MANILA, Philippines– Last March 13, the Office of the Vice President (OVP), along with Kaya Natin! Movement, launched a donation drive to procure and provide personal protective equipment (PPE) and food and care packages for our COVID-19 frontline health workers. 

Donations poured from private companies, big and small organizations, as well as ordinary individuals. 

In the course of 5 weeks, the campaign has amassed around P57.2 million pesos, which is equivalent to 129,897 PPE sets and 15,534 food and care packages.

The Jesse M Robredo Foundation took on the role of repacking the care packages for our frontline workers. (READ: LIST: How to help healthcare workers, frontliners during coronavirus pandemic)

The packages contained basic necessities such as coffee, biscuits, wet wipes, soap, and vitamins. The bags also contained a letter of gratitude from Vice President Leni Robredo. 

Aside from the donation drive, the OVP also led the #SulatNgPag-asa project wherein individuals send messages for our frontliners. These are printed and included in the care packages, hopefully bringing encouragement and joy to our heroes.

There were 5 of us in the team, sometimes 6 or 7 when our boss and our company drivers would lend a hand. We started the repacking efforts in the last week of March and finished with 2500 packages for the first batch. 

Our first week was memorable. It was tedious work. None of us in the team has any experience with packing large amounts of goods in a day. We had to settle for an open space to make sure proper air circulation is maintained. We had to wear gloves and face masks the whole day regardless of how hot it was, and we had to carry around boxes after boxes, getting small bruises and cuts in random parts of our bodies. 

The physical exhaustion was also coupled with our own personal anxieties and fears – about our own safety, our families’, and our country’s as well. 

We constantly worry about how long this would last, how many more people would be struck by the virus and die, how long until people run out of food and money, and how it was that the government seems to focus on militarization instead of the fortification of our health sector. For every question unanswered, the darker our future looked. 

Two days before we started the 2nd batch of repacking, however, we received an update from the OVP informing us that 2,300 packages have been distributed that same day covering around 15 hospitals. 

It was a breath of fresh air, a bittersweet reminder that no matter how small the packages were, it still meant a lot to those who received them. (READ: Staying compassionate in the time of coronavirus)

The funds raised from the campaign were increasing every day, showing just how much Filipinos care about our frontline workers. With a newfound source of motivation, we continued on with our repacking efforts. 

To date, our team has successfully repacked around 11,000 care packages. The OVP has already distributed 7,800 of them to numerous hospitals and communities all over the country as well. 

In the course of 5 weeks since we started our repacking efforts, we have experienced fear and loss, but we have also experienced solidarity and teamwork– the true spirit of Bayanihan effort. (READ: [OPINION] Your volunteerism might inspire others to help during this pandemic)

Food and care packages are not just mere necessities inside a bag: they are a message of support, gratitude, and solidarity towards our frontline workers  that with every minute they selflessly risk in fighting this pandemic, we stand as one with them. 

While the journey is still long, we believe that the efforts we make today will greatly pave a path for a brighter future for our country. Padayon! – Rappler.com

Shane Belaro is a Program Associate for Local Governance at the Jesse M Robredo Foundation Inc. She graduated from the University of the Philippines–Diliman  with a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration in 2018. She currently leads the implementation of a year–long training program for elected local government officials from different parts of the Philippines. 

NAGA CITY, Philippines – A man dressed up as the superhero Spider-Man has been raising funds and distributing goods to poor communities in Bicol.

On the first 17 days of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), the Bicolano Spider-Man handed out food packs to homeless people, street sweepers, parking attendants, and Naga City Hospital health workers 

“Mayo po kitang pinipiling tabangan. Mayo kitang pinipili kun saen na lugar. Pag naghagad tabang, tatabangan. Mayong restriction. (We are not being selective of which ones to help. We are not being selective of which places to go. If they ask for help, we will help them.),” said the man, who has witheld his identity much like the character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Aside from those in Naga City, the Bicolano Spider-Man has also helped farmers and fisherfolks in Burias Island, Masbate and a stranded Nagueño in Tabaco City, Albay.

Known heart to serve

The Naga City version of the superhero idolized Spider-Man because he said they have lived similar lives.

As an orphan, he was raised by his grandfather whom he thinks was like the Uncle Ben of the fictitional Peter Parker. He said his community work is what fills his heart. All this time he has never revealed his identity.

The Bicolano Spiderman said that anyone can help even without being recognized.

Though he has been wearing a Spider-Man costume since 2018, he said he has engaged in community work for 10 years now.

The ECQ, as part of the government’s effort to address the COVID-19 threat, has left many jobless and vulnerable. This has pushed him to continue helping those in need.

“Ngunyan na ECQ, nahiling ta na sakit na maray an mga kababayan ta kaya nagibo kitang paagi para matabangan  an mga nangangaipuhan, an mga aki na mayong makakan, mayong mainum na gatas dahil sa krisis,” he said.

(Now that there is an ECQ, we saw how other people suffer, that’s why we find ways to help those in need, those kids who have nothing to eat and no milk to drink.)

He also encouraged others to do the same especially at a time of a health crisis. (READ: LIST: Groups help vulnerable sectors affected by coronavirus lockdown) 

“May kakayahan kitang mag-ipon nin tabang kaya ginigibo ta ini. Dawa sa sadit na paagi, dawa papano malamanan nin pagkakan an mga tulak na mayong mga laman,” he added.

(We have the capacity to collect donations so that’s what we are doing. Even in simple ways, we get to feed those who are hungry.)

Naga Kontra COVID-19 (NKC19)

Mostly working alone, the Bicolano Spider-Man recalled that he would follow curfew schedules and borrow a bicycle to distribute goods. 

Seeing his passion for community service, others have joined him and organized "Naga Kontra COVID-19," a non-profit organization headed by Areiz Macaraig. The group  aims to assist the local government unit, offer border assistance to nearby communities, mobilize volunteers, raise funds from sponsors, distribute food packs, and other efforts to prevent further spread of COVID-19.

The group also wants to help those gravely affected by the crisis. 

The organization has different teams namely "Burugkos Bicol," "Kindness Team," and "NKC19-Antonio Gomez Group (AGG) Disinfection Team."

“Kan binuo mi po si Naga Kontra COVID-19, nagkaigwa na kaming mga ID asin naging malawak asin mabilis na an paghiro asin pagtaong ayuda,” Bicolano Spiderman said.

(When we established Naga Kontra COVID-19, we were given IDs and we were able to work faster and also to a broader scale in distributing food packs.) 

He encouraged his fellow Bicolanos to never lose hope despite the uncertain times.

“Dae po kita mawaran nin pag asa. An gabos na inaagihan tang hamon ay igwang katapusan. Magsunod sa mga protocol. I-assert an mga karapatan sa ayuda hali sa lokal na gobyerno asin sa national government… Aramon an sitwasyon kan mga kataraid, mga kalugar. Kun kaipuhan tabangan, tabangan," he said.

(We must not lose hope. There is always an end to every suffering. Follow the protocols. Assert your rights to receive help from the local and national government...Know the situation of your neighbors, the people in your community. If they need help, help them.)

Bicolano Spiderman added,“Mayong madaog sa pinag ipong kusog dawa may tarom an duros… Kaya ta ni (Nothing can beat a united force despite the sharp winds. We can do this)," he continued. – Rappler.com 

Abegail Kyla Bilan is a Rappler mover from Naga City. She is an incoming 2nd year AB Journalism student in Ateneo de Naga University and the associate editor of ThePILLARS Publication.

MANILA, Philippines – Jun Dexter Rojas achieved a historic feat for the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) College of Law as he became its first topnotcher since its inception in 2001.

Out of more than 7,000 examinees, Rojas emerged 9th, with a grade of 87.5765% cementing his spot in the list of 2019 Bar topnotchers on April 29. (READ: Bar 2019: Provincial schools again emerge on top)

For Rojas, his journey to the legal profession was not an easy one. While he graduated with a degree in political science at University of the Philippines (UP) Manila in 2004, it was only 11 years later that he was finally able to enter law school.

Being the breadwinner of the family, Rojas had to put his dream of becoming a lawyer on hold and prioritize supporting his siblings’ studies.

It was in 2015 when Rojas was finally able to apply for law school.

Being a former Iskolar ng Bayan, he wanted to go back to his alma mater and study at the UP College of Law. He had high hopes of hurdling the application process since he was a graduate of UP after all.

"Like many others then, and many still, I wanted to get into UP Law, with all its rich tradition and glorious history. I thought I had a good chance. Besides, I already have a UP degree! They must let me in," Rojas said in an open letter to the PUP Law community.

Rojas said he diligently prepared for the UP Law Aptitude Exam (LAE), buying a review book and brushing up on his grammar. He took two law school entrance exams: UP's and PUP's.

He passed PUP, but he was more interested in the UP results.

When the UP LAE results came out, his name was nowhere to be found on the list of passers. Devastated, Rojas thought that by UP Law's standard, he was not good enough.

"I thought I was a failure," he said.

He decided to enroll in PUP instead. Though it was not his first choice, he was nonetheless thankful for the law school's welcoming culture that embraced him from the very beginning. In 2019, Rojas graduated as batch salutatorian.

No shortcut to becoming a lawyer

In a radio interview, PUP College of Law dean Jim Festin described Rojas as a hardworking student who kept going to school to look for a space to study even when classes were already suspended. Festin was also elated to have the first Bar topnotcher under his watch.

As a way of giving back to PUP, Rojas hopes to teach law at the school.

"To Dean Festin, the PUP administration, and my beloved law professors, I am deeply indebted to you. It is a debt which is beyond my means to repay. And so, as a humble attempt to compensate, please allow me to join your ranks. I believe you will agree that we have barely scratched the surface," he said.

The Bar topnotcher urged struggling law students to trust the process, and remember that there is no shortcut to becoming a lawyer.

"In the process, remember that the law can be harsh, and so should a law school. Remember that when you become lawyers, you won't be concerned only about yourselves.... You will be responsible not only for your client's life, liberty, and property, but also of their loved ones and probably even their communities," he said.

He also emphasized the importance of reading as the best antidote to overcome law school rigors. 

"Drown your fears, doubts, and sorrows with books, and you will never go wrong. Remember that every flip of the page is a step closer to the title Atty," he said. – Rappler.com

Leandro C. Tulod is from Caloocan. He studies law at Polytechnic University of the Philippines.

Earlier this year, we found ourselves fighting for press freedom amid the government’s threat to shut down ABS-CBN. Every Friday, from January to February, we donned black or white shirts to protest. We lit candles outside the network’s compound. We held prayer vigils. Journalists, artists, celebrities, progressive groups, and media advocates rallied to send a message to the government: stop gagging the press. It was a tough time for the network, more so for employees like us who were uncertain about our future.

Today, the network’s franchise is supposed to expire, yet bills for its renewal are still pending in Congress. While House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano assured ABS-CBN that it can broadcast beyond May 4 as per his instruction to the National Telecommunications Commission, the fact remains that it’s just a band-aid solution to a problem that is, in the end, a personal attack by butthurt politicians. And so as long as they delay the tackling of the bills, the agony and uncertainty for both management and employees like us remain, and the fight for press freedom continues. (READ: Calida warns NTC against granting provisional authority to ABS-CBN)

Yesterday was World Press Freedom Day, but is the press really free when media institutions across the globe are being stifled by despots, and media workers are faced with job insecurity in a disease-stricken world? (READ: [ANALYSIS] Duterte crushes free expression amid pandemic)

Here in the Philippines, a journalist criticizing the government is perceived as “biased.” Any attempt to fact-check information released by government agencies is seen as an attack on the government. This is exactly why ABS-CBN and Rappler, among other media outlets, have been in trouble and have faced threats of closure, because fearless journalism is the last thing an insecure administration wants. 

In the provinces, community journalists have it worse. Aside from the smaller pay, the labor conditions are dismal. Some of them have no health insurance and benefits, no bonuses, no transportation allowance, and no promises of regularization. Sometimes when they get too critical, they face harassment or they take a bullet to the head. This has always been the system. This is why the Philippines is the fifth deadliest country in the world for journalists, according to a 2019 report from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

But media workers from esteemed institutions are not exempt, either. Just the other night, I was talking to a colleague from another media outlet whose “no work, no pay” scheme worries him and other employees, since the enhanced community quarantine is still in effect in Metro Manila. Since movement is limited during the pandemic, they can't report to the office as much as they could in the pre-COVID-19 era. This means a huge and painful cut in their paycheck, even if they produce stories at home. 

While it amazes me that they can still produce quality output despite the challenges of the new normal, it also saddens me that some media institutions treat media workers less than what they deserve. Media workers are the lifeblood of any network or media institution, and without them, crucial information wouldn’t be accessible to the public. A just and proper compensation even during the pandemic is paramount. (READ: NUJP slams Calida's threat vs ABS-CBN during pandemic)

I’m lucky that ABS-CBN treats us employees like family, and a simple reassurance that they have our backs when things get worse boosts our morale in these trying times. 

Even when the network’s franchise expires, our fight for press freedom continues. This is not only for ABS-CBN, but for all media institutions in the country, because this is a collective fight. Amid the pandemic, we will press on. – Rappler.com

Nicole Villavecer is a writer/producer for ABS-CBN Current Affairs.

MANILA, Philippines– Making it their own personal project, a family in Camarines Sur started planting pechay in their garden so they could give these away to neighbors.

After a lockdown was imposed in the entire Luzon due to the coronavirus outbreak, most members of the Furio family went home to their place in Barangay Rongos, Libmanan in Camarines Sur.

Nancy Furio, the mother of the family, shared that she has been tending to their backyard garden for some time now. (READ: [OPINION] Who will produce our food during the coronavirus crisis?)

Hoping to help others during the pandemic, the Furio family decided to plant pechay for their neighbors.

"Dahil po sa ECQ (enhanced community quarantine), 5 out of 6 po sa aking mga anak ay umuwi sa bahay. Naisipan namin na magtanim kami ng pechay, para mabigyan din namin ang mga kapitbahay ng pangdagdag na masustansiyang pagkain sa kanilang mga mesa," Nancy said.

(Because of the ECQ, 5 out of 6 of my children went home. We thought of planting pechay so we can give our neighbors healthy food to put on their table.)

Planting the seeds

The family tended the garden together every day, cultivating the pechay they planted throughout the whole space. (READ: How home gardens can help fight malnutrition)

Each of the children had their own plot to tend. Adding more spice to the initiative, the children even made it a contest among themselves on who would grow the best produce.

Aside from planting pechay, the Furio family also grows other vegetables such as patola, bell pepper, string beans, squash, lemon, and eggplant. (READ: Making farming work in the big city)

They've even done ecobricking, using stuffed plastic bottles to line their garden plots. They also used coconut husks as makeshift hanging pots, and old bags as substitute pots to maximize the resources they have. (READ: Going zero waste during a pandemic? These advocates say it's possible)

"Gumagamit din kami sa garden ng repurposed plastic bottles. Imbes itapon or sunugin, mapapakinabangan pa ulit as garden plot. Kailangan lang maging mas creative.... Hindi din namin tinatapon ang mga lumang bag. Imbes bumili ng bagong pots, puwede na itong substitute," Nancy said.

(We use repurposed plastic bottles in our garden. Instead of throwing it away or burning it, we make use of it again for our garden plot. We just need to be more creative.... We also don't throw away old bags. Instead of buying new pots, we use them as a substitute.)

Giving back

By May 1, they were able to grow enough pechay to give away. While packing the pechay, Nancy said they made sure to reuse old plastic bags to avoid waste.

"Reuse your old plastic bags. Labhan lang bago gamitin ulit. Nakatipid ka na, nakabawas ka pa ng basura (Just wash them before using them again. You get to save and avoid waste, too)!" advised Nancy.

With a sign saying "Free pechay," the Furio family hung the bags of the newly harvested vegetables outside their home for their neighbors to get.

Aside from being able to help others, the Furio family also manages to squeeze in some quality bonding time in their garden. (READ: East Rembo's mission to grow their own food)

"Malaking tulong po ang mga naaani namin pandagdag sa pagkaing naihahanda sa hapag-kainan bawat araw. Nagiging bonding time din namin ang pagtanim," Nancy said.

(Our harvest has been a big help in boosting our supply of food. Gardening has also become part of our bonding time.) – Rappler.com

The eyes of the world are set on major cities as they battle with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Flying under the radar are rural societies. As integrated to the globalized world as cities and urban areas, rural communities, whether in the developed or developing world, are as much prone to pandemics as any community in the world. With limited resources and challenges posted by the natural environment and poor infrastructure, rural institutions are in an uphill battle to contain the virus and save lives.

Rural societies and globalization

Population among rural areas is commonly less dense compared with urban areas due to availability of land and the nature of livelihoods, which are commonly associated with agriculture. Economic activity is also commonly less diverse if compared with cities. However, rural areas are becoming more and more integrated to the global economy through the movement of rural products, consumer goods, and rural people who find work in other countries. This integration can facilitate economic and social development in rural areas. However, forces of globalization, especially the movement of rural people, have made rural areas, just like any other place in the world, prone to pandemics such as the coronavirus. 

Responding to pandemics

Low population density may slow down the transmission of the virus across rural households. This, however, will be highly dependent on how well rural societies are integrated with urban centers and other countries with regards to trade and movement of people. (READ: [OPINION] Who will produce our food during the coronavirus crisis?)

This will also vary depending on the population density among different parts of the villages. The sparse population and limitations in transportation also helps in slowing the rate of transmission.

Once the infection spreads, the rural health systems, which lack the economic, physical, and human resources, are most likely to be overwhelmed with the number of persons needing medical attention. Due to the absence of a vaccine, stopping the spread requires knowledge-intensive solutions (information about proper-hand washing and hygiene, proper socializing, knowing how the virus spreads and infects) which can be difficult for rural institutions to disseminate among rural households due poor roads, sparse population, lack of internet access and communication, and lack of health experts.

Saying that rural health centers in the villages are ill-equipped to handle infected patients is an understatement. Sick people may have to go to urban centers and provincial hospitals to seek proper treatments from the disease. Low population density and close social ties of rural households can make contact tracing easier than in urban areas. However, poor physical infrastructure and communication may hinder tracing and even the identification of sick people, especially those far from village centers or poblacions. 

Community quarantine may be not as strenuous like in urban areas. This is because most rural households live in close proximity with their livelihoods. These livelihoods also do not require rural folks to interact with many people except during planting, harvesting, marketing, and some stages in processing. Rationing of food among farmers, fishermen, and food producers is also not as urgent like those for non-producers. However, prolonged community quarantine will still put financial strain among rural local governments in providing basic needs especially for rural areas with higher degree of economic diversity and bigger non-agriculture sectors. Prolonged community quarantine will also slow down or even halt the movement of products to the markets in urban areas, which may lead to subsistence problems among rural households and food shortage for urban households. (READ: Farmers trash spoiled vegetables while poor go hungry)

Recovery

Rural areas often have low division of labor. This is manifested in two ways. One is that there is low diversification of employment and economic and social activities. Another is that there is diversity of economic and social activities but the ownership of the means of production and important social roles are only distributed to a handful of people in the society. The latter characterizes most current rural societies. Losing socially and economically significant people, such as village elders, farmer leaders, and business owners, will have a significant impact. It may take a long time for the rural society to replace these important people due to limited human capital. Furthermore, rural livelihoods are still predominantly labor intensive and a decrease in population may put more pressure on the production of rural products such as crops, livestock, fiber and other raw materials – a problem that can reverberate to the rest of the society. – Rappler.com

Rodmyr F. Datoon, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Agricultural Extension and Rural Studies, College of Agriculture and Food Science, UPLB and specializes in the Sociology of Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods.              

John Daniel Gonzales is a graduate student of Rural Sociology in UPLB and is specializing in Rural Health Systems.  

MANILA, Philippines – Thousands of miles away from his family in the Philippines, 33-year-old Kenneth Lambatan believed it was his sworn duty as a nurse to stay on the front lines. So that while his work in a London hospital focused on research, he did not say no when asked to be a bed manager.

Kenneth was a cardiac research nurse at St George’s Hospital in United Kingdom (UK). Three years ago, he moved out of his hometown in Cagayan de Oro City to be a nurse in the UK. The job brought him a step closer to fulfilling his dream of one day becoming a doctor. (READ: Filipino nurses in UK: Working with fear and anxiety)

In April, St George management called Kenneth to join the coronavirus front line as a bed manager. “My mom was very apprehensive about him going to the front lines, but my kuya said, ‘Ma, this is my sworn duty and I have to do this regardless of any circumstance,’” recalled Ezel, the brother of Kenneth.

But more than a week after his assignment, Kenneth told his family he was sick with fever and a cough. His mother urged him to go to the hospital for treatment. (READ: Braving a pandemic: Frontliners battle fear to confront the novel coronavirus)

“Never did we realize, that was the last time we would hear from him,” Ezel shared.

It was through a call from his closest colleagues several days later that the family knew Kenneth had the coronavirus disease. Kenneth had to be intubated and placed in the intensive care unit. (READ: 'Working with fear and anxiety': Filipino nurses as UK frontliners vs coronavirus)

With the help of Kenneth's colleagues, the Lambatan family was able to be in constant communication with the frontliner and his doctors, thanks to a video chat app. “We were hopeful. We prayed hard. His vitals were stable. We believed that faith can move mountains. For 10 days, he fought the greatest battle we could ever imagine,” Ezel said.

“It was totally heartbreaking to hear your mother cry pleading to God for my brother’s life. The rest is God’s plan,” he added.

As the coronavirus took a heavy toll on Kenneth, doctors noted that the frontliner wasn’t getting better and was getting dependent on life support. “Doctors, consultants, nurses recommended that it would be unethical if we prolong kuya’s agony,” Ezel shared. “We had to make the hardest decision of our lives: to let go of kuya.”

Final moments

Even when they were in two different continents, the Lambatan family stayed by Kenneth’s side through a video call.

On the night of April 27, they had their last one, as they bid goodbye to the frontliner. When Kenneth was taken off life support, his mother read Bible verses and sang gospel songs by his side as the nurse lived his final moments.

Kenneth Lambatan is among the medical workers all over the world who have succumbed to the disease after bravely manning the frontlines during the pandemic.

Ezel calls his brother a hero.

“My hero is an ordinary man with big dreams. He doesn’t wear any capes or have a superpower, but he has touched lives more than any hero can. His name is Kenneth R Lambatan. A name to be remembered until eternity,” he asserted.

Learning to love the profession

Kenneth originally didn’t want to study nursing. 

He had wanted to study biology in preparation for his dream of becoming a doctor. His mother, however, wanted him to be a nurse.

In 2003, he decided to make his mother happy by choosing nursing. Making sure his mother wouldn’t worry about the high tuition that came with the course, he secured a two-year scholarship. He eventually learned to love the profession.

After graduating from Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan (XU) in 2007 and passing the nursing board exam, he devoted his life to public service, serving the Northern Mindanao Medical Center for 8 years.

And then Kenneth tried his luck in London. Ezel remembered Kenneth screaming with joy when he found out that his work visa to the UK was approved. 

Via Salinasal, his best friend, recalled how Kenneth was overcome with emotion when he finally saw the Big Ben in real life. It had been his dream to work in the UK.

Called Ken by his friends, he went on to work for the National Health Service since arriving in the UK in 2017. He started at Kingston Hospital as a recovery and research nurse before moving to St George’s Hospital to join their clinical research team.

‘One in a million’

Honoring the fallen alumnus, the XU Council of Nursing thanked Kenneth for his brave contribution in battling the coronavirus. (READ: 'Doktor ng bayan': Dr Fernandez lauded for his undying heart for service)

“We are proud and honored for Kenneth's service towards the greater need and we will always be grateful for protecting us against COVID-19,” they said in a statement.

Friends for around 20 years, Salinasal described Kenneth as a “friend like no other, a one in a million.”

“Those who knew Ken remember him as an extraordinary person, son, brother, nurse, colleague and friend. He was larger than life, and sparked joy and laughter wherever he went,” she said.

On the day Kenneth was taken off life support, Salinasal had worn a hazmat suit, entered his room, and held his hand during his final moments.

“I held your hand the whole time, thinking of your family and friends who would give up anything just to be in my place, to be with you one last time,” Salinsal said. 

“Sadly, Ken died without any of his family members close by, as they are all in the Philippines where Ken is from. The agony and loneliness his family must feel is unimaginable,” she added.

Salinasal shared how Kenneth had many dreams for himself and his family. Ezel said Kenneth had planned to study medicine in the UK.

Hoping to give back the love that Kenneth gave to all that he knew, Salinasal set up a fundraiser in honor of him for his family.

“We would like to show his family just how much Ken was loved and celebrated by everyone who knew him by setting up this fundraiser for them. Ken had so many hopes and dreams for himself and his family...We hope that for his family, Ken’s dreams for them will live on because of your kindness and generosity,” Salinasal said.

Those who want to give a contribution to Kenneth’s family may donate here. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – To contain the spread of the coronavirus, lockdowns have been imposed in several provinces in the Philippines to limit the movement of people.

In areas under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), private establishments providing basic necessities and essential services remain open, while select people and one person per household are authorized to leave their homes. (READ: LIST: Services considered essential during Luzon lockdown)

With such restrictions, the lockdown has affected daily wage workers, many business operations, and their employees. (READ: Over half of MSMEs stopped operations due to coronavirus lockdown)

To help people whose livelihoods have been severely affected by the lockdown, Restart Micro Enterprises (RestartME), an offshoot of the Micro-Enterprise Disaster Assistance Fund for Resilience Program, has compiled a list of government programs providing support for micro-entrepreneurs. 

The list includes government programs helping workers, businesses, and people in the agricultural sector, among others. It also features social welfare programs and other government support for marginalized sectors.

These programs, along with details on coverage and process for application, can be found in RestartME's Briefer on Government Programs for Micro Entrepreneurs and Briefer on Government Loan Assistance and Financing Options for Microfinance Institutions (MFIs). 

Here are several government programs that RestartME has compiled to aid businesses and workers during the pandemic. This information may change over time as government agencies update their rules.

Social welfare programs

Emergency subsidy of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program

• For all beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps)
• P750-cash grant for health and P600-rice subsidy will be allotted for each family. As a response to COVID-19, each family will receive P3,650 up to P6,650 every month based on the minimum wage per region where the beneficiaries reside

Emergency subsidy program for non-beneficiaries of 4Ps

• Each family may receive P5,000 to P8,000 per family based on the minimum wage per region where the beneficiaries reside

PUV and TNV drivers subsidy

• For drivers of public utility jeepneys, UV Express vans, public utility buses, Point-to-Point buses, taxis, transport network vehicle services, school transport or school service, and motorcycles
• P5,000 to 8,000 cash assistance may be received at the nearest LandBank branch. To claim the aid, beneficiaries should bring their driver’s license and a copy, with two affixed signatures. 

Assistance to individuals in crisis situations

• Poor families or those in the informal sector who are either jobless or lost their jobs during the ECQ
•  Or at least one member of that family is among the goverment's target beneficiaries:
• Senior citizens
• Persons with disability
• Pregnant and lactating women
• Oversees Filipinos in distress
• Homeless families, indigent indigenous peoples, and other vulnerable groups
• Informal workers
• Funeral support for COVID-19 related deaths
• P3,000 for each family with 1 member included in the list of target beneficiaries. P5,000 will be given to those families with 2 or more target beneficiaries. Assistance will be given every month during the quarantine period. 

Food and non-food items (FNFI)

• This is the sustained distribution of food and non-food essentials to the most affected individuals and families, including homeless people and workers who were stranded  in the LGU due to the community quarantine
  
• The distribution shall be in coordination with the concerned LGU based on the implementation plan submitted by the field or regional offices 
• DSWD shall provide the FNFI as augmentation support to those provided by the LGUs

Support for Filipino workers

COVID-19 adjustment measures program (CAMP)

• P5,000 will be given as one-time assistance to regular or contractual employees working in the companies that have temporarily closed or have imposed flexible work arrangements (e.g., reduction of work hours, forced leaves, rotation of workers)

Tulong panghanapbuhay sa ating displaced at disadvantaged workers #BarangayKoBahayKo Disinfection at Sanitation Project (TUPAD #BKBK)

• 40 hours of work (4 hours per day for 10 days maximum) for qualified beneficiaries which include the underemployed, self-employed workers, and displaced marginalized workers who lost their livelihood or whose earnings were affected by the lockdown. 
• The nature of work under this program is the disinfection or sanitation of houses/dwellings and immediate civinity of houses
• TUPAD beneficiaries will be fully compensated in about the same rate of the highest minimum wage in the region

Financial assistance for displaced land-based and sea-based OFWs (AKAP)

• Financial assistance will be given to overseas Filipino workers (OFW) who lost jobs due to the lockdown or community quarantine of their host country, or due to positive COVID-19 test results 
• They should be in a jobsite overseas or in the Philippines as a balik-manggagawa (returning worker) to receive the assistance. No assistance will be given to those who have already received subsidy from the host country or from employers.

• Beneficiaries will receive $200 or P10,000 or equivalent local currency from corresponding country of employment

Small business wage subsidy (SBWS)

• Beneficiaries may receive P5,000 to P8,000 for 2 months, based on the minimum wage of the region where they reside.
• These beneficiaries only cover workers who are part of a business not belonging to Large Taxpayer Service (LTS) based on the Bureau of Internal Revenue's list, and who have not received salary for two weeks or more due to the lockdown

Unemployment benefits

• Members paying SSS contribution for 36 months or more who lost their jobs or livelihood due to COVID-19 may receive unemployment benefits ranging from P11,000 to P20,000

Emergency loan for Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) members

• Members and pensioners of GSIS may avail of a P20,000-loan payable in 3 years and at 6% interest per year

Pag-Ibig fund calamity loan

• Members may apply if they:
• Have a fund of total savings equivalent to 24 months
• Have deposited one or more monthly savings in the last 6 months before the loan application
• Are able to pay all payables of all PAG-IBIG loans
• Are a resident of a place declared under a state of calamity

 Assistance for farmers, fishermen, and agricultural workers 

Rice farmer financial assistance (RFFA) of Department of Agriculture (DA)

• Farmers with ricefield of 0.5 to 2 hectares will be given assistance. Land should be included in the 24 provinces stated in the RFFA program.
• P5,000 one-time cash assistance may be received

Financial subsidy to rice farmers (FSRF) of Department of Agriculture

• Farmers with rice field not exceeding one hectare and are not included in the 24 provinces of the RFFA program may receive P5,000 one-time cash assistance

Subsidy for agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs)

• Farmers listed as Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries may receive P5,000 cash assistance and other needs for planting

Expanded survival and recovery assistance program (SURE Aid)

• Fishermen and farmers with ricefields not more than 1 hectare may apply for a loan of up to P15,000, which may be paid within 10 years without interest or collateral

Expanded rice credit assistance – rice competitiveness enhancement fund (ERCA-RCEF)

• Landbank will lend up to P500 million a year to small rice farmers registered with the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) and other accredited cooperatives

Support for businesses

Pondo sa pagbabago at pag-asenso (P3)

• Businesses not exceeding P3 million asset size may apply for a loan amounting to P5,000-P200,000 with an interest rate not greater than 1.5% per month

COVID-19 pondo para sa pagbabago at pag-asenso enterprise rehabilitation fund (P3 ERF)

• Micro and small enterprises operating for a year and more before March 2020 may apply for the following loans depending on their asset size:
• P10,000 to P200,000 for businesses with asset size not greater than 3 million
• A maximum of P500,000 for business with asset size not exceeding P10 million
• Interest rate of 0.5% per month

Livelihood Seeding Program / Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay

• All those interested in starting a business may become a member of the program
• Part of the program is to help facilitate the process of business registration, business management assistance, and other technical assistance. This also includes P5,000 to P8,000 support for the business.

Kabuhayan Formation, Kabuhayan Enhancement, and Kabuhayan Restoration Program

• There are 3 program options:
• Formation: P10,000 maximum may be received for starting a business
• Enhancement: P15,000 maximum may be received to grow current business
• Restoration: P10,000 maximum may be received by businesses that experienced reduced profit or who were affected by COVID-19 or other calamities

• Aside from financial support, beneficiaries will get SSS, Philhealth, or micro-insurance contribution for the first 3 months. They will also receive technical help on how to grow their business. 

Go Negosyo’s Mentor Me Online Live on Facebook

• Those interested may join the group to receive mentorship. You may also visit the Facebook page of Go Negosyo.

Rehabilitation support to cushion unfavorably affected enterprises by COVID19 (I-RESCUE)

• Microfinance institutions (MFIs) and cooperatives may apply for a loan of 85% of needed investment. This will have an interest rate of 5% every year and may be paid in 5 years. 

Rehabilitation Support Program on Severe Events (RESPONSE)

• Public and private institutions in areas under a state of calamity operating for at least year and more prior to the declaration may avail of a loan payable within 10 years, including a 1% spread

Other government programs

Urban Agriculture Program (Plant, Plant, Plant)

• To receive vegetable seeds, people may book a courier (Lalamove, Grab, o Angkas) to the Bureau of Plant Industry at 692 San Andres St Malate, Manila or in Elliptical Road, Visayas Avenue, Quezon City, and pay for the delivery fee. These designated urban agriculture demonstration farms are open from 8 am to 5 pm, Mondays to Fridays.
• You may receive 5 of these vegetable seeds: pechay, mustard, talong, upo, ampalaya, kamatis, sitaw, and kangkong
• More information is available in Memorandum Circular No. 8 Series of 2020 at da.gov.ph.

Kadiwa sa Ani at Kita Stores of the Department of Agriculture and local government unit

• To purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, and other products that cost 20% cheaper than the ones in the market, buyers may proceed to Kadiwa outlets in Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City. 
• There are designated Kadiwa outlets in Las Piñas, Makati, Pasig, Cainta, and Pateros. They are open Thursday to Saturday, 6 am to 5 pm. 
• You may contact your LGU to express interest in establishing an outlet in your area. You may also course orders online. 

Training for Work Scholarship (TWSP) and Special Training for Employment Program (STEP)

• TWSP
• Any Filipino citizen aged 18 and above may apply for TWSP, a program that seeks to support rapid, inclusive, and sustained economic growth
• Courses offered include agri-fishery/agri-business/agroindustrial, tourism, information technology-business process management (IT-BPM), semiconductor and electronics, automotive, other priority manufacturing industries, logistics, general infrastructure, and new and emerging sectors. 
• STEP
• STEP is a community-based training program that seeks to address the specific skills needs of communities and create jobs through entrepreneurial, self-employment, and service-oriented activities.
• All Filipino citizens aged at least 15 may apply.
• Visit tesda.gov.ph/barangay/ to fill out the online form and receive a Learner’s ID. Additional instructions will be given by TESDA afterwards

Government loan assistance and financing options for microfinance institutions

Rehabilitation Support to Cushion Unfavorably Affected Enterprises by COVID-19 (I-Rescue) Lending Program of the Land Bank of the Philippines

• Rehabilitation credit programs for cooperatives and microfinance institutions
• Seeks to augment credit fund for on-lending to small farmer and fishers or micro, small, and medium enterprises
• Rehabilitation through loan restructuring
• Restructuring of existing loan account via additional loan, extended repayment period, or other means (or combination of means) to allow borrowers to rehabilitate or restore operational cash flow

Rehabilitation Support Program on Severe Events (RESPONSE) of the Development Bank of the Philippines

• Eligible borrowers include public and/or private institutions located or operating in areas under a state of calamity 

The Expanded Survival and Recovery Assistance (SURE Aid) Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC)

• Eligible borrowers include small farmers and fisherfolk whose livelihood was affected by a calamity, and their cooperatives or organizations 

Production Loan Easy Access (PLEA) Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council

• Eligible borrowers include marginalized and small farmers, fisherfolk, and livestock raisers  whose livelihood was affected by a calamity, and their cooperatives or organizations

Agrarian Production Credit Program (APCP) of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council

• Eligible borrowers include:
• Agrarian reform beneficiary organizations (ARBOs)
• Farmer organizations and people’s organizations other than ARBOs with Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries or ARB household members
• Cooperatives, NGOs, and rural banks only, with ARB or ARB household members or APCP-ineligible ARBOs as clients

Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso (P3) of Small Business Corporation

• For corporations, cooperatives, or banks with license to engage in lending

– Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – What are the issues to look out for when transitioning your business online?

Medium, small, and micro enterprises in the Philippines are facing an unprecedented existential challenge due to the lockdown caused by the spread of the coronavirus.

How should they adapt for their business to survive? For many businesses, this means expediting their shift online, where most customers are now. (READ: 'Sariling diskarte': The heavy impact of lockdown on micro, small businesses) 

However, navigating this online shift is not easy and straightforward.

What are the best practices for running a successful e-commerce or online business? What are the most recent Philippine laws and regulatory issuances relevant to e-commerce or online businesses? 

To address these and other questions on running a business online, Project Lifeline is organizing a webinar on Thursday, May 7 at 4 pm. Mosveldtt Law Offices launched the campaign in collaboration with the Union Bank of the Philippines (UB), BounceBack PH, and Rappler.

Joining the webinar are Leandro Angelo Aguirre from the National Privacy Commission, UB Chief Technology and Operations Officer Henry Aguda, National Association of Data Privacy Officers of the Philippines founding president Samuel Ramon Jacoba, and UP Vice President Maria Francesca Montes. This will be moderated by Rappler's Tech Editor Gelo Gonzales.

We have limited slots. Interested participants may visit this link to register for this webinar. – Rappler.com

Need help in protecting your business during and beyond the coronavirus pandemic? We’re here to listen and help.

Project Lifeline is a partnership between UnionBank, MOSVELDTT Law, Rappler, and Bounceback PH to provide legal and financial solutions for business owners. Just sign-up here and let us help you. 

MANILA, Philippines – What went wrong?

This was the question that hounded a tight group of 6 law graduates after finding out that none of them passed the  2018 Bar. They studied law at the Dr Vicente Orestes Romualdez Educational Foundation (DVOREF) in Tacloban City, Leyte.

Babayne Tan, Jovany Damayo, Rosalie Almaden, Mae Conde, and KT Acerden have been close since college. They were in the same section in law school, where they met the sixth member of their barkada – Dennis Abril.

The 6 of them dreamed of becoming lawyers at the same time which they eventually attained, but not without suffering heartbreak on their first try at the Bar. (READ: Before acing 2019 Bar, topnotcher recalls not getting into dream school)

“It was heartbreaking and in a way, embarrassing. Our world came crashing down. It was difficult to comprehend why not a single one of us made it in the 2018 Bar exam. Kulang sa aral? Nope. Kulang sa effort? Super hindi. Petiks lang? Absolutely not. (We didn’t study enough? We didn’t put in enough effort? Super no. We were just lazy? Absolutely not),” said Tan.

For the 2018 Bar exam, the group flew all the way to Manila to spend months preparing for the tough licensure exaam. They spent 13 hours a day studying. Despite the exhaustion, they continued studying hard after their review classes.

“Inisip lang namin that time was to give the Bar Exam our everything so that whatever happens, wala kami regrets. Nagbasa lang talaga kami nang nagbasa at sobrang binawasan ang tulog at oras para mag-unwind,” Tan added.

(We were thinking that if we give our everything to the Bar exam, we won’t have any regrets regardless of whatever happen. We just studied and reduced our time for sleep and breaks.)

Devastated by the 2018 Bar results, the barkada sought comfort in one another and constantly talked to each other in their group chat to process what they were feeling. Still dumbfounded as to what happened, they even changed their group chat name to “What Went Wrong.”

“We kept asking kung saan kami nagkulang. We did our best and gave our everything pero bakit bagsak pa rin? We first asked each other kung anong gagawin namin. We all agreed na magtetake kami pero hindi rin kami sure how we'll prepare for it since all of us were working that time,” Tan said.

(We kept asking what our shortcomings were. We did our best and gave our everything but we still failed? We first asked each other what we’ll do next. We all agreed to retake [the exam] but we weren’t sure how to prepare for it since we were all working at that time.)

Journey to redemption

In 2019, the barkada found themselves back in Manila to prepare for the Bar.

“Sabak agad sa giyera (We went straight to the battlefield) because there was no other option.... Notwithstanding our best efforts and sacrifices, we knew that failure was still a possibility which made it all the more terrifying,” said Tan.

This time, the barkada made sure to take breaks instead of going all out and overexerting themselves. they reduced their minimum 13 hours of reading time to at least 8 hours. They also allotted Mondays as free days, and took breaks when they were tired.

“We basically just chose to love ourselves more and listen to our bodies, contrary to what we did the previous year na halos patayin na namin mga sarili namin. Kung noong 2018, work and pray lang ginawa namin. Noong 2019 work, pray, and play na,” Tan shared.

(We basically just chose to love ourselves more and listen to our bodied, contrary to what we did the previous year when we nearly killed ourselves. If in 2018, what we did was all work and pray. In 2019, it became work, pray, and play.)

While preparing for the Bar exam, the barkada would often talk about their fears and worries over a few cans of beer during their free days.

Tan shared that even if they were broken, they lent each other a helping hand when needed.

“Sama-samang bumagsak at sama-samang bumangon (Together we fell and together we'll rise),” Tan added.

Rising together

When the results of the 2019 Bar exam came out on April 29, their group chat went quiet until it suddenly exploded with congratulatory messages.

This time, all of them passed.

“We may have effed the first try but that dark and painful part of our lives made us realize how strong and determined we are. It molded us into the kind of person we are today, and taught us that those who never gave up on their dream despite the hardships and failures must also be accorded recognition and respect,” Tan said.

Tan's advice to aspiring lawyers and Bar takers to always go back to the reason they wanted to enter the profession whenever they feel hopeless.

She also highlighted the importance of listening to your body and understanding what you’re reading.

“Kailangan talagang magsakripisyo para sa pangarap (You ereally have to sacrifice for your dream). If you're tired, rest but never quit. Never forget the reason why you wanted to become a lawyer. It will motivate you to keep going,” she said.

When times are tough, she advises how it’s important to keep going and keep hoping for better days.

“Laban lang lagi and tell yourself, ‘Magiging abogado ako (Just keep fighting and tell yourself ‘I’ll be a lawyer),'” Tan said.

After achieving their goal, the barkada finally changed their group chat name: "From What Went Wrong to #PumasaNa." – Rappler.com

Personal accounts reflect one’s perceptions and sentiments.

“I learn many things. We learn to (go to the) market and cook. We learn about safe and unsafe places. We eat at one table and pray. We are a family.”

This is the personal account of Rebby (not her real name), who lives in ACAY house. ACAY Mission Philippines runs a residential home called School of Life for young female victims of abandonment, negligence, and violence. Sister Sophie, the founder, explained that their goal is to prepare the girls for progressive independence and reintegration to society. The founder expounded that a fundamental aspect of the educational concepts their NGO has developed through the years is beneficiary participation.

Beneficiary participation refers to the involvement and influence of beneficiaries in the operations of a program. It engages beneficiaries in planning, organizing activities, and decision-making. In the Philippines, there are NGOs that deliberately practice beneficiary participation in various forms. 

Dr. Vien Chu highlighted 3 levels of participation: consulting, partnership, and delegated control. 

• Consulting aims at understanding the beneficiaries and the factors that affect them. This is achieved through surveys, meetings, and formal complaint mechanisms. ACAY, for example, developed a regular feedback mechanism where girls air out difficulties and complaints. Simultaneously, Family Cooperation for Health Service Foundation (FAMCOHSEF) surveys health workers on their evaluation of speakers and topics after attending a module.

• Partnership occurs when employees and beneficiaries work together to identify areas for development or co-administer a program. This is done through work groups and the beneficiaries’ representative council. For instance, Teacher Meldy from St. Josemaria Day Care said that toddlers' parents also have responsibilities in running the program. ACAY engages girls to work on a roadmap, wherein they learn to compute how much money they will need until the end of the School of Life program and determine how to earn it progressively. FAMCOHSEF conducts focus group discussions with beneficiaries in order to gather their insights on program development.

• Delegated control means giving beneficiaries a voice in decision-making. Organizations invite select beneficiaries to sit in the board or advisory committee. Roseanne Gonzalez, FAMCOHSEF President, shared that they formed a committee, composed of the social worker and 3 beneficiaries, that channels feedback and provides advice to management. 

Some organizations hesitate to seek the opinion of beneficiaries due to lack of proficiency. Teacher Meldy, however, imparted that young people can answer surveys for as long as the questions are appropriate to their age and circumstance. Keeping in mind the children who went through day care, she shared, “Ang mga sampung taong gulang...matatalino sila. Nakakasagot sila kung ano ang kanilang puwedeng maambag sa pamilya at sa community nila.” (Ten-year old children are smart. They are able to tell us what they can contribute for their families and their communities.) 

Beneficiary participation aids management in executing better services. In the case of ACAY, the roadmap project allowed management to identify the skills that each girl needs and assist her in developing income-generating endeavors. Moreover, the practice of consulting and working with beneficiaries boosts their self-esteem. To wit, FAMCOHSEF’s training program graduates feel that the project is theirs and market the program to potential participants. (READ: 'BeVolts': From street dwellers to aid workers)

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a deep financial and health crisis in our country. More Filipinos necessitate economic, emotional, and medical assistance. Bayanihan calls for existing and additional structures to tackle present-day hardships of the marginalized and vulnerable. Are authorities eager to sit down and listen to beneficiaries? Do leaders trust in their capacity to share insights? In the effort to serve, it is propitious for key players to consult, partner with or delegate to beneficiaries. 

Barangay captains can consult underprivileged residents on food, milk, and medicines they need to survive ECQ and post-ECQ. The data can propel LGUs to strategize acquisition and distribution of supply. Corporations can partner with farmers to design a sustainable system for delivery and sale of produce. NGOs for the aged can spot spokespersons who are able to articulate concerns of their community and decide on action plans. Beneficiaries receive but can also give. (READ: ‘Ayuda, hindi bala:’ Filipinos online demand improved gov’t support on Labor Day 2020)

It is important to listen to the perceptions and sentiments of the people we wish to help. It is vital to boost their talent and courage to converse with team leaders. It is worth involving them in decisions that determine their fate. What beneficiaries say matter. Participation is a promising tool in responding accurately to the needs and interests of beneficiaries. – Rappler.com

Adiel H. Aguiling, CPA, was formerly the Director for Educational Management of PAREF Schools Central Office. She is currently a coach at People Engaged in People Projects Foundation Inc. She is pursuing her doctorate in Business Administration at De La Salle University, Manila and does research on NGOs for education and social development. Email: maria_adiel_aguiling@dlsu.edu.ph

 MANILA, Philippines – Weeks ago, several health organizations said that masks were not necessary for most of us during this pandemic. This advice has since been translated into policies implemented by local government units, and into reports amplified by many different news organizations.

Later on, the same health organizations would retract their statement and actually recommend the opposite: everyone should wear a mask if we want to curb the spread of the coronavirus. 

In a marathon coverage like the coronavirus issue, how are newsrooms breaking stories as facts are still unfolding and a lot of things remain uncertain? How are newsrooms navigating this fast-paced environment while preventing misinformation?

Far too often, providing adequate context is a challenge in breaking stories. This becomes more crucial during this time, when sharing reliable and accurate information can help prevent unnecessary panic and put a spotlight on relevant public health messages. 

At a time when things – including what we know about the disease and how the government is handling this emergency – are rapidly evolving, newsrooms need to provide journalistic clarity by handling information more deliberately and accurately. 

MovePH, Rappler's civic engagement arm, in partnership with the Freidrich Naumann Foundation, will hold a fact-checking webinar on Friday, May 8, to delve deeper into these specific challenges.

Rappler news editor Miriam Grace Go and head of research, partnerships, and strategy Gemma Bagayaua-Mendoza will be tackling this topic.

We have limited slots. Interested participants may visit this link to register. – Rappler.com

On Labor Day weekend, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) rallied on social media against the new premium contribution assigned to them by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). A circular posted on PhilHealth’s official Facebook page on April 22 informed OFWs of their new mandatory payment schedule, which now amounts to 3% of their salary, and which would increase annually until 2025. This regulation was said to be under the Universal Healthcare (UHC) law, which aims to enrol all Filipinos under the National Health Insurance Program.  

While the purpose of the UHC law itself seems good, and is a big leap towards trying to achieve health equality, the means to support the funding by making OFWs “direct contributors,” obliging them to pay a certain amount, and holding them liable for non-payment (“a member who fails to pay the premium after the due set by the corporation shall be required to pay all missed contributions with monthly compounded interest”) is unfair and unjustifiable.

When they were drafting the law, did they even bother to ask OFWs around the world if they agreed to this obligation? The government has embassies around the world that could have reached out to communities of OFWs to ask for their opinion on this matter. That would have been the fair step to take in a democratic society. But most of us only found out about this now. 

Another matter of concern is using the POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Agency) to police OFWs by not issuing the OEC (Overseas Employment Contract), which serves as clearance to exit the country, to OFWs who do not pay their PhilHealth premiums.  

The government already knows about the struggles of OFWs. They should have considered that some would not be able to send monthly remittances to their families, since some have employers are actually withholding salaries from them. Some are also struggling to live abroad to begin with, and we also have to keep in mind that many have no choice but to go abroad because there is no work back home. While we OFWs find personal solutions to national problems such as poverty and unemployment, we expect the government to look out for our welfare, too – not to look at us as “milking cows.” (READ: Rappler Talk: Taiwan OFW Linn Ordidor on free speech and dodging deportation)

In response to the growing petition to amend or abolish the mandatory payment, PhilHealth announced that it has adapted a “flexible payment scheme” to allow OFWs to pay within the year. Then, in a conflicting statement from the Malacañan, the President has issued a directive making the payment voluntary for OFWs and suspending collection of payments while we are still in a pandemic. Flexible payment schemes, voluntary payments, and suspension of payments? Does this mean we still need to pay the premium once they announce that the crisis is over? None of this is clear to us. 

The call of OFWs around the world is to amend the regulation to make the premium non-mandatory, and not just a temporary suspension of payments. And if they are going to make it voluntary in the long term and will issue a new table for contributions, the premium should not go over the previous P2,400 per year for OFWs. Plus, the OEC should never be used as a tool to penalize OFWs for failure of payment.

Lastly, alternative ways to fund the UHC are the proper collection of taxes from multinational and other high-earning companies, and eliminating corruption in the system. And, of course, we must always go back to basics: invest in proper nutrition for citizens from an searly age (to produce a healthy population), provide good sanitary living conditions (to cut the morbidity and mortality rate), and provide decent jobs (to make sure everyone can enrol in the health insurance system). – Rappler.com

Elisha Gay C. Hidalgo is a Filipina cultural mediator working in Italy. She is the wife and daughter of OFWs, and a mother of 3 young Filipino immigrants. 

MANILA, Philippines – The colors red, blue, and green have never been so radiant as now.

As soon as media giant ABS-CBN went off air on Tuesday night, May 5, artists from the media and creative industry were quick to show their support. 

From voicing out their support to creating images that show the company colors of ABS-CBN, artists expressed solidarity with the media giant, its workers, and Filipino supporters whom it has served for decades. 

The shutdown order of the National Telecommunications Network (NTC) came a day after the expiration of the broadcast network's congressional franchise, and just two days after the celebration of World Press Freedom Day. 

In a statement, Sama-samang Artista para sa Kilusang Agraryo (SAKA), an alliance of art and cultural workers, lambasted the move, saying it was meant to suppress the free press the same way the government has attempted to muzzle peasant communities and advocates. 

“Freedom of the press and freedom of expression are democratic rights. And the democratic majority – the Philippine peasantry – demands their protection. A vibrant press sharpens the sickle; expression bolsters the peasant struggle for #LandJusticePeace,” SAKA said. 

It criticized the government's attempt to monopolize power, to silence media seen as President Rodrigo Duterte's staunch critics, and to force-feed Filipinos with government propaganda and "fake news."

“By shutting ABS-CBN down, the state exercises Duterte’s bid to monopolize the flow of knowledge through fake news factories like the Presidential Communications Group and its troll farms,” the group said. 

The Concerned Artists of the Philippines (CAP) also questioned the timing of the move as the shutdown comes at a time when Filipinos need key information about the coronavirus crisis.

“At a time when we are all trying to help out with relief, livelihood, truth telling, and vigilance over COVID-19 responses, the order only contributes to economic displacement and curtailment of the right to information and expression,” CAP said. 

The group also pointed out how this malicious attack on press freedom also threatened the livelihood of media and creative industry workers. 

ABS-CBN employs 11,000 workers who stand to lose their jobs in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic. 

“We condemn this abuse of power. Why is the NTC hell-bent on ensuring the closure of ABS-CBN at this time of pandemic, when the whole world has adjusted and extended many policies in the face of COVID-19 and implemented lockdowns in every country?” CAP continued. 

Meanwhile, CAP artist and designer Karl Castro said in a Facebook post that the shutdown order against a media giant sends a chilling effect that endangers the voice of smaller or more critical news organizations or groups. 

“Beyond ABS-CBN, online outlets and alternative media have faced various attacks…. Dissenters, activists, and other truth-tellers bear the brunt of disinformation, vilification, harassment, arrests, even cold-blooded murder. We must understand the ABS-CBN shutdown in this context of systemic attacks,” Castro stressed.

He also reposted on his social media account an image he remembered creating in 2010 for a Christmas activity in support of the ABS-CBN Internal Job Market Workers’ Union. He never thought that the same image will be relevant as the company deals with the shutdown.  

“We are free to debate on the merits of ABS-CBN's practice, the worldview it offers, and its contributions to our landscape. However, we must do this in an atmosphere of freedom. Shutting down the network is tantamount to narrowing our democratic space,” Castro added.

He also said that ABS-CBN has become an important institution in Philippine history. (READ: IN PHOTOS: Inside the ABS-CBN newsroom during first post-Martial Law shutdown) 

Some other artists were inspired to share their work online to rally behind the media giant.

Philippine Collegian posted a sketch made by Kim Yutuc where Yutuc portrayed Duterte’s move to step on a media giant and silence it. 

ABS-CBN has been the subject of presidential ire, and Duterte has repeatedly warned the company that its franchise would not be renewed. 

“Walang pagkilala ang pamahalaan sa malaya at kritikal na pamamahayag. 'Pagkat para sa kanila, higit na mahalaga ang pagpapatahimik kaysa sa pagsisiwalat ng katotohanan,” The Philippine Collegian wrote in the same post. 

(The government does not recognize free and critical reporting. Because for them, it’s more important to silence the press than reveal the truth.)

Walang pagkilala ang pamahalaan sa malaya at kritikal na pamamahayag. Pagkat para sa kanila, higit na mahalaga ang pagpapatahimik kaysa sa pagsisiwalat ng katotohanan.

Dibuho ni Kim Yutuc#NoToABSCBNShutdown#DefendPressFreedom#MediaFightBackpic.twitter.com/BWDSU8EReH

— Philippine Collegian (@phkule) May 5, 2020

Designer and illustrator Mika Montaño also shared her artwork online emphasizing the bright colors of ABS-CBN with a fist punch thrown in the air to support the broadcast network. 

“Wala na ako masabi kundi malinaw na sa lahat: ang kalagayan ng mga Filipino ay hindi ang prioridad ng gobyerno (I can't say anything more other than it’s now clear to all: the welfare of the Filipino people is not the priority of this government),” she added. 

wala na ako masabi kundi malinaw na sa lahat: ang kalagayan ng mga Filipino ay hindi ang prioridad ng gobyerno. #DefendPressFreedom#IStandWithABSCBNpic.twitter.com/JSpA2KE4Gq

— TIFA LOVING HOURS #OustDuterte (@lunarbum) May 5, 2020

Graphic designer Raffy de Guzman created a GIF expressing grief over the media giant’s shutdown as the radiant company colors of ABS-CBN suddenly transitioned to black. 

CAP also continued to urge artists, creatives, and entertainment industry workers to speak out against this latest attack on freedom of expression and threat to economic rights.– Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Several youth groups were up in arms after the National Telecommunications Commission ordered embattled media network ABS-CBN to halt their television and radio broadcasting operations on Tuesday, May 5.

The order comes a day after the expiration of ABS-CBN's congressional franchise, and just two days after World Press Freedom Day.

Misplaced priorities?

Youth groups hit the current administration for prioritizing the closure of ABS-CBN over the multitude of economic and health issues hounding the country in light of the coronavirus crisis.

"Sa kabila ng dinaranas nating krisis ay piniling pagtuunan ng pansin ng administrasyon ang pagpapasara sa ABS-CBN network. Kahit milyon-milyong Pilipino ang nananatiling walang hanapbuhay at nagugutom, bunsod na rin ng kawalan at kabagalan ng ayuda, ay nananatiling makasarili si Duterte at ang mga galamay nito sa gobyerno," the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman University Student Council said.

(Despite the crisis we're going through, the administration chose to prioritize the closure of ABS-CBN. While millions of Filipinos don't have livelihoods and are starving, coupled with the lack of or slow distribution of relief goods, Duterte and his allies in government remain selfish.)

The UP College of Education Student Council noted how the government should instead worry more about going after individuals and groups that are spreading false information in the country; fighting China's attempts to lay claim on Philippine islands; and leading concrete efforts to address the medical needs of Filipinos.

YouthResist, meanwhile, called on the government to focus on mass testing for the coronavirus and ensuring job security, as Filipinos start to buckle under the weight of the coronavirus lockdown.

Why silence media in the middle of pandemic?

Worried about the loss of a reliable source of information during the current pandemic, the UP College of Mass Communication slammed the great lengths the government has gone to in order to "silence critical media voices."

Heraldo Filipino, the official student publication of the De La Salle University-Dasmariñas, asserted that shutting down one of the biggest media outlets in the country at a time when the public needs more reliable sources of information is a "disservice to the Filipino people."

"One of the important pillars of democracy is free circulation of information for people to properly assess what's happening in their country, what their leaders are doing, and how all of these affect them," Heraldo Filipino added.

UP Alyansa echoed the sentiment, pointing out how the government is not just shutting down ABS-CBN's operations but is also halting the spread of "accurate, timely, and relevant information especially at a time when we are challenged by a pandemic that this government is failing to control."

The UP Diliman University Student Council warned that the closure of a network as large as ABS-CBN shows there's a "de facto martial law" being led by President Rodrigo Duterte.

The student council said that the move will have a chilling effect on smaller media outlets that may release critical and progressive pieces.

In service to whom?

Youth groups also called on the government to prioritize the need of the Filipino people. UP Manila Pre-law Society urged the administration to prevent another massive loss of livelihood as the country faces an economic crisis due to the coronavirus lockdown.

The closure of ABS-CBN puts more than 11,000 jobs at stake.

"Pinili nitong patahimikin ang isang institusyong naghahatid ng serbisyo sa mamamayan at nagsisilbing sandigan ng katotohanan, ang ABS-CBN. Kung tatanungin, sino nga ba sa kanila ang tunay na naglilingkod sa bayan?" asked Sulo, the official student publication of the UP Diliman College of Education.

(It chose to silence an institution that provides service to the people and has become a pillar of truth. Between the two of them, who's really serving the nation?)

YouthResist also asked the legislative branch to "bring back the confidence of the people in its autonomy as independent branch of government."

There were at least 9 bills filed with Congress seeking ABS-CBN's franchise renewal. However, Congress had repeatedly pushed back hearings on the said bills.

As ABS-CBN's future remains uncertain, youth groups rallied behind the media giant, asserting the need to defend press freedom.

"Tayo ay nakikiisa sa panawagang patuloy na mabigyang proteksyon ang ating mga media frontliners at bigyan ng agarang solusyon ang sitwasyon ng bansa sa ilalim ng pandemya. Naniniwala tayo na higit dapat nating bantayan at ipaglaban ang malayang pamamahayag sa gitna ng ating nararanasan," Laban PUP said.

(We join the call to protect our media frontliners and give a timely solution to our situation as we face a pandemic. We believe that it's important that we defend and fight for press freedom amid what we are experiencing now.) – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – For many media groups, an attack on one is an attack on all.

In a rare show of solidarity, several media groups rallied behind ABS-CBN after the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) ordered its closure on Tuesday, May 5, 2020. 

The media giant that employs around 11,000 workers officially went off-air at 7:52 pm on Tuesday.

The Photojournalists' Center of the Philippines (PCP), Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP), and the Consortium on Democracy and Disinformation (D&D)  – composed mostly of media practitioners – condemned the NTC order against ABS-CBN. 

“The order threatens press freedom at a time when the public needs an unfettered press the most. As the Philippines reels from the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic, ABS-CBN’s critical eye is needed now more than ever to help inform the public,” FOCAP said in a statement. 

According to PCP, for this closure to happen in the middle of a global emergency like the coronavirus is nothing short of insensitive. (READ: Press freedom takes a hit in PH during coronavirus pandemic) 

“We in the media have been foregoing our own safety to be able to cover the COVID-19 crisis so that valuable information can be disseminated. For the government to cancel the franchise of ABS-CBN in the middle of this crisis is a wanton disregard for the interest of the public,” PCP said. 

Not isolated case

The D&D pointed out that this move cannot be taken apart from the “wider context of the Duterte administration’s war on the media.” 

Aside from this, other news groups like Rappler, Inquirer, VERA Files, and the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism have been on the receiving end of various forms of attacks against the press. On multiple occasions, President Rodrigo Duterte and other members of his administration have also red-tagged alternative news groups. (READ: ‘An act of betrayal,’ Rappler says on closure order vs ABS-CBN) 

“If the nation will allow an unjust ABS-CBN shutdown to stand, we should all expect increased media harassment, more widespread and more malevolent disinformation, worse obscenities committed against journalism in the name of 'the law,'” D&D said. 

“The move is clearly a case of political harassment against a pillar of Philippine democracy that employs thousands of Filipinos whose livelihoods are now at risk with the order,” FOCAP added. 

The group urged Congress to independently act on pending measures seeking to renew ABS-CBN's franchise. – Rappler.com

Seeing how ill-prepared our country was for this pandemic, we can also see how much we have taken the education and research sector for granted. There should have been several universities or research bodies who would have been able to help our government fight this outbreak, if only the latter had prioritized them and provided support. So the question is, are we going to learn now and be a research-inclined country after this pandemic?

Being a prior research scholar overseas made me see the potential of the Philippines, if only the country's budget for science and technology was allocated properly. Working as a research assistant and a graduate scholar in Taiwan made me realize how incomparable our current educational system is with that of Taiwan and other research-oriented countries. The undergraduate and graduate students in our university abroad were provided with a laboratory and equipment mostly care of the government's Ministry of Science and Technology. (READ: [OPINION] We need to professionalize biology in the Philippines)

Having several Filipino colleagues abroad and seeing how passionate they are in their respective fields of expertise makes me both sad and proud. After all, you can clearly tell that Filipinos are competent and can excel in fields like engineering, biosciences, and business-related studies. But they choose to excel overseas because the Philippine government does not prioritize their sectors. 

Several countries have extended their help to the Philippines to help fight COVID-19. But we will always have our backs against the wall if we continue being unable to stand on our own and provide for our own people's needs. There have been several projects that the DOST (Department of Science and Technology) opened for research sectors, but these alone cannot sustain the number of talents we have in the Philippines. In other countries like Taiwan, the government provides subsidies even for private universities, in order for them to be always at par if with, if not ahead of, other countries in technological advancements. They even provide subsidies to entice great talents from other countries. 

Our sole response so far to the current pandemic is a quasi-effective lockdown and fear-instilling policies. Even if our economy somehow survives the current pandemic, are we still going to be short-sighted and look for short-term solutions? Would it not be better if we start seating ourselves in the front row and taking initiatives in development? Instead of waiting in the backlines for rescue, wouldn't it be beneficial to future generations if we start noticing and trusting the talents of our own people instead of doubting their capabilities? (READ: PH science advisory body urges research-based approach to fight coronavirus)

I can vouch for the capabilities of young, hungry, innovative Filipinos. We are in an era where technology will be the main parameter of a country’s economic success. Tomorrow belongs to the people whose governments are approaching education parellel with continuous loops of learning. Our success as a country will not be defined by how compassionate and decorated our politicians and celebrities are, but by our educational system’s ability to adapt, learn, and apply.

The Filipino youth won’t be able to grasp the severity of our condition if they are still following ill-guided systems and mediocre standards. Apart from our healthcare system, we should also begin investing in on-demand technologies like artificial intelligence, the internet of things, etc. If our system is fixed and we start teaching the youth to be proactive in crisis situations, this would be beneficial to everybody. There is, after all, a thin line between promoting passiveness and promoting ignorance.

When are we really going to start thinking that a country with a research-oriented educational system will always be successful? When are we going to realize that being consistently dependent on agenda-inspired aid will never do us any good? When are we, as Filipinos, going to demand our right for an competent educational system and competent government? – Rappler.com

Carlo Santiago is a Project Manager at Kinpo Electronics Philippines, and a consultant on autonomous navigation systems for a Japanese company based in the Philippines.

MANILA, Philippines – Academic institutions are taking a stand against the National Telecommunications Commission’s (NTC) move to halt all broadcasting operations of media giant ABS-CBN at a time where Filipinos urgently need information during the coronavirus pandemic.

This is the latest in the company’s years-long tussle with the government under President Rodrigo Duterte. (TIMELINE: Duterte against ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal)

Earlier this year, Solicitor General Jose Calida filed a quo warranto petition against ABS-CBN and accused them of foreign ownership. Congress also failed to act on ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal, as the company’s franchise was first granted in 1995, which allowed them to operate for 25 years.

The network signed off at 7:52 pm on Tuesday, May 5.

The last time ABS-CBN was ordered closed was in 1972, during Ferdinand Marcos’ Martial Law. ABS-CBN would only later reopen in 1986 after the EDSA People Power Revolution toppled the dictator, bringing widow Corazon Aquino into power.

Many schools were quick to slam the NTC’s cease and desist order as well as the government’s overall attack on press freedom and democracy.

De La Salle University lit up St. La Salle Hall in ABS-CBN’s colors a few hours after the network went off-air, to show its solidarity with the network’s employees and the millions of Filipinos who depended on the company’s broadcasts and programs.

The University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman College of Mass Communication slammed the administration for “the lengths it will go to silence critical media voices.”

“As we continue to battle this health crisis, we need a free press to serve as a faithful chronicler of events, a platform for the diversity of voices to be heard, and, more importantly, the public’s watchdog of inept, abusive and corrupt governance,” the Department’s statement read.

The College of Development Communication from UP Los Baños stated ABS-CBN’s shutdown during the coronavirus pandemic would “take away [Filipinos’] access to information, limit their capacity to make informed decisions, and rob them of one of the platforms through which they can be heard.”

“We believe that a free press and an informed citizenry are essential to a healthy democracy – these are safeguards against repression and abuses of power,” the statement read.

Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) President Jose Ramon Villarin stressed the network’s closure “deprives the Filipino people of a vital source of information, entertainment, and public service.”

“ABS-CBN's closure extinguishes the brightest light in our information firmament and leaves the smaller ones in darkness and peril,” Villarin wrote.

ADMU’s Communication Department shared Villarin’s sentiments, calling the closure an “attack on democracy.”

“It deprives citizens of a platform for the free exchange of news and opinions, and for the expression of society’s diverse voices. It also denies our citizens a tool for mobilizing resources and galvanizing efforts at this time of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the Communication Department wrote in a statement.

The University of Santo Tomas (UST) highlighted how ABS-CBN significantly improved the lives of many Filipinos, both in and out of the country.

“It is a clear disservice to the Filipino people in this time of the pandemic, when information, delivered fast and wide, is key to saving lives,” UST wrote.

Journalism educators from UST also released their own statement, stating Duterte has “declared war on the free press” and cited ABS-CBN’s closure as “his Pearl Harbor attack.”

“There is no more denying that the Duterte regime will stop at nothing – even amid a national emergency and a crippling lockdown – to crush dissent and stifle a free and independent media. Shutting down media is the work of dictators,” the statement read.

Statement of journalism educators from UST on the closure of ABS-CBN pic.twitter.com/Uc9zdOGciu

— Felipe Salvosa II⁷ (@felipesalvosa) May 5, 2020

St. Scholastica’s College - Manila said the network’s shutdown is “more than just a closure of one of the oldest commercial television broadcasters...or a freedom of speech and of the press issue.”

“The Sovereign Filipino People, more than ever, need to demand a respect for fundamental human and Constitutional rights,” they wrote.

Alumni of St. Scholastica’s College - Manila’s Mass Communication Department also dubbed ABS-CBN “more than just a broadcast network,” as it served as an “extension of Communication students’ classrooms,” and “the Filipino’s avenue for expression.”

“Like a thief in the night, this Administration stole every Filipino’s access to information and channel for expression,” alumni wrote.

– Rappler.com

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The LGBT community has not had it easy. If you’re not straight, chances are, there will be moments when you end up misunderstood, discriminated against, or worse.  

To prevent this from happening, educating people on the gender spectrum is key, but it also comes with challenges. Each gender identity is itself a rich and complex world that can be tricky to explain. 

In this episode of I’ve Got An Opinion, Rappler’s podcast on ordinary people speaking out on extraordinary issues, we’re putting bisexuals in the spotlight. We talk to LGBT activist Vince Liban, who wants to debunk the many, many myths on being bi. 

If you would like to reach out to Lunas Collective, which was mentioned in this episode, click here. 

– Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The lockdown bore heavy impact on a lot of groups – especially the micro, small, and medium businesses in the Philippines. (READ: 'Sariling diskarte': The heavy impact of lockdown on micro, small businesses) 

Fortunately, aside from cost-saving adjustments that a business can take, there are programs extended by the government and the banking sector to help ease the impact of the extended downtime for businesses.

What are the options available for business owners to help them survive the lockdown? What can they do to avail of existing programs? 

To discuss this and related matters, Project Lifeline is holding a webinar on Thursday, May 14 at 3:30 pm. Mosveldtt Law Offices launched the campaign in collaboration with the Union Bank of the Philippines (UB), BounceBack PH, and Rappler.

Joining the webinar are Deputy Director General Chuchi Fonacier of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and Jerry Coloma of Mosveldtt Law Offices. Rappler multimedia reporter Ralf Rivas will be moderating it. 

To register, visit this link or sign up below: 

 You will receive instructions on how to join the webinar soon after you register. – Rappler.com 

Project Lifeline is a partnership between UnionBank, MOSVELDTT Law, Rappler, and Bounceback PH to provide legal and financial solutions for business owners. Just sign-up here and let us help you.