A Silenced Journalist

It is a bitter irony that in a country that boasts of its democratic ideals, 66 journalists have been brutally killed in the last year of 2022

One would expect that in a country where freedom of expression is enshrined in the constitution, the press would be able to do its job without fear of violence But alas, it seems that those in power, or even the government itself, have decided that a free and independent press is a nuisance to be silenced through intimidation and murder

It is an undeniable fact that some of these killings have been orchestrated by those who hold power and want to maintain a stranglehold on the flow of information

These individuals, whether they be government officials or powerful businessmen, have decided that the truth is a threat to their interests, and so they have taken it upon themselves to silence those who would dare to speak it

This is not only a betrayal of the principles of democracy but also a grave injustice to the families of the victims and the entire nation

"The sudden changes are tiring but I managed to get through with it," he said In the same way, a Grade 9 Student at Casimiro A Ynares Sr Memorial National High School, Kwynne Rozeinne Alao also struggled at adjusting to face-to-face classes as she state that she has already gotten used to 2 years of online classes that she has more time in household chores as her works are online and she can finish it earlier and she added that she will face the challenges with a positive view and ready herself of the possible changes

Additionally, some of the adjustments they also need to do is changing their morning routine including that they need to wake up early and get ready early unlike in the new mode of learning, where you can wake up a little later and also the fact that socialization can be hard for them because it's a new environment and being stuck in your house for 2 years and just facing them virtually

Lastly, they need to adjust to school rules and classroom rules including wearing a face mask even though it's not required but teachers preferred students wearing a mask, sanitation, and washing hands as participating in implementing he health and safety protocol of the Department of Health (DOH)

Jovan Nico S.J. Pelausa

The right to freedom of expression is not something that can be taken away at the whim of those in power It is a fundamental human right that must be protected at all costs

The international community must speak out against these atrocities and press for accountability The government must take immediate steps to ensure the safety of journalists and to bring those responsible for these killings to justice

It is a tragedy that in a democratic country, journalists must risk their lives to do their job

Despite the challenges they face during the resumption of face-to-face classes, it has good factors to look up to The resumption of classes somewhat helps them in attaining their knowledge because we can't deny the fact that during online classes, students can barely remember the lesson and have a tough time understanding the lessons It is a self-learning module and not everyone has the same capability and is a fast learner

Students' connectivity to teachers is also a good factor in the resumption of inperson classes because they can approach their teachers personally to ask about the lesson, during online classes, this is hard since not all students have access to the internet but even the privileged one is having a hard time cause some teachers are difficult to connect with

Overall, adjusting to face-to-face classes is hard on the students as they need to be flexible in the new normal They also need to cope with the changes and bear the challenges of it but with the help of their friends and people that surround them, they can manage it

But we must not be silenced by the actions of those who would seek to control the flow of information We must stand in solidarity with the families of the victims and with journalists everywhere, who bravely continue to do their work in the face of danger

We must also reaffirm our commitment to the principles of democracy and freedom of expression, for only by doing so can we hope to create a world where journalists can do their work without fear of their backs being widely exposed