Oplan X-Men" – the alleged profiling of transgender women in the city – was not a part of any police activity in Makati.

Simon confirmed to Rappler that Paez and Atal were relieved from their posts. 

Several LGBTQ+ groups condemned the operation, calling it a blatant form of targeted harassment against trans women.

Camp Queer pointed out that, from the name alone, the operation already mocks and demeans the very identity of transgender women, who still fight to be recognized and protected by the law through the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression (SOGIE) equality bill.

“Oplan X-men has recently subjected our trans sisters to arbitrary arrests, harassment and profiling, under the guise of rescuing them all while insulting and mocking them by the police operation’s very name. This is only one example of the routine denial of transgender people’s right to exist in public spaces,” it added. 

Camp Queer asserted that the act of “inviting” transgender women to the police station is an affront to the Constitutional right to due process, likening the operation to the administration’s anti-drug campaign titled “Oplan Tokhang.”

“The utter disregard for due process is characteristic of the Duterte administration, as is evident in Oplan Tokhang, and has created an environment where the police can get away with violating the rights of the people, especially those who are most vulnerable,” it said.

“Profiling by law enforcers aimed specifically at interrogating transgender persons obviously entails intimidation and stigmatization,” added Camp Queer.

Gabriela Women’s Party, meanwhile, argued the basis for the implementation of Oplan X-Men stands on weak grounds, and specifically targets a marginalized sector in society.

“This so-called solution to sex trafficking only targets trans women and illegally profiles them, a transphobic solution to a grave problem that violates every victim's rights, regardless of SOGIE,” they said.

Danmer John de Guzman, the national spokesperson of the LGBTQ+ party list, agreed with Gabriela Women’s Party, saying the LGBTQ+ community shouldn’t be singled out in the administration’s campaign against human trafficking.

“Hindi panakip butas ang LGBTQ+ community sa kapalpakan ng administrasyong Duterteng sugpuin ang human trafficking sa bansa (The LGBTQ+ community shouldn’t be used a cover by the Duterte administration to address human trafficking in the country)," he said.

“The complex problem of sex trade in the country can never be solved by discriminating against a minority and continuing to criminalize safe and consensual sex work,” Gabriela Women’s Party added.

The incident of LGBTQ+ discrimination spurred calls to prioritize the passage of the SOGIE Equality Bill and urge the House of Representatives to act immediately.

“This systematic violation of human rights only further proves the urgent need to protect LGBTQI people from violence and discrimination and decriminalize safe and consensual sex work in the country,” stated Gabriela Women’s Party.

Camp Queer added the anti-discrimination legislation should put an emphasis on institutional accountability, challenging deeply ingrained cultural values, to help create an environment where trans and queer people can live their identities without fear of discrimination and violence.

This is not the first time that authorities have singled out transgender people. Just last August 2019, trans woman Gretchen Diez was arrested for going live on Facebook after she was prevented from using a women's restroom in a Cubao mall in Quezon City. – Rappler.com