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[PODCAST] I've Got An Opinion: It's okay to have more than one lover

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Subscribe to I've Got An Opinion on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Soundcloud.

MANILA, Philippines – For most of us, the word "love" automatically means a couple enjoying a romantic relationship. It is a feeling and an act so intimate that many believe it should only occur between two people at a time.  

But what if you fall in love with more than one person? And what if the people you're in love with are okay sharing – and also falling in love with others? 

In this episode of I've Got An Opinion– Rappler’s podcast featuring ordinary people with extraordinary beliefs – we speak with Glerren Bangalan and Dante Gagelonia – partners who practice polyamory, which means having intimate relationships with more than one person.

How complex is their arrangement? Does jealousy rear its ugly head? Let's find out! – Rappler.com 


NUJP submits 200,000 signatures to Congress for ABS-CBN franchise renewal

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STAND WITH ABS-CBN. National Union of Journalists of the Philippines submits on February 19 a partial list of petitioners who are urging Congress to renew ABS-CBN's franchise. Photo from NUJP

MANILA, Philippines– In a bid to help beleaguered broadcasting network ABS-CBN, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) submitted on Wednesday, February 19, a partial list of petitioners demanding the franchise renewal of the company.

The partial list consisted of 200,000 signatures from petitioners all over Metro Manila gathered by various organizations, alongside NUJP’s campaign on change.org. This was submitted to the members of the House of Representatives who authored bills renewing ABS-CBN's broadcast franchise.

The NUJP signature campaign started nearly a month ago at the height of reports that the Office of the Solicitor General would ask the Supreme Court to revoke the broadcast titan’s franchise.

It has also been holding weekly Friday protests to call on the government to renew the franchise, as well as gather more signatures against the ABS-CBN shutdown. (READ: 'Show of love for democracy': Groups hold Red Friday protest to support ABS-CBN)

The broadcast network has been under threat after President Rodrigo Duterte repeatedly vowed to revoke its franchise, even taunting its management to sell. This stemmed from Duterte’s accusations that the network did not run advertisements he paid for during the 2016 presidential campaign.

Exacerbating  the situation was the quo warranto case filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida against the media company, asking the justices to cancel its franchise.

“We aim to gather more in the future until such time that the network's franchise issue is positively resolved,” NUJP added.

NUJP hoped the petition signing would rally more support behind the authors of the franchise bills seeking to continue ABS-CBN’s operations, and pressure Congress to schedule their discussion and act on the matter.

ABS-CBN’s franchise will expire in just over a month. If the franchise is not renewed by March 30, and the media company is forced to cease operations, the jobs of its 11,000 employees will be severely affected.

At least 9 bills have been filed with Congress seeking the network’s franchise renewal. (READ: Duterte’s ace against ABS-CBN, the Philippines’ biggest network)

While the House of Representatives hasn’t budged in moving the franchise renewal of the network, the Senate is set to tackle it on February 27. However, the House will still need to make a decision on the matter, even if Senate finishes its work in relation to the franchise.

“We urge Congress to be independent and not be influenced by efforts in the executive and judicial branches of government to deny the network of due process. We view these to be curtailments of press freedom, coming as they are at the heels of public and repeated threats by no less than President Rodrigo Duterte,” stated NUJP.

Various media groups and advocates including Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines and Human Rights Watch have backed ABS-CBN, saying the attacks on the broadcast network threaten press freedom in the country. – Rappler.com

[OPINION] Erased suicides: The game of shame-and-blame must stop

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This is no longer something unusual: parents of those who unfortunately die from suicide, especially rich, influential parents, can and do request the police to help suppress news about their child’s death.

According to the mental health grapevine, usually the police report on the incident is pulled out of the official records, erasing proof that the suicide happened.

Can we blame the parents for going through this effort to hide the true cause of their child’s death? No. We perfectly understand their need to spare themselves from painful public scrutiny over these tragic circumstances.

And yet, as a mental health advocate, a person diagnosed with bipolar, and a survivor of suicide attempts, I wish there would also be parents who would be open about such things: parents that  would realize that acceptance and discourse, if done with the intent of helping others, can also aid in the healing.

When we, as a society, collectively refuse to acknowledge that the epidemic of suicides (particularly among young people) is a real phenomenon; when we insist on maintaining ignorant and false ideas about mental health, we become complicit in perpetuating shame, stigma, and blame on the people we need to help: those struggling with depression and other mental illnesses.

The biggest factors in a “successful” suicide are lack of treatment and lack of social support for the depressed, mentally ill, suicidal person. If such a person feels that he or she is weak, unworthy, cut off from social support, and is ashamed over being depressed and suicidal, there is little chance that he or she will seek help. Without help, then we should not be surprised if such a person dies from the unacknowledged, untreated mental illness.

Stigma and sickness

Imagine that heart disease was a source of shame and invited trolling, ridicule, and bullying. Do you have hypertension (“high-blood”)? Well, too bad for you. You are so weak. Why can’t your blood pressure be normal like the rest of us?

Are you obese or overweight? That’s your fault. Why can’t you stop eating so much? Ang takaw-takaw mo kasi.So you’ve had a heart attack or a stroke. Well, that’s also your fault.

The way to prevent obesity, being overweight, hypertension, heart attacks, and strokes is all over Google. Eat less fat, less sugar. Instead, eat more vegetables, fruits, and load up on fiber. Exercise regularly. Get at least 8 hours of sleep daily.

If you are so weak-willed that you can’t even maintain a healthy diet, well then it’s your fault that you have cardiovascular disease. You should be ashamed of yourself.

It’s so logical. We really should blame people when they get heart attacks, stroke, or become overweight and obese. But we don’t. Have you ever wondered why?

It’s ridiculous for us to shame and blame people when they get heart disease, diabetes, or even cancer. And yet, reading through the medical literature, we find that these are so-called “lifestyle diseases.” Certain types of cancer, including colon cancer and cervical cancer, are tied to our lifestyle choices. But if we shame and laugh at someone with colon or cervical cancer, we’ll be considered villainous assholes.

Game of shame-and-blame

Strangely, it seems perfectly all right for some people to shame and blame those who get depressed and diagnosed with a mental illness. When the depression gets so severe that it drives a person to suicide, such a person also receives the shame-and-blame treatment. Why?

Such regard for people with mental conditions is really rooted in Filipino culture’s erroneous notions about mental health and mental illness. Here’s a brief rundown of those wrong ideas:

We have total control of our minds (or brains).Anyone who has been so drunk that he or she starts dancing on the tabletop in a bar, and wakes up the next morning drenched in vomit with no recollection of those events is a walking refutation of this idea. The reality is, our minds and brains can drive us to do certain things, under certain circumstances, that we have no control over.

Depression (and any other mental illness) is a character flaw or weakness.This is simply not true, based on the evidence from medical science and the real life experience of people diagnosed with depression, bipolar, borderline personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, etc.  

Depression and other symptoms of mental illness arise from abnormal brain functioning as a result of a complex combination of experiences, triggers, and risk factors: genetic predisposition; childhood trauma; adult trauma; sexual, physical, or psychological abuse; rape; etc.

Suicide is a choice. In the vast majority of instances, this isn’t true. In cases where mental illness is involved, suicide is the final, terminal stage of a disease that had been eroding the affected person’s survival instinct – eating away at their capacity to feel joy, or even to feel the barest human connection.  Daily symptoms cause them a torment that they are unable to articulate or share.

Simply put, a suicidal person is no longer in his or her right mind. They are trapped “inside their heads,” in a spiraling loop of thoughts of self-destruction, where the darkness of despair cuts them off from the outside world. One psychological researcher, Richard Heckler, calls it “the suicidal trance” in his book on suicide survivors, Waking Up, Alive.

Suicide is the end point of a mental illness that has become terminal. Assigning blame or shame to the person who was killed by it, or to that person’s family, is grossly ignorant and unfair.  The Department of Health estimates that more than 3 million Filipinos have depression – but the actual number could be higher because many of those who are depressed do not seek medical attention out of shame. 

It’s a good sign that depression has become part of public discourse. More people now know that depression, when it is a medically diagnosed condition, is a sickness. A sickness can only be addressed through acceptance, medical treatment (and other therapies), and social support.

Our society, thanks in no small part to present day stresses, anxiety triggers, and mental exhaustion through the overuse of social media and the internet, is pushing many of us to the brink of mental illness. Some do fall off and become depressed or worse.

Even the medical community in the Philippines knows that unless we make mental health a priority in our families, schools, and workplaces, cases of mental illnesses will only grow in number. We need more programs that will help build mental strength and resilience among our young people, and even adults as well.

Our mental health support group, Health Mind Manila, is holding a layman’s forum on mental strength and resilience. It’s called “Leap of Faith” and will be held on February 29, 2020, at Taumbayan Cafe starting at 5 pm. For information on how you can purchase tickets and other inquiries, please go to our official Facebook Page.

If you are in emotional distress, depressed, or having suicidal thoughts, there’s still hope. Get in touch with your doctor or you may called these hotlines for help:

Department of Health Hotline
0917-899-USAP (8727)
0917-989-8727

24/7 Hopeline
(02) 804-HOPE (4673)
0917 558 HOPE (4673)
2919 (toll-free number for all GLOBE and TM subscribers)

– Rappler.com

Ramil Digal Gulle's preoccupations span journalism, literature, copywriting, Filipino martial arts, vocal technique, and mental health. He's authored 4 books of poetry and a few coffee table books.

Media and lawfare: Journalists 'woke up to a storm' under Duterte administration

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MEDIA AND LAWFARE. (L-R) Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist John Nery, Rappler managing editor Glenda Gloria, photojournalist Raffy Lerma, and CEGP's Ryan Martinez at the breakout session on media and lawfare on February 21, 2020. Photo from TomasinoWeb Twitter page

MANILA, Philippines – Attacks against Philippine media have continued even after democracy was restored in the country in 1986, and have intensified over time especially under the Duterte administration, prominent journalists said on Friday, February 21.

Rappler managing editor Glenda Gloria shared how Filipino journalists in the country faced attacks and threats under various administrations, as she and other journalists tackled media and lawfare at a breakout session during the international forum on lawfare on Friday.

"Lawfare" – the portmanteau of law and warfare – is described as the perversion of the law and its weaponization as a tool to silence dissent. 

Gloria said that in the case of Philippine presidents, "the way they use the law and legal system reflects their understanding of the demands of democracy," the burdens of public service, and their view of how power should be wielded to sustain public support.  

After discussing what it was like to be a journalist under a democracy from the presidency of the late Corazon Aquino to that of her son, Benigno Aquino III, Gloria shared that under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippine press faced bigger challenges.

“Now we woke up to a storm, and this situation is different for a number of reasons,” she said. (READ: ‘Guns, drug lists, trolls…but Duterte's biggest weapon is the law’)

Gloria said that under the current administration, the attacks were no longer just directed at individual journalists but also at media organizations. 

“This is the first time that the power of the presidency is used to mobilize practically an entire bureaucracy, and to invoke all the legal principles there are, and the Constitution and the Revised Penal Code, to first redefine the law,” Gloria said.

She noted that it was the first time that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), an indepedendent regulatory body, had acted against a Philippine media company.

As of January 30, 2020, there were at least 7 cases being tried in court against Rappler CEO and executive editor Maria Ressa as well as Rappler's directors and a former researcher. (LIST: Cases vs Maria Ressa, Rappler directors, staff since 2018)

Patterns

Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist John Nery, for his part, cited patterns in Duterte’s relationship with the media. 

“First is the pattern of utility. He understands the resources and the capabilities of different forms of media and he is not afraid to lose them,” Nery said.

Aside from utilizing the government’s resources to attack journalists, Nery also stressed the pattern of hostility that the Duterte administration has shown toward the media.

“If he doesn't like you, he will go against you,” Nery said, adding that this can be observed in the cases against Rappler and ABS-CBN. 

“These patterns explain why government lawyers like Calida are now using obscure civil actions like quo warranto petition to put pressure on the media,” he added.

The Office of the Solicitor General had initiated the SEC investigation into Rappler, and had filed a quo warranto petition against ABS-CBN before the Supreme Court.

Gloria stressed the importance of fighting back, citing how Rappler, its reporters and regional correspondents filed a petition before the High Court in 2019, seeking to end Duterte’s coverage ban against them.

“In the end, no matter the grieving and the crying and the jailing, and having to deal with all the cases, I think 2020 should be the time for action, and should be a time for reflection that leads to very concrete steps. Because sometimes, it really just takes one step in the face of a dying democracy to actually give us the sense of power,” Gloria said.

Freelance photojournalist Raffy Lerma, who has shown the realities of the  Duterte's bloody drug war through his work, and College Editors’ Guild of the Philippines Deputy Secretary General Ryan Martinez also joined the panel discussion on media and lawfare. – Rappler.com 

How an agritourism spot empowers Palawan farmers through art

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YAMANG BUKID. Yamang Bukid in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Photo courtesy of JM Zapanta

PALAWAN, Philippines – In an agritourism destination in Puerto Princesa, farmers take a break from the grueling heat of the sun to create art.

Ronnel Espino, 36, discovered his love for the arts when he created a mural painting in elementary school. But life at the farm had been difficult, that he was pushed to put his interest on the backburner.

"You have to choose between working on the farm and doing art. If you choose art, you need to focus there and that leaves you not being able to concentrate on farming that financially sustains you," Espino said, recounting his dilemma as a youth.

NEW LOVE. Ex-illegal logger Ronnel Espino rediscovered his love for visual arts when he joined Yamang Bukid as a farmer. Photo courtesy of JM Zapanta

"Even if you have spare time to do art, you can’t still pursue it because you don’t have the money to buy paint, watercolor and other art materials," he added.

Espino is now a farmer at Yamang Bukid, the agritourism spot 30 minutes away from the city proper. At Yamang Bukid, young resident artists give agricultural workers the opportunity to make art pieces as they take a break from the backbreaking work in the field.

Now, he no longer has to choose one from the other. Creating art had given him an extra income source.

Espino's paintings depict environmental conservation, hoping to inspire people to practice a sustainable lifestyle. Three of his paintings were bought by visitors months ago.

"Farmers are less appreciated, so having other people appreciating you and your artworks is a heartwarming experience," Espino said.

'Not just a farmer'

Known for its sprawling sunflower plantation, turmeric, and other organic produce, Yamang Bukid Farm is an emerging art haven tucked away between the rolling verdant mountains of Sitio Candis III in Bacungan village.

Now oozing vitality, no one would think that the 20.2-hectare land was once a denuded lowland forest void of life. At every turn in Yamang Bukid, there are different art pieces – from paintings, terracotta sculptures, bamboo chimes, dream catchers, lanterns, to upcycled crafts and dish gardens – all created with the farmers' help.

At Yamang Bukid, some resident artist are relatives of farmers. Senior resident artist Julius Opiala, whose grandfather is a farmer, said that art has become a refuge from the everyday work at the field.

"As farmers, their daily routine is toiling at the farm and much of their life just revolve there," said the 34-year-old Opiala.

"When they’re free, we hand over the paintbrush to them. After they had tried out painting for the first time, we saw their eyes glowing. They looked refreshed. In a way, art has become their stress-reliever, their respite from the laborious work in the field," Opiala added.

HANDPAINTED. Some of the native crafts designed by Yamang Bukid farmers. Photo courtesy of JM Zapanta

 

For Opiala, guiding farmers to find their creative genius is also a way of empowering these marginalized workers to become self-determined individuals.

"Art shouldn’t just be done only for aesthetic purposes. It must carry an advocacy. As for us, we want to show that art should not be elitist but rather inclusive, as we bring it to this less-privileged rural community. We want to boost the self-esteem of farmers, and at the same time promote the value of farming and farmers to our society," Opiala said. 

Since the farm opened in August 2017, it has been providing informal art workshops to farmers, the majority of whom are former illegal loggers.

ART WORK. Some of the art work and products on sale. Photo courtesy of JM Zapanta

"Just by observing us and trying it out for themselves, we have seen how their artistic skill has evolved. They have now become more imaginative as most of the art ideas are coming from them," said Joy Jane Umambong, a resident artist who is a granddaughter of a farmer.

"And whatever art resources we have here, we allow them to use it because here at Yamang Bukid, if you’re a farmer, you’re not restricted to just doing farm chores," added the 22-year-old Umambong.

'Living a life for others'

Aside from farmers, Yamang Bukid also gives out workshops to farmers’ children.

"Artistry could be innate, but it’s a learned skill as well. We teach both farmers and their children the basic art principles. Through the basics, we encourage them to enhance their skill, to innovate using their imagination," said another resident artist John Mark Lopez, 26, a farmer’s son.

ART WORKSHOPS. Yamang Bukid resident artists Joy Jane Umambong and Julius Opiala give out free art workshops to farmers' children. Photo courtesy of JM Zapanta

Observing Yamang Bukid’s mantra "living a life for others," the farm’s vice president for community relations George Maria said that past artworks created by resident artists and farmers had been sold to extend medical assistance to the sick and provide scholarship to farmers’ kids.

Their earnings were also used to help other farming communities in Palawan, as part of their outreach program.

"Ordinary people can do extraordinary things if given equal opportunities. The artists share their talent with the farmers and inspire the farmers to express the beauty from their hearts and minds. Many people get interested in farmers' works because of the very deep expression of their way of life and dreams through their artworks," Maria said. – Rappler.com

When cash aid is not enough: Helping displaced farmers, informal workers

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FARMERS. The impact of Typhoon Usman made farmer Nephtale Cillian and wife  Winefreda anxious since farming is their only source of livelihood. Photo by Mavic Conde

ALBAY, Philippines – Families reeling from disasters usually get cash aid from the government for quick relief, but people who lost their only means of livelihood need to alternative sources of income to sustain them and their families in the long term.

Farmer Nepthale Cillan learned the importance of an alternative source of livelihood after Tropical Depression Usman destroyed his 1.4-hectare riceland in the last few days of 2019.  

Cillan's town, Tiwi, was the most affected in Albay as Usman affected 5,000 families. He and many other Tiwi farmers lost their livelihood as flood debris and huge rocks covered their ricelands, making them unsuitable for farming.

Some Usman-displaced families in Barangay Maynonong in Tiwi got P7,000 in cash assistance from the Philippine Red Cross. The families whose homes were partially or totally damaged also received cash aid from the Department of Social and Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Cillan said his family spent around P50,000 every rice production which yielded an average harvest of 100 bags of unhusked rice.

"I hope I can receive the same cash assistance because my family is as much affected as those whose homes were destroyed," he said.  

Adaptation gap

A 2014 study entitled "Livelihood adaptation to impacts of extreme events in the Philippines: A decade after the typhoon-induced disasters in Infanta, Quezon," referred to the adaptation gap which "happens when the preferred measures don't match the implemented measures before and after disasters." 

The study  – presented at the National Conference on Integrated Natural Resources and Environment Management, SEARCA, in Los Baños, Laguna, in October 2014 – added that preferences are influenced by the knowledge of available sources and types of adaptation support, and the livelihood impact.

According to the study, it can be addressed via technical assistance, education and training, and public campaign on the available sources and type of support to diversify sources of livelihoods. Developing a profile of vulnerable and disaster-affected locals is crucial, the study added. 

This adaptation gap can be applied to Cillan's case. Indeed, Cillan could have received assistance from the  Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) had he renewed his application for that planting season but failed to, like many others in Barangay Joroan and other villages in Tiwi.  

In contrast, some farmers in Barangay Bariis had their crops insured during that time and most were able to claim P2,500 to P26,000. A few failed to file claims as they did not have enough money for the  transportation fare to the PCIC office in Legazpi City. 

A municipal agriculture officer had informed Cillian of availing of a P25,000-loan option from the Department of Agriculture's Survival and Recovery Loan Assistance Program (SURE), but he and his wife Winefreda weren't keen on it. He said the the loan wasn't enough to rehabilitate their land. 

Alternative livelihood

It is crucial for disaster victims and vulnerable sectors to be aware of the kinds of adaptation support available to them and how they can access them. 

Among these programs is the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged / Displaced Workers (TUPAD) which provides emergency employment for displaced, underemployed, and seasonal workers for 10 days at P305 per day.  In 2019, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced that it had set aside P10 million for the program, which was supposed to prioritize affected farmers and farm workers.

The Department of Trade and Industry has been providing livelihood starter kits to calamity-prone areas and poorest LGUs. Usman victims from barangay Maynonong had received 4 kilos of abaca fiber each to 83 beneficiaries. Affected farmers that shift livelihood should be considered too. 

There is also the DOLE's Kabuhayan Starter KITS Project which provides a package of services for target beneficiaries, such as displaced workers. This includes skills training and the necessary tools for them to quickly start livelihood activities and become self-employed.  

There must be the participation of local government units and accredited co-partners like church-based organizations. This is under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DELP). 

Kabuhayan Starter kits experience in Masbate

NILO RUBIO JR. A beneficiary of DOLE's Kabuhayan Starter Kits. Photo courtesy of DOLE Masbate.

The benefits of alternative livelihood offered by the government can be seen in Masbate, where beneficiaries in two coastal towns received P4.24 million worth of Kabuhayan Starter Kits from DOLE.

Through Masbate's Provincial Field Office, P2.34 million worth of business kits were given to 125 qualified beneficiaries in Milagros town, and a total of P1.9 million worth of kits to 99 beneficiaries in Balud town.

The beneficiaries are part of the informal economy who do not qualify under the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).  

Under the program, 60-year old Dominador Rosero of Barangay M.R. Espinosa received a sidecar, which he attached to his motorcycle to help him sell dried fish.  

"It will make selling easier and reach places faster because I no longer have to walk around," Rosero said.  

Another beneficiary, Nilo Rubio Jr of Barangay Ubo in Balud, received an engine for his fishing boat to help increase his daily catch. He has 5 children, who fuel his motivation for  to earn more. He said he earns P500 on a good day.

Rubio has vowed to protect his livelihood assistance and to earn from it so he can get more tools to ensure a stable source of income. 

DOLE Regional Director Joel Gonzales said that the basic perspective of the beneficiaries is to acquire the tools and utilize them to produce products, and gain income from selling or rendering service to clients. 

He told the beneficiaries during the awarding of equipment in January that "If you could make an income out of it and make it survive the year, there's a chance that you'll be given an enhancement." 

Masbate Provincial Director Ma Ella E. Verano encouraged the beneficiaries to understand the purpose of their livelihood kits.

Chito Atibagos, Masbate Livelihood focal person, also advised the beneficiaries to take care of their kits and not sell them.  – Rappler.com

 

Campus publications call for autonomy, protection of press freedom

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THE FUTURE OF JOURNALISM. Students from over 30 publications join the MovePH huddle on the state of campus journalism to brainstorm solutions to the many issues student publications face today. Photo by Naoki Mengua/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines – Students from over 30 campus publications within Metro Manila and nearby provinces gathered on Saturday, February 22, to discuss the problems young journalists face at a time when press freedom is under attack.

The huddle, hosted by Rappler's civic engagement arm MovePH, tackled the current state of campus journalism.

In today's political climate where trolls and disinformation campaigns proliferate and the quest for truth becomes an everyday feat, student journalists are now facing a new set of problems in the same way journalists from mainstream and alternative publications are.

The intimidation of the press now covers even campus publications as well.

Students in the huddle identified the biggest problems their publications have faced in terms of pre-publication, publication, and post-publication. Across all 3 categories, the grave problems that resonated with many of the campus publications were varying degrees of administration intervention, which ultimately results in lack of autonomy for campus publications.

Editorial independence

While student publications should ideally be independently published by students, certain administrations still tend to intervene, and in different ways.

Beatrice Puente, editor-in-chief of the University of the Philippines Diliman's Philippine Collegian, recalled when two of her co-members were barred from taking their publication's editorial examinations and were therefore disqualified from running for editor-in-chief. (READ: Is Philippine Collegian facing a press freedom issue?)

Puente recounted that the selection process of their editorial board was initiated by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, whereas editors from other publications have the authority to directly appoint their successors instead.

"Na-realize namin, kung doon pa lang sa simulang process ng pagbuo ng editorial board, sa pagbuo ng susunod na leader ng publication, paano pang magkakaroon ng isang democratic na proseso doon sa university, in essence?" Puente said.

(We realized that, if in the first place, this was how the process of selecting the editorial board and the next leaders of the publication worked, how can we achieve a democratic process in the university, in essence?)

CALL FOR DEMOCRACY. Beatrice Puente of the Philippine Collegian talks about how two of her co-members were disqualified from the selection of the publication's next editor-in-chief. Photo by Samantha Bagayas/Rappler

Another characteristic of student publications is that the school administration still provides them with resources and funding.

Many students shared that lack of resources proved to be a major hurdle in producing their stories, and that publishing critical stories may pose threats to campus publications – some more than others, depending on how rigid the universities' administrations are.

"One of our groupmates got to share about the free tuition [law], which makes them more prone to censorship. If they have stories that are more critical of the government, they might slash their funding, which might be detrimental to the operations of the publication," Russell Ku of Ateneo de Manila University's The GUIDON shared, on behalf of his group composed of different publications.

The College Editors Guild of the Philippines said some 200 student publications from state and local universities and colleges nationwide are on the brink of being defunded partly due to the free tuition law.

The law's implementing rules and regulations do not require the collection of student publication fees. (READ: The different faces of press freedom violations vs campus journalists)

Many students also talked about how their respective school administrations tend to react negatively toward articles that don't align with their personal beliefs, or with the school's values.

"It's really frowned upon to publish articles that are about the state of the nation and just in general – politics, government, LGBTQ+. I understand we're from a Catholic school; however, I don't think it's good to box students in the privilege they're put into," said a participant from a school in Pasig City.

Other school administrations would go as far as outright censorship.

Students from The Bosun of the University of Asia and the Pacific recalled that one of their columnists wrote about the inconsistencies of their school's Center of Student Affairs. After the column was published, the columnist and members of the editorial board were initially called by administrators to take down the story. It was later negotiated that they could just modify the column.

Meanwhile, members of De La Salle University Manila's Ang Pahayagang Plaridel shared how one of their special issues was deemed too "vulgar" by the administration. Circulation was later halted.

What's next?

Students called on the government to revisit the proposed Campus Press Freedom Act, which stipulates provisions not included in the Campus Journalism Act of 1991. (READ: Does the Campus Journalism Act protect press freedom?)

The proposed Campus Press Freedom Act explicitly includes penalties for school administrations or persons who interfere with the operations of any student publication, allowing for greater independence on the part of campus journalists.

"It will require their admins to recognize their right to freely operate and publish," said Twitter user @heyr0n.

Students also suggested creating awareness campaigns for people to know why addressing the gaps in the existing Campus Journalism Act is especially urgent in today's political climate.

"The awareness of the campus press freedom bill is lacking, so we want to spread the different nuances of the current [Campus Journalism Act] and why we need to pass the bill," said Ku.

Other students also proposed a unified statement from publications against censorship, and possibly a petition that may be forwarded to school administrations.

"The solidarity of campus journalists across different schools and universities can be a powerful catalyst for strengthening campus press freedom," Clare Pillos of The Bosun tweeted.

Ultimately, students pointed out how hurdles faced by campus journalists threaten the quest for truth.

"The admin doesn't lose anything from the absence of student publications, but society loses an arm and a chance in shifting towards a better world," one participant tweeted. 

Hoping to strengthen the links between campus publications, student organizations, and advocates all over the Philippines, Rappler's civic engagement arm also launched the revamped MovePH network during the huddle.

The MovePH network aims to provide opportunities for greater citizen participation that shapes the news agenda and catalyzes concrete actions for positive social change. – Rappler.com

Do you want to know more about the MovePH network and be part of an ecosystem of civic action enablers and doers collaborating towards sustainable progress and nation-building? Send an email to move.ph@rappler.com! 

NUJP submits signature campaign for ABS-CBN franchise renewal to Senate

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STAND WITH ABS-CBN. Various progressive groups hold a rally in front of Senate, Pasay City to urge lawmakers for the renewal of the broadcast giant franchise. Photos courtesy of College Editors Guild of the Philippines

MANILA, Philippines – After submitting their partial list of 200,000 signatures of petitioners supporting ABS-CBN's franchise renewal to the House of Representatives on February 19, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) set their eyes on their next stop: the Philippine Senate. 

The Senate hearing on ABS-CBN's franchise renewal on Monday, February 24, could not have been any more timely.

On Monday, February 24, NUJP, through its chairman Nonoy Espina, personally handed over the partial list of signatures to Senate committee on public service chairperson Senator Grace Poe. NUJP's target for the signature campaign is to gather at least 1 million signatures. 

"There is popular clamor to renew. While we are far along our 1-million target, I am sure anyone will agree that 200,000 signatures is not a small thing either," Espina said in mix Filipino and English. 

According to Espina, the ABS-CBN franchise renewal issue is more than just a business issue. For NUJP, it is a blatant attack on press freedom.

"Kapag pinasara mo 'yung isang malaking boses sa kasalukuyang palitan ng ideya at opinyon ang mawawala, nakakatakot 'yun para sa demokrasya. It will create a chilling effect and I really find no reason kahit sabihin nilang usaping negosyo ito. Hindi mo matatanggal ang usaping negosyo sa usaping malayang pamamahayag," Espina said.

(If you shut down a company that plays a big role in the exchange of ideas and opinion, that's a red flag for democracy. It will create a chilling effect and I really find no reason to just categorize this simply as a business issue. In this case, you can't separate the business issue from the issue of press freedom.) 

NUJP hopes that the Senate hearing will compel the House of Representatives to conduct its own hearings before Congress takes a recess on March 14.

It has also been holding weekly Friday protests to call on the government to renew the franchise, as well as gather more signatures against the ABS-CBN shutdown. (TIMELINE: Duterte against ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal

Support

During the Senate hearing on ABS-CBN's franchise renewal, various groups such as Tindig Pilipinas also took to the streets to urge lawmakers to hear the network’s woes. 

Aside from raising the issue on press freedom, the National Alliance of Broadcast Unions (Nabu) and Kilos Na Manggagawa joined the mobilization to also urge senators to assert a pro-worker franchise as 11,000 ABS-CBN workers could lose their jobs if the media giant’s franchise is not renewed.

If none of the bills are passed into law, ABS-CBN will be forced to close down its radio and television operations. It may, however, still be able to operate by distributing its content using other media platforms such as their website.

To date, there are 12 pending House bills seeking the renewal of ABS-CBN's franchise, which will expire on March 30.

ABS-CBN's franchise renewal has been strongly opposed by President Rodrigo Duterte, who accused the network of not running advertisements he paid for during the 2016 presidential campaign.

During the Senate hearing on Monday, however, ABS-CBN CEO Carlo Katigbak explained that they were able to air all the national ads ordered by Duterte's campaign team (amounting to P117 million).

The issue arose from local ads which involved a placement of P65-million worth of spots, of which P7-million worth of ads were not aired, Katigbak said. ABS-CBN clarified that about P4 million of the already-paid-for ads were returned, but that the balance of P2.6 million was not prompted returned. 

When the network belatedly refunded the amount, it was "no longer accepted," Katigbak said. Since then, ABS-CBN has adopted a policy on political ads that require refunds within 7 days for unaired ads. – Rappler.com


Indigenous youth in Asia Pacific find strength in unity

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MARAWI SIEGE SURVIVOR. Jal Mustari shares his story during the Regional Dialogue on Young Indigenous Social Entrepreneurs held at Bangkok, Thailand. Photo courtesy of Rodrigo Juarez/UNDP in Bangkok.

BANGKOK, Thailand – After seeing a family member get into a fight over a sack of rice, Jal Mustari knew he had to do something to help his community. In 2017, he was only 20 when his hometown Marawi City was besieged by local terroists linked to the Islamic State (IS or ISIS). 

As a Maranao, Mustari had already experienced various forms of discrimination. The Marawi siege, which displaced tens of thousands of people, worsened the problem.  

“It created a negative connotation of people from Marawi among the Philippine community,” Mustari said. “When the siege broke out in Marawi City and people were forced to evacuate to nearby cities.... People in those cities rejected us because they have their negative connotations that we’re terrorists.” 

Mustari’s story of discrimination, even within the context of an armed conflict, is not different from the experience of indigenous people in his country and beyond.

Of the estimated 370 million indigenous people in the world, about two-thirds live in the Asia-Pacific region. In some countries, indigenous communities enjoy legal recognition, but in others they are invisible to the law. 

Connection

Lacking proper representation in government, indigenous youth living in the region, such as Mustari, have stepped up to tackle these challenges themselves by connecting with local and national indigenous youth networks and organizations like the Thongkla Youth Network in Thailand, the Cambodian Indigenous Youth Association, and others. At the regional level, UNESCO and the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) support the Asia Indigenous Youth Platform to provide opportunities for young activists to work with each other. 

Aside from traditional activism, there is a growing movement of young indigenous leaders who are seeking more business-minded solutions to support people they work with, while also preserving traditional practices and cultures. 

In late January, nearly 30 young people from across the Asia-Pacific region gathered in Bangkok, Thailand, to attend the Regional Dialogue on Young Indigenous Social Entrepreneurs, a 3-day event co-organized by UNDP’s Youth Co:Lab initiative, UNESCO, and AIPP. They were able to strengthen and upscale their social enterprises, which range from the production and sale of fashion accessories to farming and agricultural innovations.  

CONNECT. Randi Julian Miranda is one of the 30 delegates from all over Asia Pacific at the Regional Dialogue on Young Indigenous Social Entrepreneurs. Photo courtesy of Rodrigo Juarez/UNDP in Bangkok.

Mustari, who attended the dialogue, is part of this movement of young indigenous social entrepreneurs. Through his social enterprise, Aretes Style, Mustari works with internally displaced persons to produce fashion accessories using langkit, a woven material traditionally used by the Maranao. 

The project provides economic opportunities to the community, while also helping to preserve an endangered culture. Additionally, Aretes Style’s staff provide counseling and mental health services to people they work with, many suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. 

“It’s been 3 years [since the Marawi siege] and victims still have a hard time coping,” Mustari said. “I’ve initiated Aretes Style to give them a chance to live, and give them economic opportunity so they can put food on their table.... And I believe a peaceful person needs a peaceful stomach.”

The Indonesia experience

Joining Mustari at the Regional Dialogue was Randi Julian Miranda, a 27-year-old indigenous Dayak from Indonesian Borneo, whose community faces limited employment opportunities. This is partly because the education system in their communities isn’t in line with the formal school system run by the Indonesian government. 

“We are educated in our own way, just not formally educated in accordance with our state standards,” Miranda said. “Companies have requirements for employment, and because the majority haven’t even finished primary school, they can’t apply.”

The challenges facing the Dayak people reflect broader regional trends that have led to the marginalization of indigenous persons arising from educational barriers and the overdevelopment of traditional lands. The vast majority of indigenous peoples in the Asia Pacific depend on access to land and natural resources for their livelihood.  

The loss of land underscores another major trend. Growing up in households that often do not speak the national language fluently and practice different traditions than those prevailing in the culture of “the nation,” indigenous children are often forced to forget their native tongue and culture, or they drop out of school altogether. 

Miranda has responded to these challenges through his social enterprise Handep, which means “the spirit of working together as a community or family” in the Dayak language. The project empowers Dayak workers who produce eco-fashion made from rattan, as well as local agricultural products such as jungle honey and organic rice.  

“Even the young people don’t get opportunities to work for the big corporations, except a privileged few.” Miranda said. “I thought, why can’t we do something local? Why can’t we develop an economic model for villages based on the traditional cultures?” 

INDIGENOUS YOUTH. During the Regional Dialogue on Young Indigenous Social Entrepreneurs held at Bangkok, Thailand. Photo courtesy of Rodrigo Juarez/UNDP in Bangkok.

Starting small

Miranda, Mustari, and other similar-minded young indigenous leaders recognized the importance of starting small and building the trust of initially skeptical indigenous communities.

“We need to spend lots of time to build trust with each other, because this issue is very sensitive and people take advantage of this as well,” said Sirasar Boonma, the founder of Hear and Found, an organization which promotes the preservation of indigenous music in Thailand. 

It is time that Sirasar and others in the region are willing to dedicate. Rather than leave their homes and their cultures behind, they have decided to use their innovativeness to preserve what they know and love. 

This sentiment is perhaps best captured by the advice that Mustari gives to other young indigenous social entrepreneurs: “It’s your community that gave you identity. It should be a self-obligatory response to give back to them.” – Rappler.com

David Young is a consultant for UNESCO in Bangkok  

[OPINION] Activism, from someone you wouldn't expect

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I went to a Chinese high school, so we were taught to obey authority. It was a Protestant school, so we were taught not to question the Bible. We also had Creationist "science" books from Florida and history books that didn’t have much to say about a certain President who ruled for 20 years. You get the picture. 

I was the last person you would probably expect to see go to a public university. Coming from a sheltered Chinese Protestant high school to a state university in the middle of Manila wouldn’t be complete without some culture shock. 

Who are these people taking over the stage? How disrespectful! What? A lightning rally? Why? 

I used to hate protests. I used to ride that high horse without any regard for the facts on the ground. Sure, I still hate disruptions like that, but after having seen what’s wrong with my country firsthand through 12 years of adult existence, 4 years of college, 4 years of medical school, and 3 years fighting off death by poverty or red tape in an overcrowded, underfunded public hospital, there’s bound to be a Hulk within me just twitching to burst out and smash everything. And I wouldn’t be the only one. (READ: CHR reminds government: Activism is a right)

What is activism?

The Oxford Dictionary defines "activism" as “the policy or action of using vigorous campaigning to bring about political or social change.” In the Philippines, "activist" connotes membership in a communist rebellion or participation in confrontational protests that result in some violence and damaged property. That divergence shows our immaturity, our failure to understand this completely; it’s probably a holdover from the dictatorship.

No international authority has defined activism as an exclusively leftist phenomenon, even if it so happens that many activists happen to lean on the left end of the spectrum. Gandhi wasn’t a Communist; neither was Mandela. Hungary and Czechoslovakia were invaded by the Soviets for straying too far away from Soviet hegemony. Martial law could not stop members of a trade union from gaining power in Poland, in a victory that signaled the end of communism and the Soviet empire.

One may be surprised by how activism has thrived in more conservative parts of the world like in Asia. Gandhi called for nonviolent resistance, for civil disobedience against British colonial rule. Other peoples in Asia have seen their share of nonviolent resistance. It succeeded in Thailand, South Korea, and the Philippines. It fell to gunfire in Burma and China. We owe whatever prosperity, freedom, and stability we still enjoy today to those who had the gumption to speak out and demand for nothing less than better.

China and activism

Chiang and Mao claimed to be disciples and successors to the legacy of Sun Yat-Sen, a physician whose Three Principles of the People laid the groundwork for a modern Chinese republic. Who could forget the chaos of the 1960s and the reforms of the 1980s? Tiananmen, 1989. Taiwan, 2014. Hong Kong, 2019. One could say that activism runs in Chinese blood.

According to Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's first prime minister: "It is vital that the younger generation of Chinese, who have only lived during a period of peace and growth in China and have no experience of China’s tumultuous past, are made aware of the mistakes China made as a result of hubris and excesses in ideology."

Beyond diagnoses

Physicians are taught to interview and examine patients in a systematic manner. The same goes for making a diagnosis. Pathology, the study of how illnesses work, forms an inescapable bulk of medical education. One has to know how something works in order to fix it. But physicians are also taught to see their patients as people, with lives of their own, with family and friends who care for them. It’s not just the flu; it’s a day missed in school, a day’s worth of earnings lost. It’s not just cancer; it’s selling the farm to pay for the trips to and from home for the next 6 months.

Even medical workers can be activists, like the Syrians who want Russia to stop bombing their hospitals, the Americans who won’t “stay in their lane” like the NRA warned them to because saving lives and ending gun violence is their lane, or the late ophthalmologist from Wuhan who warned people to watch out for a new kind of pneumonia. Public service, plain and simple. 

Legacy

Activism is one of the hallmarks of a mature civil society and a healthy democracy. It led to the fall of some of the world’s most powerful empires and the rise of many free peoples. Its legacy has shaped our histories and continues to shape our civilizations. Such a process can be peaceful or violent, and it doesn’t just end with a change in the status quo. 

Activism is a human trait. We learn, adapt, grow, and evolve. We continue what works and change what doesn’t. We speak out because we understand that we’re not perfect and that there’s no shame in admitting it. We speak out because we know we deserve better. We speak out because we believe in dignity. In respect. In responsibility. In freedom. In democracy. – Rappler.com

Jonathan E. Sy, 29, is a graduate of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine who hopes that all the eye-rolling he does from reading the news will spare him the trouble of eye bags and wrinkles.

[OPINION] Activism is not a waste of time

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Activism has become a very popular word these past few months. Left and right,
people protest and rally in relation to politics, the environment, rights, freedoms, etc. Name a topic and there is probably a rally somewhere about it.

While there are those that view activism as youth empowerment, social change, or the voice of the people, others have come to see it as a waste and a sign of rebellion.

But love it or hate it, one can never deny that activism can bring about a large degree of change.

When the Filipino people were tired of Martial Law, they resorted to activism. People rallied, and we now know this as the People Power Movement or the 1st EDSA Revolution. From these names alone, one can already see that activism is not just a gathering of many people believing in the same idea, but rather a show of power by the people. We alone have that power. (READ: A nun in the revolution: Remembering, forgetting EDSA)

Unfortunately, a quick scroll through the comments section of news articles on social media can easily show us that some think activism leads to nothing. Some have even gone as far as to claim that activism is aimed at destabilizing the country. Others point out the economic inconveniences, among others, that come with regular protests.

But even if I myself am detached from activism, it is really a headscratching moment every time someone brings about these criticisms. It has made me realize that people would rather think of the short-term rather than the long-term. Yes, the road to freedom will be filled with inconveniences and sacrifices, but the rewards that lie ahead are still worth fighting for.

Amid all the change that activism has brought about, much controversy still surrounds it. With issues such as red-tagging, activists have not been safe here in the Philippines. Youth leaders are targeted by both vigilantes and government forces alike. When they are killed, it is done shadily. When they are arrested, it is done for questionable reasons. (READ: Human Rights Watch expresses 'deep concern' over red-tagging in Cagayan de Oro)

Instead of being a reason for prosecution, activism should be a right. It is a right – one we've long denied for fear of being criticized for going against the status quo. People should be allowed to voice what they think, of regardless of what others think. There should not be an air of fear around the idea of being active on social issues. Rather, people should be admired for how they take action on social issues. (READ: Ibon Foundation: Duterte gov't 'red-tagging' meant to silence dissent)

Regardless of people’s opinions on activism, governments should always listen to the pleas of the many rather than prioritizing the indulgences of their few. It is the government's duty to make sure that everyone matters, and that no one feels powerless or useless under their leadership. In the end, it is the people who put government officials in power, so it is the people that the government must listen to.

Whatever happens in the months to come, one thing is clear: activism will always be around to incite change.– Rappler.com

Dustin Albert Sy is a Grade 12 ABM student studying in De La Salle University-Manila, with plans to enroll under Bachelor in Secondary Education-Major in Mathematics in the same university. He aspires to become a high school teacher in Mathematics.

On 34th EDSA anniversary, groups slam Duterte for being 'Marcos-like'

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PEOPLE POWER ANNIVERSARY. Protesters call for the ouster of President Rodrigo Duterte during the commemoration of People Power Revolution on February 25, 2020, in Mendiola, Manila. Photo by Lisa Marie David/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines – Multisectoral groups on Tuesday, February 25, trooped to the Mendiola Peace Arch to mark the 34th anniversary of the People Power Revolution and call for the "ouster" of President Rodrigo Duterte.

The groups pointed out oppressive policies and violations under the Duterte administration that mirror those of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

Bayan Muna Representative Carlo Zarate said that the "nightmare" of the Marcos regime is coming back under Duterte's presidency.

"Ang bangungot na sana ay binigyan natin ng wakas noong February of 1986 ay muling bumabalik sa kasalukuyan, muling bumabangon sa hukay ng kasaysayan, sa panahon ng Pangulong Duterte...ang mga crony noon bumabalik sa kasalukuyan," Zarate said.

(The nightmare that should've ended back in February of 1986 is finding its way back, rising from the grave of history, under Duterte's presidency...a lot of cronies are returning.)

MARCHING ON. Various groups from different sectors march to Mendiola to stage a protest rally in commemoration of the 34th EDSA People Power Anniversary. Photo from UPLB Perspective

The EDSA Revolution is a globally-lauded bloodless movement that overthrew Marcos and restored democracy to the Philippines.

This paved the way for Marcos' political nemesis' widow, Corazon Aquino, to be installed as president. Her son, Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, was Duterte's predecessor in Malacañang.

Duterte's attacks on free speech and press freedom can be likened to that of Marcos, who banned and suppressed any critical reportage or portrayal of his regime.

Back then, Marcos seized and shut down ABS-CBN after he declared martial law in 1972. Duterte now threatens to deny the media giant a legal franchise, which may lead to another shutdown or at least force the network to significantly scale down its operations.

"Matapos ang 34 na taon, sa ikatlong taon ng panunungkulan sa isang gaya-gaya na diktadura, ipinapasara rin ni Duterte ang ABS-CBN. Ang sabi niya, 'Eh ano ngayon kung mamatay ang mga mamahayag?" the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said at the mobilization protest. 

(After 34 years, on the third year of a President who is imitating a dictator, Duterte threatened the closure of ABS-CBN. He said, "So what if journalists die?")

ACT. Teatrong Kultura Mula sa Nayon (TEKA MUNA) holds a cultural performance at a protest to commemorate the 34th anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution. Photo from UPLB Perspective

A representative from the party list Alliance of Concerned Teachers also slammed the Duterte administration for harassing activists and teachers, adding that several of them have received death threats and arrest warrants.

"Teachers [who] are overworked yet underpaid are now under attack.... Kami pong mga teachers na binabarat ang mga sahod ay hindi pinaligtas ng pasistang Duterte na 'to," the group representative said, noting how some teachers in the National Capitol Region aren't able to teach well because of fear from the threats they face.

(Teachers who are overworked yet underpaid are now under attack.... Teachers like us, who are earning less because of the limited salary aren't spared from the President's ire.)

NEVER FORGET. Kabataan Representative Sarah Elago joins the mobilization protest urging the youth to never forget the abuses that happened under the Marcos regime and those that are happening today. Photo from The Communicator

Kabataan Representative Sarah Elago, meanwhile, called for the release of an Altermidya correspondent and 4 other human rights leaders arrested in a joint raid of the military and police, who accused them of illegal possession of firearms. 

Several other organizations also said that the President is an underachiever since he failed to fulfill campaign promises such as ending contractualization, resuming peace talks, and making the country self-sufficient in rice.

Groups such as Anakbayan, League of Filipino Students, Kabataan Partylist, Anak Pawis, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Gabriela, Gabriela Youth, and Kadamay also joined the protest.

Protesters also burned a mural with a painting of Duterte and Marcos. 

Before the big protest at Mendiola, members of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Timog-Katagalugan kickstarted a protest at the EDSA Shrine in Ortigas before connecting with the other groups in front of the gates of the University of Sto Tomas.

HUMAN CHAIN. Demonstrators form a human chain along EDSA as they take part in a rally at the People Power Monument in Quezon City on February 22, 2020. Photo by Inoue Jaena/Rappler

They also aired their grievances against Duterte's Executive Order No. 70 – aimed at ending the local communist armed conflict – saying it only terrorizes peasant organizers and activists.

To commemorate the EDSA Revolution, the Philippine government holds a program annually at the People Power Monument in Quezon City. On Tuesday, however, the President was yet again absent from the official commemorative ceremony. – with reports from Daniel Asido and the UPLB Perspective, JC Gotinga and Lian Buan/Rappler.com

[OPINION] When pride marches back to Manila

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The streets of Manila have witnessed a number of uprisings and revolutions through the centuries. From the pre-colonial period when Rajah Soliman fought for its wooden palisade from the Spaniards, to the present-day rallies on Mendiola, protests for truth, justice, and equality is a familiar scene in the city’s political and social landscape. The fight for equal rights and against discrimination is at the core of these assemblies, including the first pride march in Malate during the early to mid-1990s.

The 90s pride march composed of small advocacy groups has now grown into the Metro Manila Pride March. Last year, the march had 70,000 attendees, the highest number of participants so far.

With the recent change of leaders in the local government units and city government, the City of Manila expressed its interest in hosting this year’s pride march, and this was initially welcomed by both past and current advocacy groups. After all, the bars and cafés of Malate from the 1980s up to the early 2000s was where the LGBTQIA+ community felt most safe then. 

The city government of Manila then took the lead and announced that it will be holding its “Summer Pride March” this year to express their full support for the LGBTQIA+ community. It assigned the Department of Tourism, Culture, and Arts – Manila (DTCAM) to organize the event, which will be held at the Burnham Greens, Quirino Grandstand, on April 19.

It was inevitable for the city government to receive criticisms from conservatives as well as the LGBTQIA+ community that they were just banking on the popularity of the pride march to boost its own tourism. There have been a number of comments online claiming that the DTCAM lacked understanding of the true essence of the pride. The critics emphasized that the event was not a mere celebration, but a protest march.

Perhaps we should understand that the city has hosted a number of pride marches in the past, and that the DTCAM is not just a tourism office but a department with a cultural component, and one that has proper training and knowledge on gender issues. 

In the months leading up to the pride march in April, a number of LGBTQIA+ groups have approached not only the city government but also national cultural agencies. The intent is not only to organize the pride march, but also tap the LGBTQIA+ community to make the most out of their march and introduce the city to them. Manila still has its built heritage, art, parks, and museums. Integrating the pride march with a visit to cultural sites will enrich both the city and the knowledge of the participants about their history and heritage.

Another partnership worth exploring is the involvement of the private sector groups and businesses in Manila who can provide support for the pride march. Their establishments could serve as “safe spaces” and their presence during the event could promote a sense of awareness for the Manila residents. With these potential partnerships brewing, we could eventually encourage the City of Manila to enact the Anti-Discrimination Ordinance and, to some extent, reorient the stance of the city mayor, particularly his views on transgenders.

The city holds a lot of promise in terms of making the pride march a fulfilling experience for the attendees and its residents. And this will be possible with the participation of not only the pride march organizers, but the Manila residents and stakeholders.

Perhaps what the City of Manila can also contribute to the cause is to provide an avenue or a means to centralize the private sector, NGOs, and grassroots organizations that will give full and sincere support to the pride march. These groups should also have a thorough understanding that the core of the pride march is about equal rights for the LGBTQIA+ community, which has been marginalized for so long that they need an assurance that the city has its full support. (READ: WATCH: 'What is love?' at Pride March 2017)

It is really about providing an avenue where the LGBTQIA+ community would feel secure and be themselves even for just a number of hours while marching the streets. For a city that has become a witness to numerous protests calling for social change and other causes, it is high time that the capital city bring together forward-thinking, logical, gender- and culturally sensitive affiliate groups and individuals to make this pride march a success. And that’s not difficult to do – the city government only needs to be empathic and sensitive enough to know the needs of its people regardless of what gender they may be. – Rappler.com

Jeffrey P. Yap is the senior tourism operations officer of the Intramuros Administration.

[OPINION] The truth in placards: Why activists are not a nuisance

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For some people, activists are a nuisance. They scorn protesters when mobilizations cause heavy traffic along España and Recto; they complain at the sight of graffiti by Panday Sining; and they claim that their taxes are wasted on UP students who seem to do nothing but voice out their concerns. (READ: [OPINION] Activism is not a waste of time)

As an activist myself, I think activism is beyond these things. It has always been about being together as one, no matter where you are from. 

I don't know how I managed to be an activist despite my fear of crowded places, especially places that require standing in the scorching heat. Holding a placard with both hands, I would feel my lips getting drier as police begin arriving in trucks. They would disembark and start taking pictures and notes. But even though I would feel my heart racing, I would also recognize that I've become braver than I've ever been.

There is power when you know what you are fighting for. You know it’s right to junk rice liberalization when you've encountered a farmer who won't eat with you, for fear that she might get used to eating 3 times a day. You know it’s right to fight for education when you've experienced teaching in different sectors, and see that children from deprived sectors require greater patience, time, and materials for their learning needs. You know it’s right to vouch for quality and affordable health care when you see patients sharing one bed in public hospitals. You know that although you have a higher income compared to those standing with you at the Mendiola Peace Ark, you share the same thirst for justice. (READ: [OPINION] Activism, from someone you wouldn't expect)

Some people think, “Maghanap na lang kasi kayo ng solusyon.” The thing is, we have always sought, promoted, and implemented solutions within our capability – sometimes at the cost of activists' lives.

No education for indigenous people? Institutions and volunteer organizations help establish Lumad schools, and then what happens? The children themselves get accused of being recruited as New People’s Army members. For most of my life, I know people will call me “komunista” or “NPA,” and they will convict me without any proof, or twist the truth so I could fit into their idea of what an activist is. (READ: [OPINION] Duterte is making a big mistake)

At the end of the day, though, I know I am and will not be alone. The worse this political landscape gets, the more relieved I actually am, because I know this means the people from Malacañang are painting themselves into a corner. It has always been man’s nature to seek freedom, and it is the truth that always sets us free. – Rappler.com

Ma. Guadalupe Robles is a Filipino who recently migrated to the United States of America. She graduated senior high school at the University of Santo Tomas under the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics strand. She used her skills in tutoring and the arts to teach children from urban poor areas and to campaign for their rights. She is still raising awareness and campaigning about national issues by posting her artworks on social media. 

 

After media giants, campus publications also 'unsafe' – student groups

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SOLIDARITY PROTEST. Members of various student organizations join the public gathering organized by the University of the Philippines Diliman College of Mass Communication to continue its call for press freedom on Wednesday, February 26. Photo by Alois Isinika/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines—“Kung may kakayahan ang gobyerno na bantaan ang Rappler, ABS-CBN, what's stopping them from doing it sa alternative media groups at student publications?” 

(If the government is able to threaten Rappler and ABS-CBN, what’s stopping them from doing the same to alternative media groups and student publications?) 

This is the argument made by Philippine Collegian editor-in-chief Beatrice Puente on Wednesday, Febraury 26 in a mobilization organized by the UP College of Mass Communication (CMC) Student Council. Various campus publications and student organizations joined the protest at the state university, calling to stop the attacks against media practitioners. (READ: Campus publications call for autonomy, protection of press freedom

The students remained committed to their call for press freedom, citing Solicitor General Jose Calida's move to void the franchise of ABS-CBN, the Philippines' biggest network. 

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

“Kung ganito na lang kadali sa gobyerno na basurahin ang malalaking media groups, malinaw sa atin na hindi tayo safe (If it is so easy for the government to kick out giant media groups, it’s clear to us that we are not safe),” she added. 

Puente also emphasized the importance of taking part in mobilization protests that push for a free press.

“Warm bodies in a protest show that we're not afraid,” Puente said. 

This was echoed by Miggy Arnonobal of the UP Broadcast Guild as he urged his fellow campus journalists to continue being watchful of the government. 

“Hindi lang natin dapat bantayan ngayon ang pagpapasara sa ABS-CBN. Bantayan rin natin ang pasismo laban sa mga maliliit na organisasyon, community papers na mas kritikal pa lalo kay Duterte,” he said. 

(We shouldn’t just pay attention to what the government is doing to ABS-CBN. We should also be watchful of the fascism shown against small organizations, community papers who are more critical of Duterte.) 

Duterte himself has repeatedly denounced media he perceived to be critical of his administration.

Aside from threats against ABS-CBN, Duterte often lashed out at the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Rappler for its coverage of his anti-illegal drug operations and other administration policies.

For Cecilia Munsod of Union of Journalists in the Philippines-UP (UJP-UP), the attacks by the government on free speech and press freedom can be likened to the time of martial law, which suppressed any critical reportage or portrayal of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ regime.

“Nakikita natin na ang nangyayari ngayon ay second coming ng Martial Law, kung saan ang midya ang unang pinunterya ni Marcos. Ito ay dahil makapangyarihan ang midya sa pagpapalaganap ng ideolohiya,” Munsod said. 

(What’s happening now looks like the second coming of Martial Law, when the media were the first to be attacked by Marcos. This is because of how powerful the media can be in spreading ideology.)

The next generation

UP CMC Dean Arminda Santiago reminded students of media's crucial role, citing how the group was one of the first to release a statement of support for the broadcast giant soon after the petition was filed. 

“Ang midya ay simbolo ng demokrasya na kailangan nating alagaan. Hindi tayo papayag na bubusalan ang midya. Ipaglaban natin ang karapatan natin sa impormasyon,” Santiago said.

(The media is a symbol of democracy that we need to protect. We will not allow them to gag us. We have to fight for our right to information.)

UP Journalism professor Danilo Arao highlighted the importance of the youth when press freedom is under attack. 

“Kung walang kabataan, hindi tayo makakapagpatalsik ng diktador noong 1986. Kung walang kabataan, hindi tayo makakapagpatalsik ng isa pang corrupt na administrasyon noong 2001...Nakatutuwa na hindi kinakalimutan ng ilang sektor ng kabataan ang kanyang saligang tungkulin…para sa kinabukasan ng ating bayan,” Arao said. 

(Without the youth, it would be impossible to oust a dictator in 1986. Without them, we would not be able to unseat another corrupt regime in 2001. Glad to see that there are members of the youth sector who have not forgotten their basic duties…for our nation’s future.)

The protest, meanwhile, also urged Congress to pass the bill renewing ABS-CBN’s franchise.

In a Senate hearing on Monday, Febraury 24, government officials cleared the network over issues of taxes, labor conditions, pay-per-view services, and Philippine Depositary Receipts. 

On this same occassion, ABS-CBN president and CEO Carlo Katigbak apologized for having offended President Rodrigo Duterte.

Days later, Duterte accepted the apology but clarified that this did not guarantee an end to the network’s franchise troubles, saying its fate lies in Congress.– with reports from Alois Isinika, Vhea Mae Bruce and Tinig ng Plaridel/Rappler.com 


#AyokongMagmahal: Students lead walkout to oppose tuition increase

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PROTEST. Students from different universities in Metro Manila take part in the nationwide protest on Friday, February 28 to oppose the impending tuition and other school fee increase. Photo by Kristine Vega

MANILA, Philippines – Holding up their placards and signages, students from various colleges and universities joined forces in a "walkout" in Mendiola, Manila on Friday, February 28, to protest the impending increase in tuition and miscellaneous fees. 

For the students, "Ayokong magmahal" (I don’t want the cost to go up) meant more than just an expression on love phrased in a hashtag, as the protest expressed their opposition against a tuition hike. 

According to the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), the University of Sto. Tomas, Far Eastern University, De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, De La Salle University – Manila, St. Louis University, and University of San Carlos were among the universities with proposed increases in tuition and other school fees, varying from 4 to 7% in the next academic year. 

DEFEND. National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) President Raoul Manuel raise his concerns for the proposed tuition fee hike in front of Far Eastern University (FEU) gate. Photo by Kristine Vega

NUSP President Raoul Manuel said the impending tuition hikes were abusive. 

“Sa totoo lang, ang higher education sa ating bansa ay isang napakalaking scam kung saan mas nauuna ang kita kesa sa libreng edukasyon na pinagmamayabang ni Duterte,” Manuel said.

(The truth is, our country’s higher education is a big scam because it prioritizes profit rather than the quality of education that President Duterte is proud of.)

“Sa ilalim ng pamamahala ni Duterte, ang tuition increase bawat taon ay mas mataas pa sa inflation. Kaya naman, kung meron mang ‘tuition hike king,’ walang iba po ‘yan kundi si Duterte. Siya ang may pakana kung bakit lalong hindi abot kaya ang edukasyon sa ating bansa,” Manuel added. 

(Under Duterte’s administration, the tuition increase every year is much higher than our inflation rate. That’s why, if there’s a ‘tuition hike king,’ it’s no other than Duterte. He’s the reason why our education system is very unaffordable.)

James Candila of Diwa ng Kabataang Lasalyano from De La Salle University (DLSU) noted citing how the hike would affect the Filipino youth. 

“Patuloy na lumiliit ang porsyento ng mga kabataang nakatutuntong ng kolehiyo. Hamon sa administrasyong Duterte na ipakita niya na kung tunay niyang pinapanigan ang karapatan natin, dapat ay tinututulan niya ang mga ganitong uri ng polisiya,” Candila said.

(The percentage of the youth going to college continues to decrease. This is a challenge to the Duterte administration to show that if he is truly concerned for our rights, he should oppose these kinds of policies.)

YOUTH. Dubbed as "SIGWA: Kabataan Para sa Edukasyon Laban sa Pasismo," the mobilization highlighted calls against Tuition and Other Fees Increase (TOFI) in private tertiary institutions, cuts on the education budget, intensified red-tagging of students and organizations, mandatory ROTC and the militarization of schools at the People's Park Baguio City. Photo by Mau Victa/Rappler

Groups such as Anakbayan, Kabataan Partylist, and League of the Filipino Students, as well as local organizations gathered in front of the FEU Morayta gate and marched to Mendiola. 

The League of the Filipino Students (LFS) also listed University of the East, De La Salle University (DLSU) - Dasmarinas, Cavite campus, and Central Philippine University (CPU) in Iloilo City among those that may be affected by the tuition fee hike. 

However, some student leaders pointed out that although consultations were done with the student councils and faculty regarding the proposed hike, these do not validate the increase. 

Mandatory ROTC

Aside from the tuition hike, the youth sector also criticized the impending implementation of mandatory  Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) in senior high school (SHS) and college.

The University of the Philippines (UP) Office of the Student Regent said that the effort to revive the mandatory ROTC started in the House of Representatives in Congress through a bill proposing the Citizen Service Training Course (CSTC). This would require SHS and college students to undergo a “combination of military and non-military training.” The proposal is to pilot-test this in UP.

GATHER. Student organizations from the University of the Philippines take part in the nationwide 'walkout' protest. Photo from Tinig ng Plaridel

“Gusto tayong maging mangmang ng ating Presidente. Dagdag pa rito, gusto niya tayong maging sunud-sunuran, maging tuta katulad niya sa mga dayuhan (Our President wants us to be illiterate. He also wants us to be subservient just like what he’s doing for the foreigners), Jeanne Miranda, a representative from Anakbayan National, said.

Ludwig Bables from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines’ Sandigan ng Mag-aaral para sa Sambayanan (SAMASA-PUP), meanwhile, urged the government to focus on the improvement of school facilities instead. 

“Sa PUP, pag pumasok kayo, pagtingin niyo sa mga CR [comfort rooms], pagtingin niyo sa mga classroom, nanggigitata’t nakakadiri. Tapos, itong si Duterte at ang CHED, ang inaasikaso ay mandatory ROTC. Ang inaasikaso ay "Human Security Act," Bables pointed out.

(If you enter PUP, if you look at our toilets, if you look at our classrooms, it’s so filthy. Then, Duterte and CHED are busy with the mandatory ROTC. They are busy with the ‘Human Security Act.)

Protesters also sang "Makibaka" to the tune of Sarah Geronimo’s hit song “Tala” to encourage the youth to fight back against injustice through activism.

They also carried tarpaulins depicting cartoon caricatures of President Duterte, Commission on Higher Education Chairman Prospero de Vera III, and Department of Education Secretary Leonor Briones.  They threw paint bombs at the caricatures at the end of the program.

The said protests were also staged inside campuses of colleges and universities in Metro Manila such as in UP Diliman, DLSU, UST, Ateneo de Manila University, and in the Polytechnic University of the Philippines-Sta. Mesa; as well as in other cities and provinces including Baguio, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Cebu, Iloilo, and Davao.  – Rappler.com 

Danilo Navarro Jr. and Kristine Vega are members of The Communicator, the official student publication of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines - College of Communication. Navarro also serves as the publication's managing editor.

Pinay in South Korea: Coping with the coronavirus outbreak

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NEAR EMPTY. An underground shopping area in Incheon without the usual brisk business following the coronavirus outbreak in parts of South Korea. Photo by Heidi Esteban

I am a Baguio girl and will always be. I am happily married to a South Korean GM engineer and currently reside in Incheon City.

We welcomed 2020 with hope. 

South Koreans as well as resident foreigners were not that worried when the news initially broke out.  Our attention was focused on what we thought were bigger issues like the Australia bush fires and the Taal Volcano eruption

A lot of Filipino residents here even decided to donate protective masks to the Taal evacuees through manual couriers or what we call “biyaheras” so that we can rest assured that the donations would reach the beneficiaries.

The government had even donated masks to the Chinese government and financial aid to the Philippines as well.  We never anticipated that we would be needing the same protective masks so soon.  Recently, South Korean even limited the export of masks to meet domestic supply.

NO ONE IN SIGHT. Photo by Heidi Esteban

The past weeks came like a daze, upending our lives. I clearly remember when lots of fellow Filipinos here were relaxed and worry-free. They teased people like me who have a mild phobia of virus and germs. They saw us as overacting, and questioned the humanity of some countries' ban on the entry of Chinese tourists.

There were heated exchanges in socmed groups here among Filipinos about restricting people from Wuhan and other Chinese cities. Accusations of racism were hurled. 

In a span of a week, the confirmed cases in South Korea slowly increased and eventually skyrocketed. I almost panicked because one of the positive novel coronavirus cases was recorded at the place I visited at that time. 

NO SALES. None of the usual customers at the underground mall. Photo by Heidi Esteban

Bupyeong is one the most popular and biggest underground shopping and business centers  in Korea. It is also one of the subway stops which connects cities.  It was just wrong timing that I went there that week. 

There were very few people when I visited there, considering the rush hour – just a few stubborn oldies strolling, and average commuters.

Recently, the Korean government was almost begging all citizens to cooperate and go on self-quarantine – aside from refraining from attending social gatherings such as church services.

Classes were temporarily supended and school vacation was extended. 

EXTENDED VACATION. Classes have been suspended to stem the spread of COVID-19. Photo by Heidi Esteban

I went into "self-quarantine" but I remained very connected, just like the rest. It was voluntary – self-quarantine was not a command but a request from the government, and we felt like it was our responsibility to heed that request.

While on self-quarantine, the few Filipinos in my district would communicate through social media and multicultural center announcements. Being a former local journalist, I have been posting the latest medical bulletins – I update them almost every hour. I check reliable sources from multicultural groups, friends, and citizens' actual encounters. 

Whenever I have to go to the grocery, I would finish the task as fast as possible. People would avoid close encounter or even talking to one another. 

Because of this, business has been bad, as stores have had zero to a few clients. The bestselling products are sanitizers.  Everyone is wearing a mask and the sales of lippies (lipsticks) have declined.

One time though, I saw some of my neighbors buying strawberries from farmers who were selling at ridiculously cheap prices by local standards because no one was buying. I got two kilos for just P300, much cheaper than those in my hometown. 

EMPTY PUBLIC AREA. Many areas are empty as people avoid congregating as a preventive measure against COVID-19. Photo by Heidi Esteban

Like others, I would get stressed whenever I hear the sound of ambulance sirens. Fellow Filipinos who used to tease me and others for supposedly overreacting to the virus scare had kept quiet.

Right now, no one knows what is next in this war between humans and the new virus. – Rappler.com

 

[OPINION] I used to hate activists, until I became one

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I used to hate activism.

I felt this way when I was still a student in PUP Manila. PUP is known for its activists critical of the government. Many of its students are youth leaders who often engage themselves in street rallies and protests. 

True enough, my first weeks in PUP were bombarded with student protesters holding up banners and shouting, “JUNK, JUNK K-12!” I also remember rolling my eyes every time I'd hear the chant, “Ang tao, ang bayan, ngayon ay lumalaban!” I hated all of it. I was so annoyed.

But maybe the reason why I hated protests and activism back then was because I didn't understand what they were for yet. (READ: To friends, Jo Lapira was a tiny UP activist with big dreams)

A month in, my professor in one of my major subjects, Politics and Governance, told us to attend the People’s March that would be held during President Duterte’s first State of The Nation Address.

At first I firmly declined, but when she said that attending the protest meant an additional 10 points on our midterm exams, that changed my mind. Even though I knew my parents wouldn't allow me, because they hated activism too, I still went without their permission just because of those 10 points. 

When we arrived at UP Diliman the day of the march, I was already annoyed. Activists gave us placards and banners with messages like “EDUCATION NOT FOR SALE!” and “NO TO EJK!” I had to convince myself to push through for the sake of my grades. 

But when we started marching from UP Diliman to Batasang Pambansa, I felt something in my heart that, for once, was neither annoyance nor hatred towards these activists. (READ: Murdered activist Randy Malayao yearned for lasting peace)

While we were marching, I heard some of the stories of the marginalized sector. I also saw how everyone was united, fighting for their rights and sounding out against an unjust government. I saw the hope in their eyes, their desire for us to one day be free from the chains of oppression. I realized that I had been blind, deaf, and mute for so many years, as I was not seeing, hearing, and speaking the truth. 

It was time for me to wake up from my fantasies. That day, my heart cried. Not because of annoyance and hatred, but because of sadness.

When I went home after the protest, I was still sad. After hearing the stories of oppression, poverty, and inequality, little by little I started to understand why it is that people resist – why activists and protests exist.

After joining that first protest, I no longer got annoyed whenever I saw students protesting on campus. In fact, I now enjoyed watching them. I would even smile at them. 

My understanding of activism grew all the more when I took my Philosophy and Social Science subjects. As a Social Sciences major, you need to have an extensive knowledge and understanding of different social issues. One of our professors also made us watch a stage play about Martial Law that was connected to activism and rebellion. (READ: Gone too soon: 7 youth leaders killed under Martial Law)

Now, the hate that I have in my heart is no longer for activism. It is for the government – for this oppressive and fascist regime. 

Since that moment that my eyes were opened to the truth, I've refused to play blind again.

Dante Alighieri said, “The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis.” 

So today, I choose to resist. I choose to be an activist. – Rappler.com

Jade Veronique V. Yap is a journalism student from the University of Santo Tomas. She aspires to be a film writer. 

Save Masungi Movement leads online petition to stop quarrying in georeserve

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CONSERVATION. Masungi Georeserve's ecosystem was successfully restored after more than 20 years of dedicated conservation work against many different threats. Photo from Masungi Georeserve

 MANILA, Philippines – Hoping to make their voices heard, groups and environmental advocates of the Save Masungi Movement started an online petition urging President Rodrigo Duterte and Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu to stop quarrying activities in the georeserve.

According to Masungi Georeserve Trustee and Advocacy Officer Billie Dumaliang, quarrying company Rapid City started fencing off portions of the site using barbed wire last February 26, hindering reforestation efforts at Masungi Georeserve in Rizal. 

The fenced-off area covers some 500 hectares of degraded land around the georeserve, halting the reforestation work being done in the area as part of the Masungi Geopark Project that was approved by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in 2017.

The DENR tasked Masungi through the reforestation initiative to restore 3,000 hectares of degraded land in the area with the help of the public. The initiative is self-financed by the sustainable and low-volume tourism being implemented in the georeserve. 

"500 hectares is about 1/4 of the reforestation site, and it's the first quarter that we need to reforest because it's the one nearest to us," added Dumaliang.

Aside from cutting off access to Masungi's reforestation efforts, Dumaliang said the fencing operations are also encroaching part of the Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape and the proposed Masungi Strict Nature Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary. 

These are both protected areas where destructive and extractive activities including mining and quarrying are strictly prohibited. These are also classified by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau as a geohazard zone.

FENCED OFF. A quarrying company closes off a portion of a site in Masungi Georeserve on February 26, hindering reforestation efforts in the area. Photo from Masungi Georeserve

In the online petition, the Save Masungi Movement called on Duterte and the DENR to stop the fencing operations and evict the quarrying company from Masungi and the larger Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape.

Five days since fencing operations began, Masungi Georeserve has yet to receive an order from the DENR to reinforce and implement the law that bans quarrying in the area.

So far, the central office of the DENR only received Masungi Georeserve's urgent appeal for help on Saturday, February 29.

Dumaliang emphasized the importance of the reforestation efforts in Masungi, an area that continually struggles with diminishing water supply due to unabated cutting of trees and land degradation.

"You cannot have reforestation on one side and then meters after, there are quarrying activities. It has to be the whole ecosystem that's really protected," she told Rappler.

Dumaliang said the reforestation efforts in the area are important to prevent catastrophic landslides and flashfloods like those brought by Typhoon Ondoy in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces in 2009.

"If the quarry continues, the project will fail. These mountains are where the landslides and the floods always originate from because they're right beside the highway and they're some of the remaining mountains near Manila," she added.

Dumaliang stressed the need to make a stand and act on the matter, especially if there are threats to established conservation sites like Masungi.

"If sa Masungi magawa nila 'to (the quarrying company can do this in Masungi), they can do it anywhere, where there's even less or no organization protecting it," she said.

Masungi Georeserve said that over 47,000 native trees have been planted and nurtured by thousands of volunteers, visitors, and local forest rangers in the area, while over 100 locals working in conservation have been supported with green and long-term livelihoods through the initiative. (READ: A first-timer’s guide to Masungi Georeserve, where adventure awaits)

Formerly a barren wasteland due to illegal logging and other land speculation practices, the Masungi Georeserve's ecosystem was successfully restored after more than 20 years of dedicated conservation work against many different threats, including land-grabbing in the area.

It's now the home of magnificent limestone formations, as well as the famous Sapot, a web-like platform that hangs above one of Masungi's rock formations. 

Through the petition, Save Masungi Movement hopes for immediate action from Duterte and the DENR to stop the quarrying activities so they can continue their reforestation efforts.

"This is their chance to show they are sincere in making sure that the forests are protected, that reforestation projects like these are prioritized by the government. We are hoping for their possible and immediate action," Dumaliang said. Rappler.com

If you want to help save Masungi Georeserve from quarrying, sign the petition here.

[OPINION] A life of surrender: Living with interstitial lung disease

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I am a person living with a disability. Four years ago, after acute respiratory failure landed me in intensive care, I became one of the rare cases of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in the country. Heavy doses of antibiotics fought this not-so-garden-variety pneumonia and the battle nearly killed me. In the ICU, intubation also damaged my vocal chords. I was a church choir member singing second soprano, but that’s gone now. I can speak, but very slowly and haltingly. 

After 20 days in hospital, I survived but had become a shadow of my former self. Now, I require supplemental oxygen to live. Oxygen tanks surround my bed, and a portable oxygen concentrator is required when I have to leave home. From a voluptuous, 70 kg obese woman, I now weigh 40 kg.

The confinement wiped out my bank account, and I have had to borrow more money to be able to fully pay all hospital bills. I lost my job. I was saddled with debt, with no immediate prospects for employment in my field of expertise. For more than 30 years, I succeeded in media sales, having had an impressive career as a sales manager for a large broadcast organization, a print media giant, and a cable network group. Outside of work, I had a full life – certified rescue diver, traveler, cook…that is all gone. (READ: PWDs and the Philippine media)

What is left is a life of surrender to the mercies of the Almighty. God has been a personal presence since I was 9 years old. That was when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. At a young age, I enthusiastically shared my newfound faith with family and friends. I was ridiculed by some and embraced in my belief by others. I went from success to failure, from excellent health to brokenness, from being a lost lamb to being a redeemed child of God.  

There are too many things to be grateful for in my nothingness now. The Lord’s promises, never truer than today, assures me that I will never be forsaken, that Abba Father knows the plans He has for me, plans to prosper me and to give me hope and a future. When my pain and coughing gets the better of me, it is easy to fall in despair. When bills come around and there is not even sufficient funds to cover payment, human nature sets in. Tears, worry, doubt – layer by layer they cover my eyes, just like clouds darkening the horizon on a stormy day. And yet, like the widow of the Old Testament, there was always enough oil. Everyday, manna from heaven came to supply daily bread. 

I remember those who suffer alongside me. I think about my mother who bombards heaven asking for a miracle of healing; I see the love of my sisters and brother in my daily difficulties. I am comforted by all that. The greatest blessing is seeing my daughter, though suffering from health issues herself, provide comic relief and elicit laughter during the times we spend together watching late night shows. (READ: Organizations, businesses collaborate for PWD inclusivity in the workplace)

The most amazing presence of all is my life partner of 12 years.  

Twenty years ago, my marriage was dissolved and I was single and alone for the first time in 16 years. It was then that I prayed to God that I would be able to share all my joys, successes, and great prospects for the future with someone who would only have unalloyed and unconditional love. Wagas at dalisay na pagmamahal.  

The answer did not come quickly but when it did, it was very clear. This lovely, wonderful man, as if from nowhere, chose to come into my life. He was not a stranger; on the contrary, he reappeared from our childhood days, a lifelong friend who knew me from when we were 9. Our coming together was so natural and easy. He stayed and stayed. And even now, in my illness, weakness, and frailty, he chooses every day to remain at my side.  

Now, I have nothing material to hold on to, but what I have is more vital to be able to live a joyful life. I am mentally and emotionally driven to keep going after small and big wins. There is a great need to keep searching for opportunities and to be able to market my skills. I continue to sharpen my selling and marketing prospects and exercise my creativity. (READ: Breaking waves: PWD rules skimboarding in Surf in the City)

There are days when my pain and coughing are too much to bear. Medical science states that there is no cure for ILD. My lungs are broken and I am physically disabled. But perhaps my tiny faith grows in direct proportion to regrowing my damaged air sacs. There is healing for a spirit in despair.  

As a PWD, I find that it would be easy for others to marginalize me. But even in my physical weakness, God’s promises in Scripture assure me that I need not fear or be discouraged. I am at the center of His good will. – Rappler.com

Debbie Lozare finished AB Journalism at the University of the Philippines-Diliman and has been in media sales since 1982. She is a deplorable worry-wart, a trait she tempers and soothes by cooking and singing, not necessarily at the same time. 

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