The Manila Collegian Volume 33, Issue No. 3

DUTERTE PALPAK ONE YEAR INTO THE PANDEMIC: What’s the same? What has changed?

NEWS | 03

THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES - MANILA VOLUME 33 ISSUE NO. 3 FEBRUARY - MARCH | MARCH 31, 2021

Of Witches and Women: The Never Ending Hunt CULTURE | 08

Do you think UP is more prepared for distance learning in the 2nd semester?

ITANONG MO | 10

EDITORYAL | 02

PROLONGED SEQUELAE

editorial

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VOLUME 33 ISSUE NO. 3 THE MANILA COLLEGIAN

Officer-in-Charge: Tammy B. Habal | Associate Editor for Internals: Christina Michaela D. Cambiado | Associate Editor for Externals: Bianca Ysabelle M. Baldemor | Managing Editor: Pauline Mae F. Magsino | Assistant Managing Editor: Natasha Beatrice D. Carolina | News Editor: Angela Vanessa V. Manuel Features Editor: Shanin Kyle C. Manuel | Culture Editor: Gwyneth C. Cruz | Graphics Editor: Vince Julius V. Balaga News Correspondents: Ma. Rowz Angela F. Fajardo • Sean Gere V. Pascual • Elaine Joyce C. Diaz • Rochel M. Floron IV | Features Correspondents: Irish Jem R. Bantolino • Danna Carissa R. Gonsalves • Marianne Zen Therese O. De Jesus | Culture Correspondents: Sophie Mireille R. Echivarre • Mikaela Marie Santillan | Illustrators: Justine Vince A. de Dios • Abigail Beatrice O. Malabrigo | Layout Artist: Trevor Phoenix Lomotos

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Prolonged Sequelae A YEAR HAS passed, but the Philippines is still struggling to survive the current pandemic that has affected thousands of lives. Despite the various attacks and acts of negligence of the Duterte administration to national healthcare and security, the Filipino people are continuously fighting back.

Three hundred and ninety three days has passed since the country was placed under multiple, confusing community quarantine levels in an attempt to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Despite the adjustments that Filipinos have made for the new normal, the country’s current situation on handling the pandemic was reset to zero. According to a statement from former Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral, the Philippines is “ten steps back from square one,” adding that the economic and healthcare sectors have been exhausted by the pandemic since March last year. This is evident in the all-time highs recorded on a daily basis, with the latest as of March 29 at 10,016. The curve is rising again, and the government is much relaxed about it.

President Duterte has been neglecting the importance of prioritizing its healthcare work-

ers and facilities as seen in the recent rollout of CoronaVac. The vaccine, manufactured by China-based biopharmaceutical company SinoVac Biotech, is known for its lack of transparency in results and a low efficacy rate from 65.3% to 91.2%. Despite the clamour of healthcare workers for better alternatives and due compensation, the questionable vaccine was still procured and administered. In line with the healthcare workers’ woes, Filipinos, instead of expecting the immediate healthcare that they deserve, only hoped that they wouldn’t contract the disease. They “pray” that they would test negative for COVID-19 to prevent themselves from experiencing the country’s tedious healthcare system brought by logistical scarcities. This, in a sense, is a blatant perversion of Universal Health Care, as Filipinos are coerced to settle for less.

Right from the start of the pandemic, the Filipino people are resorting to other ways of surviving this pandemic that would have been otherwise alleviated by the state. Instead, it has given the country the lack of security and empathy. Political affiliates are continuously given special treatment and are pardoned from their offenses and violations. Ironically, critical individuals and groups who are forwarding

the masses’ true interests remain subjected to state-sponsored violence and surveillance.

Undeniably, quarantine protocols didn’t stop the Duterte regime from orchestrating illegal arrests and mass killings of activists and journalists. Likewise, prolonged lockdowns only worsened the prevailing issues of unemployment, hunger, and poverty. The state, however, is yet to devise a comprehensive, non-militaristic approach to address these.

Synonymous to the mutations of COVID-19, such as the Philippine variant, inhumane attacks keep on evolving, even before the pandemic. Accused of hidden agendas, it continues to strengthen its debauchery on corruption, fascism and negligence of the Filipino’s welfare.

The inconceivable human-scale virus is hosted inside the Malacanang, propagated by those working under it. Until the virus survives by harming its citizens, the Filipino people must never stop protecting themselves from its prolonged harmful actions. With critical efforts and solidarity against the relentless attacks on human rights, the Filipino people must fight as one to bring down and eradicate the humanscale virus that has been proudly parasitizing its people.

Despite the adjustments that Filipinos have made for the new normal, the country’s current situation on handling the pandemic was reset to zero. The curve is rising again, and the government is much relaxed about it.

about the

cover ILLUSTRATION BY

CHAMIQUE FRANCISCO & CHRISTINA CAMBIADO

Inilantad ng pandemya na ang masa, na nagsisilbing lakas ng bansa, ay labis na pinababayaan ng sarili nilang pamahalaan.

Pinatunayan ng realidad sa bansa na hindi masusugpo ng dahas at walang kuwentang mga polisiya ang ang anumang suliranin -- lalo na’t ikinukulong lamang nito tayo sa rehas ng paghihikahos.

Ang huwad kapalpakan na ito ang tanda na hangga’t kamay na bakal ang may hawak ng bansa natin at hindi ang mga palad ng masang Pilipino, patuloy lamang tayo maiipit sa siklo ng pakikipaglaban sa pandemya--at sa sistemang matagal nang balot ng kabulukan.

CONNECT WITH US

@mkule

For concerns and suggestions:

CARTOON | CHRISTINA MICHAELA CAMBIADO

news 03

VOLUME 33 ISSUE NO. 3 THE MANILA COLLEGIAN

DUTERTEPALPAK ONE YEAR INTO THE PANDEMIC: What’s the same? What has changed?

By Alexandra Kate Ramirez, Elaine Diaz, and Melissa Allauigan ON MARCH 12, 2020 President Rodrigo Duterte imposed a 30-day community quarantine to contain the spread of the COVID-19, a year later, the Philippines is facing another surge of recorded daily positive cases. Despite having one of the world’s longest lockdowns, the total number of active cases as of March 27 are now at 118,122, while testing capacities, immunization programs, and other responses are still lagging.

RISING CASES, SLOW TESTING

After a year, various areas in the country continue to be at risk for COVID-19 transmission. The Department of Health (DOH) classified Metro Manila as a high-risk area, while Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Western Visayas, and Caraga are considered moderate risk areas.

Dr. Alethea de Guzman of the DOH Epidemiology Bureau stated that the reported cases for the month of March are 4.4 times higher than the reported figures at the start of January 2021, recording 5, 644 average new daily cases for the third week of March. Additionally, the National Capital Region (NCR) experienced a 200% rise in COVID-19 cases compared to previous weeks.

Aside from the rising cases of COVID-19, the country also faces challenges with the rise of new variants. The DOH reported in a press release last March 20 the 223 confirmed cases of the B.1.1.7 (UK variant), 152 cases of the B.1.351 (South African variant), one case of P.1 (Brazil variant), and 104 cases of P.3, a new variant found in the Philippines. The first three variants are associated with higher transmissibility, while the DOH did not identify the P.3 variant as a source of concern since there is insufficient data to prove it.

Although the country reached its highest daily testing rate of over 51,000 individuals on March 20, Dr. Peter Cayton of the University of the Philippines (UP) COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team stated that the country must expand its testing capacity to at least 130, 000 per day.

DELAY AFTER DELAY

With the emergence of new COVID-19 variants coupled with the lack of a unified, comprehensive nationwide contact tracing system, and the return of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), more and more people are growing impatient for the vaccine rollout.

While a handful of local government units (LGUs) and private corporations were securing their doses way back in October 2020, which to date has already reached a total of 17 million doses of the AstraZeneca

vaccine, the national government was still facing hurdles due to the procurement laws which delayed advance payments.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. attributed the constant delay to documentary requirements involving an indemnification fund, which was actually signed and certified as an urgent law by Duterte last February 26. However, Duterte seemed to have forgotten the law he signed stating that he did not want the government to shoulder any of the liabilities.

Senator Panfilo Lacson then questioned why the rollout was still taking too long, noting that the government already amassed P126.7 billion for the vaccination program from multiple sources including loans from the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank as well as the P10B budget for the DOH designated under the Bayanihan Law. Being the last country in Southeast Asia to start receiving the vaccines, only a mere 24% or 408,995 frontline health workers have received their first dose. The government is reportedly looking to finish the vaccination of 1.7 million health personnel by the end of April.

Currently, there are one million Coronavac and 525,600 Astrazeneca vaccines available in the country.

The government is expecting 3.5 million more doses of AstraZeneca vaccines this first quarter and an additional 5.2 to 9.5 millions shots, to be donated by the COVAX facility, this second quarter.

RISING JOB INSECURITY

In the past months, Duterte and his economic managers have been intent on aggressively reopening the economy. That plan, however, was thwarted by the alarming surge in COVID-19 infections.

While the government expected the labor market to recover as lockdowns eased, the figures revealed that unemployment was still rampant amidst the gradual reopening of the economy.

The number of jobless Filipinos climbed to over four million in January, a significant increase from 2.4 million during the same month a year ago, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

INFOGRAPHICS | TREVOR PHOENIX LOMOTOS

Following Duterte’s penchant for launching task forces, the administration formed yet another task force in February—this time for creating jobs and spurring investments. Nonetheless, without funds for large-scale economic aid and a comprehensive immunization program, such a task force will end up futile. It should also be noted that reopening the economy is also a way—and a lamentable one at that—for the government to avoid providing economic aid to Filipinos.

BAKUNA, HINDI BALA

Meanwhile, with the controversial Anti-Terror Law in effect, counterinsurgency campaigns appear to be getting worse and implemented at a much faster rate. Amid the imperative need to boost the pandemic response, the government allotted a whopping P19 billion for the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC). Aside from this, the Philippine National Police (PNP) will also be given another P1.1B for their “end local communist armed conflict” (ELCAC) project.

Karapatan Alliance Philippines (KARAPATAN) Secretary General Cristina Palabay also bared that at least 78 people were killed and 136 were arrested as a result of either red-tagging or anti-terrorism police operations in the last year alone. The state pummelled deadly blows on peasants, indigenous minorities, and the urban poor, as well as lawyers, journalists, and other progressive groups.

CALLING OUT CALLOUSNESS

With millions of jobless Filipinos, Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate asserted that the government should start providing monetary grants to Filipinos now and not wait for them to suffer even more.

“With rising inflation and millions of Filipinos losing their jobs, it is highly insensitive and callous for the Duterte administration to say that it (is) still not considering giving aid to Filipinos,” Zarate exclaimed.

Senators then called on the government for a faster vaccination rollout to effectively stimulate the economy and reduce the unemployment rate. Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said that

ISKOTISTIKS the immunization efforts should be ramped up before typhoons and floods could disrupt these programs when the rainy season starts.

Moreover, the Filipino Nurses United (FNU) on March 20, expressed its call for the resignation of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III amid the alarming rise in the number of COVID-19 cases

among healthcare workers.

“We refuse to be sacrificial lambs for this pandemic. We are humans and we need to be cared for. We should be saved from this national calamity and public health disaster,” the FNU stated, as it called for the replacement of uniformed men by medical experts to effectively address this public health crisis.

MAGNA EST VERITAS ET PREVAELEBIT

04 news CAMPUS NEWSLINE NEWS FEATURES

| PARAGON OF EXCELLENCE

Iskolars blazes through the e

Fostering camaraderie among students through Bakbak

By Gwyneth Cruz and Angela Vanessa Manuel

THE HUSTLE AND bustle mentality of the students proved to be the constant source of impeccable energy, allowing the continuation of BAKBAKAN XV, a University of the Philippines Manila (UPM) tradition, despite the barrage of circumstances. For the first-time ever, this year’s BAKBAKAN is composed of three esports events that ran from February 15 to March 19. After a month-long run, the fifteenth edition of Bakbakan officially came to an end, but its legacy is already etched in the culture of the UPM community – a breakthrough amidst the horrors of pandemic!

After several calls to stop killings, crackdowns on activists continues

By Rowz Fajardo

B-XV GAMING TRIUMVIRATE

NINE ACTIVISTS WERE reportedly killed, including a leader of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN), following simultaneous crackdowns against activists in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, and Rizal (Calabarzon) last March 7. The deadly raid came on the heels of President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement last March 5 where he instructed the military and police forces to kill suspected rebels, without regard for human rights Despite public condemnation of the bloody incident, state forces are not backing down and are continuously sending threats and attacking human rights groups, kins and supporters of the victims.

FATALITIES AND ARREST

The police and military reportedly served a total of 24 search warrants within hours in the Calabarzon region that led to multiple fatalities and arrests. According to the Philippine National Police (PNP), they even initially applied for 72 warrants. The search warrants were issued by Judge Jose Lorenzo Dela Rosa of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 4. Dela Rosa is also one of the judges behind the search warrants used against Tumandok last December 2020 that led to nine fatalities and 17 arrests.

The nine activists who died during the operations were Manny Asuncion of BAYAN-Cavite; Anna Marie Lemita-Evangelista and Ariel Evangelista of Ugnayan ng Mamamayan Laban sa Pagwawasak ng Kalikasan at Kalupaan (UMALPAS KA); Puroy Dela Cruz and Randy Dela Cruz of Dumagat indigenous group; and Melvin Dasigao, Mark Lee Bacasno, Abner Esto, and Edward Esto of San Isidro Kasiglahan, Kapatiran at Damayan para sa Kabuhayan, Katarungan at Kapayapaan (SIKKAD K3).

A total of six activists were also arrested. Three oare from Laguna and the other three are from Rizal.

PROBE INTO ALARMING OPERATIONS

Multi-sectoral groups condemned the blatant attacks on the activists. The Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas (LAIKO) President Roquel Ponte denounced the killing of activists, urging the Filipinos to make strong statements of condemnation against the brutal and organized atrocities. Moreover, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights expressed alarm over the killings and arrests of activists on Sunday.

According to BAYAN secretary general Renato Reyes, BAYAN condemns the brutal and deadly killings and holds President Duterte and the National Task Force to

@mkule

As the seven colleges poured every inch of passion and pride as they battled it out for the glory of their respective colleges, three teams remained on top —the College of Medicine (CM), Freshie Team (FT) and College of Public Health (CPH).

End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) spokesperson General Antonio Parlade accountable for the fatalities and illegal arrests.

“We likewise demand that the Supreme Court take immediate steps to prevent the further weaponization of search warrants and other judicial instruments to silence activists, political dissenters, and government critics,” Reyes stated while demanding the freedom of all those arrested and calling for the Commission of Human Rights (CHR) to probe into the simultaneous raids.

CONTINUED THREATS AND ATTACKS

In a memorandum circular dated March 10, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), ordered its regional directors, including the regional secretary of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), to list names of government employees who are proven to be members of progressive groups Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) and the Confederation for Unity, Recognition, and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE). Both of these groups advocate for the rights of teachers and government workers, respectively.

On March 14, progressive lawmakers slammed the DILG for its memorandum. ACT Teachers Representative France Castro also stated that the red-tagging undermines the groups’ advocacies.

“Tagging their organizations as terrorist groups denies their legitimate demands for safe, accessible, and quality education and the fight for a meaningful salary increase and benefits for education workers, both in the public and private sector,” Castro expressed.

Moreover, Bayan Muna Representative Ferdinand Gaite dubbed DILG’s move as another evidence of blatant terrorist-tagging of legitimate people’s organizations, and an unwarranted act of harassment and intimidation.

“They say there is no red-tagging. This is clearly red-tagging,” Gaite stated.

INFOGRAPHICS | TREVOR PHOENIX LOMOTOS

This year’s Bakbakan Call of Duty: Mobile Battle Royale Tournament was a two-day tournament held last Feb. 19-20, hosted by the Alliance in Wellness and Sports of Students of the Allied Medical Professions (AWSAMS).

During the first day, CM Team 1 already had a rather quiet maneuvering battle during the first two rounds in which they kept the lead and edged out all of their opponents, finishing with a whopping 47 points. They continued their winning streak onto the second and final day of the tournament as they reaped a total of 38 points.

CM Team 1’s preeminence remained indisputable as they were eventually named the champions of the CODM Battle Royal Tournament.

During the second event, Valorant, the highly competitive 5-v5 tactical shooting game, the UP community witnessed the fierce battle between the university’s rookies and veterans. In the end, the youngbloods, the FT, remained indisputable and were rightfully hailed as Bakbakan XV’s Valorant Champions, winning the best-offive series, 3-2.

With TC Soren’s superb performance, he was then awarded the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the well-contested Valorant finals.

As the name of the final event suggests, the two opposing teams showed legendary performances in a best-of-five series of the League of Legends (LOL) tournament. The CPH team conquered the Summoner’s rift and swept the series versus the College of Nursing (CN) team, 3-0, claiming the title of Bakbakan XV’s LOL Champions.

The great chemistry between the team, notably HEC Lamps’ great leadership, UPMDoki and NaAzir’s wide range of plays, and Jigokendo and agentjr08’s selfless supporting made them the incontestable champions of LOL.

COVID WATCH

Spike in COVID cases lead PGH to temporarily close OPD

By Emilio Escudero

THE PHILIPPINE G hard time controlling after the first recor evident with the spik pushing the Philipp temporarily stop wa ment (OPD) starting there is also a rise wi itive staff and patien

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PGH spokesperso due to the constant ing admitted in the l care workers in the h reached the highest four months.

As of March 15, 1 of PGH have becom lot of them are mild atic. Other personne go quarantine after

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BAKBAKAN QUEST: UNVEILED

Due to the looming circumstances brought by the pandemic, conducting this year’s Bakbakan is not an easy feature. It was certainly like a major character suddenly nerfed by its creators because of lack of resources and the toxicity of the environment. But the physical deficits are not enough to tear down the students’ mentality of play.

With the power given to the Sports & Wellness Committee of the UPM USC, the event pushed forward.

“Bakbakan XV wasn’t perfect, but I’m proud of the people who helped make this event possible.

There were instances when certain people were suddenly unavailable, but each time there was always someone who pulled through. We always had a “next man up” mentality which was really infectious and helped make this project much more fulfilling,” expressed Migo Enriquez, the current head of BAKBAKAN XV. The current head, when asked if the three events will be included in future Bakbakan roster, stated “[d] efinitely. I always felt like there was a group of people that were left out in past Bakbakans and going forward, we want to make the event as inclusive as possible.” With the exposure of students and the rest of the UPM community in the realm of e-sports, it is only a matter of time that they will crave for another round, another chance and opportunity to showcase what they got and the skills they have improved on. This was granted when it was regarded that e-sports will be a constant part of UPM’s tradition.

GOVERNMENT is still having a g the spread of COVID-19 a year rded local transmission. This is ke of recorded cases this month pine General Hospital (PGH) to alk-ins in its Outpatient Departg March 6 until further notice as ith the number of COVID-19 posnts.

OSING OPD WARD

on Dr. Jonas del Rosario said that increase of COVID patients belast three weeks, several healthhospital also got infected as they number of COVID-19 patients in

110 healthcare workers (HCW’s) me positive for the virus which a dly symptomatic or asymptomels were also ordered to underbeing exposed to the COVID-19

The student sector is one of the most vulnerable in any political setting, but more so during the Duterte administration, which has seen the COVID-19 pandemic, remote learning setup, and the rampant red-tagging of activists.

Student representation ensures that there is a continuing dialogue between us and those in authority, and critical actions if need be. Students are being left behind despite promises of equal access to quality education, and through organized student movements this will hopefully be resolved.

Alec Xavier Miranda, NSC Chairperson-elect On why it is important to conduct college election despite the current educational set-up

UPM heads to the polls in landmark virtual election

By Lanz Ethan Galvan

IN A STATEMENT released on January 25, the University of the Philippines Manila (UPM)- University Electoral Board (UEB) said that although its decision to suspend the General Election Process stands, it had unanimously decided to push through with modified university elections in response to the impending graduation and resignation of many student council officers which would lead to an underrepresentation of the student body.

ENSURING POLL INTEGRITY

With the fresh mandate for modified elections, came issues such as ways to increase voter turnout, to maintain the integrity of the vote, and to make sure that all votes are counted.

“If we are going to have successful online elections, we...need to figure out a [proper] mechanism para sure tayong lahat na yung nagsusubmit ng vote ay yung voter talaga mismo,” Keziah Tuale, College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) representative to the UEB said.

Amidst these circumstances, the UEB assured the UPM community that they would be closely coordinating with the respective CEBs and CSCs to ensure an orderly and trustworthy election process.

In addition, to boost voter participation, the UEB has also sought to allocate funds to procure load to distribute to students who face internet connectivity problems.

ELECTION SITUATIONER: THOSE FINISHED WITH THE POLLS

At present, out of the seven colleges, only the College of Public

patients.

Additionally, 23 out of 29 specimens sent to the Philippine Genome Center were detected to be variants from the United Kingdom and South Africa. Del Rosario mentioned that this could be the reason for the quick spread. However, Rabindra Abeyasinghe, World Health Organization’s (WHO) representative to the Philippines, did not solely attribute the surge to the variants but also to people being lenient because of vaccine enthusiasm.

On the other hand, people who need consultation need to schedule an appointment online first to conduct a telemedicine before going to PGH, which will decrease the volume of people coming in and ensure that none of them have COVID-19.

Moreover, individuals who don’t have internet access can call PGH through its toll-free 155-200 hotline to schedule an appointment.

SPIKE OF COVID CASES

Despite the implementation of certain health protocols, the Department of Health (DOH) still reported a “marked” increase in cases. They also

Health (CPH) and the College of Nursing (CN) have conducted and finalized their election results.

For the CN, the online election held from March 1-5, marked the first time that elections were held virtually in its entire history with the UPCN-CEB opting to conduct the elections via Google forms where all enrolled UPCN students received a notice regarding the mechanics of the election process.

With a voter turnout of 61.5%, CN’s election was dominated by the lone majority party- Sandig, who won six of the nine vacated positions. The winners are as follows: Alec Xavier Miranda, NSC chairperson; Deanna Mendoza, CN representative to the USC; Abdon Lamorena II, NSC Finance officer; Jules Joshua Arceo, Batch 2022 representative; Jasmine Pagkaliwangan, NSC Batch 2024 representative, and Kristine Bernadette Ramos, NSC Representative.

However, the UPCN-CEB said that a special election is still scheduled on April 3-6 as there remain three vacancies to be filled in the NSC--the posts of Vice-Chairperson, Secretary-General, Batch 2023 representative.

Likewise, a special election, from March 5-9 via Google forms, was also conducted at the CPH, as it was viewed as the most appropriate and efficient method to uphold democracy in the college amidst the growing hesitancy of students to run for office due to the struggles imposed by the present learning set-up.

Based on the rules set by the CPH-CEB, A candidate was considered elected if he/she received a

reported that the average cases climbed to 6,900 last week compared to 1,100-1,200 from December 29-January 2.

This is evident with PGH’s increase in COVID-19 patients, from 60 to 70 total admissions in the first half of February, the hospital now has 196 patients leaving them with no choice but to add more beds, now at 225, and get more manpower from noncovid operations.

Furthermore, according to the data of the DOH as of March 23, within the 152 hospitals in Metro Manila catering COVID-19 patients, 43 have already been categorized as “critical”, which means that more than 85% of their COVID wards have already been occupied. Likewise, 15 out of these 43 hospitals have already reached 100% capacity.

Meanwhile, OCTA Research Group warned that if this “record number of COVID-19 cases” left uncontained, hospitals will be swamped enough to overwhelm our medical frontliners by the first week of April.

Nonetheless, this rise in COVID cases can’t be considered a second of infection as the government

majority of in-favor votes (50%+1) from the electorate. The winners are as follows: Rupert I. Estor, Chairperson; Pocholo Miguel V. Ilao, 4th-year batch representative; Paolo Miguel L. Chavez, CPHSC Rep to the USC; Jan Zarlyn A. Rosuello, Secretary; Mark Laurenz B. Handayan, 2nd year Block 23 representative; Adriana Dominique R. Arago, 2nd year Block 22 representative; Frances Daniella S. Candido, Vice-chairperson for Internal Affairs; Del Mardyn A. Cabrera, Vice-chairperson for External Affairs; Jirov A. Advincula, Treasurer; and Shande Andrelei D. Perez, Auditor.

ELECTION SITUATIONER: WHERE OTHER COLLEGES STAND

For the College of Pharmacy, its CSC and CEB have stated that they have already opted to conduct virtual elections via Google forms in May, prior to the end of the 2nd Semester.

On the other hand, for the CAS, its CEB is still in the process of choosing the appropriate and most efficient election method. Yet, early consultations have shown that there is currently overwhelming support for appointments. This is as it was deemed more inclusive and favorable for the college.

For the remaining colleges namely the College of Medicine (CM), College of Dentistry (CD), and College of Allied Medical Professions (CAMP), their respective CEB representatives have all said that further consultations would be still conducted to determine which election method would work well for their respective colleges.

has not really been able to completely flatten the curve.

MANAGING THE SPIKE

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that the DOH had convened last March 6-7 with medical chiefs, regional health directors, and local chief executives to discuss the preparation if ever the rise in cases would persist.

The health department has implemented again its “One Hospital Command” system, which is a robust referral system between hospitals to manage the surge of COVID-19 patients and avoid overwhelming the critical care facilities, and “Oplan Kalinga,” a system where patients only needing mild care are transferred to temporary treatment facilities to reserve hospital resources for severe cases.

Meanwhile, the DOH reminded again the public to still practice minimum health standards such as to always observe physical distancing and proper wearing of face masks with face shields as further transmission of the virus can be cut by following these protocols.

MAGNA EST VERITAS ET PREVAELEBIT

GABI NG LAGIM Pagbabalik-Tanaw sa Giyera Kontra Droga ng Administrasyong Duterte Ni Han-san at Yashi

HUMINTO ANG IKOT ng mundo. Naparam ang ihip ng hangin. Natigil ang paghinga noong ginulat ng nakahahawang pandemya ang buong daigdig, ngunit hindi ito sapat upang masindak ang nilalang ng gabi. Sa gitna ng kaguluhan, hindi sila tumigil sa paghahasik ng lagim. Patuloy pa rin ang pagtugis nila sa susunod na bibiktimahin. Pinapakalat ang pagtapak sa karapatang pantao at hinahasang mabuti ang itatanim na baril ngunit nang dahil lamang sa isang pagkakamali, hindi gantimpala o pabuya ang sa kanila’y bumulaga kung ‘di isang pangamba.

Ano o sino itong kawangis? Maitim ang anino na tila isang masamang pangitain ngunit hindi na kailangang tanungin pa dahil sa unang putok pa lamang ng bala ay alam na.

Multong kapareha. Kawangis at kakambal. Doppelganger sa banyagang salita ngunit gayunpaman iisa ang dala: disgrasya, sakuna, at kalaunan, kamatayan sa kanyang kamukha.

Ngunit bago ang lahat, saan nga ba nagsimula ang epidemya ng pagyurak sa karapatang pantao na pinaiiral ng nilalang ng gabi?

“ TABI-TABI PO” Huwag nang gulangan ang magulang na. Kung teritoryo nila rito, lumipat na sa iba. Kung hindi maiiwasang magkatagpo ay siguraduhing magpapaalam gamit ang katagang: “Tabi-tabi po,” nang hindi sila magambala. Respeto na lamang ito para sa mga nauna, ngunit papaano kung wala? Papaano kung wala silang respeto at walang nauna?

Idagdag pang iisa lamang ang hinahangad ng mga ahente’t opisyal sa napadparang lungga?

Pagkilos na parang nauulol na aso ang kanilang aksyon at wala nang iba. Pinairal nila ang kalikasang pumatay bago magtanong.

Nagpataasan sila ng ihi sa pag-asang baka palakihin ng sinasambang espiritung presidente ang kanilang ari pagkatapos ng matagumpay na operasyon, ngunit hindi na mapapalaki pa ang sadyang wala na. Kung tutubuan lamang sana sila ng bayag na ibunyag ang katotohanang naganap sa misencounter ay maaaring kahabagan pa sila ng dapat tunay nilang pinaglilingkuran — ang taumbayan.

Lehitimo nga ba ang parehas na operasyon ng PDEA at PNP? Tunay nga bang walang nangyaring sell-bust na matagal ng ipinagbabawal gawin? Kung oo ang sagot sa dalawang nauna, handa na rin ba silang amining napa-ikot lamang sila ng impormante habang patuloy pa ring naglalakad ang mga naglalakihang drug lords sa labas?

Napakaraming basyo ng bala at buhay ang nalagas ngunit ang katotohanan ay hindi pa rin mailabas. Patunay lamang itong kailanma’y hindi naging solusyon ang pagkitil ng buhay. Ngunit masisisi ba silang mga simpleng ahente’t pulisya kung pati ang gobyernong nakatataas sa kanila ay kabaligtaran ng matino’t huwaran? Pati ang hinihintay nilang presidente ay hindi sasaklolo sa kanila dahil ang tanging tugon niya lamang sa libu-libong pinatay sa giyerang kanyang sinimulan ay “Tabi tabi.”

“MAGPAGPAG KA MUNA” Huwag diretsong umuwi at baka masundan pa. Pagkatapos bisitahin ang lamay ng pinaslang at umiyak ng luhang-buwaya, hindi sapat ang basta na lamang magpagpag sa ibang lugar. Dapat na ring maghugas kamay bago umuwi. Linising mabuti ang dugo sa mga palad para hindi na makasunod pa ang mga taong pinatay habang kapuspusan ng giyera. Magpagpag at maghugas para hindi na nila bagabagin pa ang konsensya sa kadahilanang sila’y naligaw na. Naligaw na sa pagkukunwaring ang katotohanan sa likod ng kanilang sinapit ay mabubunyag na. Ano kayang galit ang pwede pang madama ng taong

DIBUHO | CHAMIQUE FRANCISCO

patay na kung sakaling mapatunayang ang pag-amin ay pagbabalatkayo lang pala? Ano kayang poot ang pwede pang mag-alab sa bangkay na malamig na?

Sa talumpati ni Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra inulit niya lamang ang matagal nang alam ng sambayanan: Hindi sumunod sa tamang protokol ang pulisya sa kanilang anti-drug raids na nag-uwi sa libu-libong nasawi. Walang buong pagsusuri sa mga baril, sa kanilang may-ari, at sa kaukulang ballistic. Ito ay taliwas sa mga naunang pahayag ng pamahalaan na ang mga nasawi sa operasyon ay tunay na nanlaban. Ito rin ay naghuhudyat na maaaring may katotohanan ang iminungkahi ng United Nations Human Rights Office ungkol sa pagtatanim ng pulisya ng mga baril sa operasyon.

Tuluyan na nga bang matatahimik ang mga kaluluwang pinatay dahil sa pagtatapat na ito? O sasamahan lamang sila ng mga pinagpag ding opisyales sa laylayan pagkatapos gamitin at pikutin ng nakatataas? Sa layuning mapalihis ang titig ng mga naglalakihang mata, tila panandaliang hakbang lamang sa tamang direksyon ang pag-amin na ito. Tango at sang-ayon ang inisyal na reaksyon ng Human Rights Council at International Criminal Court sa ulat ng Justice Secretary, ngunit hindi ito magiging sapat na kabayaran para sa dumanak na dugo.

Hindi namimiling imbestigasyon at pustu-putsong pagtatatag ng Drug Panel ang magbibigay hustisya sa pamilya ng mga yumao.

Tanging ang tuluyang pagkadakip sa mga nagkasala at tuluyang pagamin sa sistematikong pag-uudyok ng pangulo at pamahalaan sa walang habas na pagpatay ang magbibigay ng kapayapaan sa lahat ng nasalanta ng giyerang ito.

“PWERA USOG!” Huwag batiin at baka mausog. Ganoon na lamang katindi ang malas na dulot ng pagbati sa mga paslit. Sadya yata talagang puntirya ang mga bata ng usog---tiyak na walang laban ang mahihina nilang katawan at espiritu sa ‘di hamak na mas malakas kaysa kanila. Ano bang magsasalba sa kanila mula sa mga armas? Sa huwad na prinsipyo? Sa maiitim na budhi? Ano pang mas lalakas sa kapangyarihang dala ng pagkamakasarili?

Isa lamang si Kian Delos Santos sa ilang libong biktima ng giyera kontra droga, ngunit hindi kailanman malilimutan ang kanyang sinapit sa kamay ng pulisya noong taong 2017. Natagpuan noon ang labing pitong gulang na walang buhay sa isang madilim na eskinita, kung saan siya kinaladkad at binaril ilang oras bago matagpuan ang kanyang katawan.

Pinaslang si Kian ng mga pulis nang walang pasubali sa kanyang mga pangarap o karapatan—walang “pwera usog” na binigkas kahit pabulong. Kalauna’y nakumpirmang kasinungalingan lang ang inilabas ng mga pulis na naratibong ‘nanlaban’. Dala-dala nito ang pakikisimpatya ng masa kay Kian, kasama ang galit na lumikha ng ilang malawakang protesta.

Ang kwento ni Kian ay hindi na mabubura sa kasaysayan, ngunit kung hindi pa rin tutuldukan ang giyera kontra droga ay marami pang magmamana ng kwentong ito. Libo-libong posibilidad ang nakaambang maglaho, at libo-libo ring pamilya ang tuluyang mawawasak.

DISENYO NG PAHINA | VINCE JULIUS BALAGA

Nabubuo ang malalaking pangarap sa sisikip na sulok at eskinita ang nagsisilbin mundo upang pagkaitan ang sariling mang ian lamang dito ang pag-asa—dumarating ngunit kagyat ding naglalaho, o pilit na in pasyo rin namamatay ang pangarap

“ TAO PO”

Huwag pagbuksan ng pinto ang kung si ay nagsisilabasan ang mga halimaw, nagha madidilim na kanto at sulok. Mas mabutin loob ng bahay hanggang mag-umaga, sapag sa talim ng kanilang titig. Sa pagkakataon masok, magdasal ng paulit-ulit. Isang taim pagsikat ng araw, hindi malamig na bangkay ng pintuan.

Sa panahon ngayon, napakaraming im “tao po!” sa tuwing kumakatok sa pinto ng ga matitiyak kung alin sila sa tao at halima uniporme, may madilim na pakay. Kahit an intensyong mambiktima at manlamang.

Tinitingnang tanging numero ang ilang dicial killing sa ilalim ng administrasyong nasyonal na organisasyon na gaya ng Huma kusang magtala ng mga biktima ng Oplan ng listahan ay nakukulong sa mga istatistik mga pinaslang.

Higit sa bilang na mga ito, ang mga biktim ay mga aktuwal na tao. Mayroon silang mg kaibigan na maiiwan sa kanilang kamatay kanila ay totoong nagkasala, ngunit hindi tao? Hindi ba’t mas masahol ang paghatol n kumpara?

Sa loob ng kanyang apat na taon sa pwest ilang mga pangako ng pangulo ang napako mino ay nawalan na ng saysay ang kanyan nungalingan na lang ang lumalabas sa kany Minsan na syang nangakong wala syan giyera kontra droga. Totoong maraming pi galanan sa drug watchlist, ngunit kung sus mograpiko: ang mahihirap. Maliliit na drug lasang pinupuntirya.

Maging iyong mga pulis na may kaso ng babayad sa kanilang krimen, salungat sa k paparusahan ang sinumang miyembro ng p umabuso sa kapangyarihan. Kung matatand tinutuligsa ang mga ito sa kanyang mga tal italagang pangulo, ngunit halik sa paa lang mamamatay-tao sa halip na kamay na bak pat—may mga katulad nina Chito Bersaluna mataas ang ranggo sa kabila ng bigat ng kan

lathalain 06-07

maliliit na espasyo. Mang paalala na malaki ang garap. Marahil panandalsaglit upang masulyapan naagaw. Sa maliliit na es-

ino-sino. Sa lalim ng gabi ahanap ng mabibiktima sa ng manatili na lamang sa gkat walang nakakaligtas ng magpumilit silang pumtim na panalangin na sa y ang naghihintay sa labas

g libong kaso ng extrajuDuterte. Ilang mga interan Rights Watch ang nagTokhang, ngunit sa haba ka ang halaga ng buhay ng

ma ng giyera kontra droga ga buhay, mga pamilya at yan. Marahil, ang ilan sa ba ito tanda ng pagiging ng kamatayan, kung iku-

to, hindi na mabilang kung o. Sa haba ng kanyang terng mga salita—puro kasiyang bibig. ng sasantuhin sa kanyang inatay, maraming pinansuriin ay iisa lang ang deg user at pusher ang kada-

pagpatay ay hindi pinagkanyang pangako na mapulisya na mapatunayang daan ay paulit-ulit niyang lumpati noong una siyang g ang natatanggap ng mga kal. At tila hindi pa ito saa at Roberto Fajardo na tunilang pagkakasangkot sa

krimen.

Bitbit noon ng pangulo sa kanyang kampanya ang mga pangakong sisimulan nya ang paghilom ng Pilipinas, pamumurahin (hindi pagmumumurahin) ang presyo ng mga bilihin, at aalisin ang korapsyon sa gobyerno. Pinangako pa nyang mag-je-jetski sya papuntang Spratlys para ipaglaban ang karapatan ng bansa sa mga isla. Karamihan sa kanyang mga pangako ang tuluyan nang napako, at hindi na nya kailangang tapusin pa ang kanyang termino upang maideklarang bulok ang kanyang administrasyon at pinsala—hindi paghilom—ang dala ng kanyang pamumuno.

Ngunit, katulad ng kanilang mga biktima, sila ay tao rin. Hindi nito ibig sabihin na dapat silang patawarin o kahabagan. Nananatiling mabigat ang kanilang mga ginawang paglabag sa mga karapatang pantao. Ang ibig nitong sabihin ay, bilang tao, maaari silang panagutin at parusahan. Iyong mga gumagawa ng krimen at nagpapanatili ng mga institusyon ng kapangyarihan, ng kultura ng opresyon at karahasan, ng sistematikong paniniil sa sektor ng lipunan. Walang sinumang ganap na makakaligtas mula sa ganting kabayaran.

“Kill them right away. Ignore human rights. That is my order.” Tulad ng pagpapalagi ng matatandang pamahiin sa Pilipinas, kailangan nating itaguyod ang mga karapatang-pantao na pilit yinuyurakan ng mga nakaupo sa gobyerno. Ang giyera kontra droga ay isang malaking manipestasyon ng mga kapalpakan ng administrasyong Duterte maski ng kanilang mga hungkag na pangako. Nananatili itong antipoor at ilohikal bilang tugon sa mga tunay na isyung panlipunan—ang pagbabagong inaari ng pangulo ay huwad.

Huwag palilinlang sa mga pangako ng gobyerno. Pilit lamang itatago ng matatamis na salita ang intensyong makapang-alipusta sa sinumang may tapang na lumaban at magsalita. Hindi napatigil ng pandemya ang mga inhustisya, kaya dapat lamang na hindi rin itigil ang pangangalampag sa gobyerno, ang paghingi ng pananagutan sa mga pulis at pulitikong walang pakundangan sa mga karapatang-pantao maging sa responsibilidad na dala ng kanilang kapangyarihan.

“ Kill them right away. Ignore human rights. That is my order.” Tulad ng pagpapalagi ng matatandang pamahiin sa Pilipinas, kailangan nating itaguyod ang mga karapatang-pantao na pilit yinuyurakan ng mga nakaupo sa gobyerno. Ang giyera kontra droga ay isang malaking manipestasyon ng mga kapalpakan ng administrasyong Duterte maski ng kanilang mga hungkag na pangako. Nananatili itong anti-poor at ilohikal bilang tugon sa mga tunay na isyung panlipunan—ang pagbabagong inaari ng pangulo ay huwad.

“

mpostor na tumatawag ng g ibang bahay. Hindi talaaw—minsan, kahit nakanong tikas at tindig, may

08 culture

VOLUME 33 ISSUE NO. 3 THE MANILA COLLEGIAN

Of Witches and Women

The Never Ending Hunt

By Natalie Lüning “PENITENCE FOR YOUR crime! Penitence for your life!”

Legend has it that witches were the root of all misfortunes. A town ravaged by a plague, darkening of the skies, deaths of the animals, and sickening of the people. Should anything out of the ordinary occur, witches served as the perfect scapegoat. It was the only possible explanation accepted by people, nothing more and nothing less.

With witches out in the open, surely there were hunters. Hunters in the search for a mighty bounty in exchange for a witch: dead or alive.

No other pleasure could satisfy a man bestowed upon the honor of successfully putting a sorceress under a trial, with the crowd rejoicing. After all, slaying a woman in contact with the devil means respect and power over the people.

According to the story, once the witches were caught, there was no escape. The town would light its biggest and hottest fires, sharpen their pitchforks, and bring out their guns. The witches were immediately burned at the stake for everyone to see. With the deafening screams and pleading of the captured in the background, the town rejoiced.

And legend has it that witchhunting never stopped… The hunters are still out there — watching, lurking, waiting for the next victim.

Demonized & Chained The story began in a small community in the early days of Philippine civilization, when women were once known to be one of the most powerful and influential community members, for they were gifted with special abilities no man ever held.

As spiritual leaders, they were in charge of guiding the townsfolk with its agriculture, culture, religion, and medicine. Their social and cultural leadership reflected the traditional role of women during this period and the people admired them, their magic, and their intelligence.

The first of the witch hunters came when foreign faces invaded the town, equipped with the tools and strategies they needed to

eradicate the traditional community and to replace it with their own system. Religious indoctrination, the patriarchal and macho-feudal Church, and capitalist commodification paid no respect to strong Filipino women when colonial endeavors set forth its goal.

Anyone who stepped out of the roles expected of women were punished and rectified. A woman too loud, too dominant, too dominating — witches. By linking their abilities to that of the devil’s and labelling it as black magic, women were stripped off their legitimacy and leadership — demonizing and chaining them instead to the traditional prescribed norms of subservience.

Caged & Beaten And so the legend continued, passed on from generation to the next...

While efforts had been made to eradicate the practice of enslaving witches and women, hunters remained cunning — they developed ways of maintaining the system that entrenched them in power.

Terrified of witches regaining their power that could one day topple the shackles of their chains, the hunting became more rampant.

Penetrating every corner of the community, the hunters no longer bore the faces of foreign colonizers and slavemasters. They were haunted instead by the very faces of their neighbors, colleagues, and husbands at their own homes.

Domestic abuse and violence against women and their children (VAWC) remained a blatant reality faced by women in a highly patriarchal society, fixated on the concept of seeing women as easy preys. Far more than the abuses of their perpetrators, women are socially, politically, and economically displaced — lack of job security, opportunity, and unequal pay for women across different professions.

Worsened even more by a pandemic, women are subjected to more oppression through joblessness in a highly militarized setting.

Most are left distressed with the

“

Witch-hunting is a narrative the modern society is hell-bent on eliminating, and yet it perseveres — dangerous, destructive, and deadly. In a system valuing repentance over the truth, patriarchy over equality, women are bound to be persecuted and enslaved before ever reaching genuine freedom and justice.

only option of selling their bodies to desperate customers, most of whom are police officers and military men hungry to cage and beat women at their expense.

Burned at Stake Now, centuries after its first occurrence, witch-hunting has become more prevalent as ever.

With the most belligerent and misogynistic hunter leading the hunt, women are now in danger more than ever.

The pervasive violence and abuse led to the rise of women organizations, such as the GABRIELA National Alliance of Women, in unity against gender-based discrimination and lead the fight for

progressive change. Despite the initiatives and numerous legislative measures to protect women’s rights, state institutions that promote the culture of sexism render these ineffective.

With male-dominated state institutions making up the rules, any woman who dares to come forward is silenced by the very justice system who failed to protect them.

Such injustice rings true as that of the case of peasant women organizer Amanda Echanis, human rights defender Zara Alvarez, and journalist Lady Ann Salem.

With the directives coming straight from the mouth of a misogynist President, a nation-wide hunt unleashed its bloodthirsty military hounds to inflict fear and violence over an already subjugated population. Leaving no room for mercy, women are deemed guilty over crimes conjured up by the very men who claim to be their protectors.

Through the culture of fascism and violent red-tagging led by the state, women’s rights defenders are robbed of the justice they so rightly deserved. Instead, women are hunted down and burned at the stake, leaving no chance to prove

ILLUSTRATION | VINCE DE DIOS

their innocence. **** You see, the practice of witchhunting never really ceased to exist.

Modern society proves to be reminiscent of its barbaric and medieval predecessors who are so keen on preserving the status quo, deeming women as the inferior gender.

Guilty are those who stoked the very fires of patriarchy, tyranny, and oppression. Guilty even more are those who watched the witches burn at the stake and remained silent, leaving the innocent to fend for themselves.

Witch-hunting is a narrative the modern society is hell-bent on eliminating, and yet it perseveres — dangerous, destructive, and deadly. In a system valuing repentance over the truth, patriarchy over equality, women are bound to be persecuted and enslaved before ever reaching genuine freedom and justice.

And so, witches, stoke not the fires of the hunters, but the fires of all women ready to finally be liberated. The time has come for the system of patriarchy and machofascism be burned at the stake.

PAGE DESIGN | VINCE JULIUS BALAGA

kultura 09

VOLUME 33 ISSUE NO. 3 THE MANILA COLLEGIAN

Sa Paghila ng Daluyong ni Joanna Pauline Honasan SABI NG ORASAN ko sa laptop, alas tres na ng umaga. Sumasakit na ang baluktot kong likod mula sa maghapong pagkakaupo; hindi ko na rin napansin ang bawat segundong lumilipas. Walang palya pa rin na nakatitig ang aking mga mata sa maliwanag na iskrin, pilit inuunawa ang mga salitang halos lumalangoy na sa aking paningin. Ilang beses ko na bang binabalik-balikan itong pangungusap na ito? Hindi ko na alam. Hindi ko na rin alam kung ano ang pinupunto ng mga babasahing ito.

Ang alam ko lang, hindi ako pwede sumuko, kahit gustong-gusto nang bumigay ng mala-hipon kong likod. Hindi ako pwedeng sumuko, kasi wala rin naman akong choice. Mapait ang realidad ng buhay sa mga tulad naming salat sa yaman—sa aming tamang kapit lang sa panaka-nakang sideline, o kung pinalad, scholarship kung minsan. Kaya kahit umabot ng tatlong buwan ang hell week, patuloy ko na lamang iniinda ang pagod, tila nakikipaglaro ng patatagan sa aking laptop. Matira matibay, kahit pareho na kaming nasa bingit ng pagbigay.

Patuloy kong idiniin ang aking bolpen sa blankong pahina ng kuwaderno, pilit pinipiga ang utak, makahanap lamang ng sagot.

Solve, highlight, read—repeat. Alas tres y media na, ngunit kalahati pa lamang ng coverage ang nauunawaan ko--o nauunawaan ko nga ba talaga?

Idiniin kong muli ang bolpen, at—teka, bakit naman nabasa na ang papel ko? Sa bawat paghalik ng itim na tinta sa papel ay siyang paglabas ng mga patak ng tubig, dahilan upang lumabnaw at kumalat ito sa pahina. Kumuha ako ng panibagong gamit ngunit pare-pareho lamang ang resulta— patak ng tubig. Di kalauna’y burado na ang tinta; blanko at nangungulubot na ang kwaderno.

Lalong kumalabog ang aking dibdib. Ano ba naman ‘yan, may exam pa ako mamayang 8:30 AM! Paano na ako makakapag-aral nito? Nagpabaling-baling ang aking isipan sa lawak ng mga posibilidad—mga negatibong posibilidad. At para bang hindi pa sapat ang kabang aking nararanasan, nagpatuloy muli ang pagpatak ng tubig. Pinilit kong humingang malalim, ngunit lalo lamang nanikip ang aking dibdib.

ILLUSTRATION | GIAN CATIBOG

Di nagtagal ay natikman ko ang tubig alat na dumadampi sa aking pisngi, ang mga alon na humahampas. Wala na ang masikip kong kwarto, bagkus, ay nasa kalagitnaan ako ng dagat. Pamilyar sa akin ang maliliit na kubo at munting mga bangka sa pampang. Mistulang bumalik ako sa nakaraan, kung saan una’t huling beses kaming nag-swimming ng aking pamilya.

Nakapagtataka na puno ng sari-sari’t makukulay na salbabida ang dalampasigan—kahit pa ako lamang ang nag-iisang tao sa lugar na iyon. Mas marami silang nagpapalutang-lutang ngayon kaysa sa karaniwan. Inikot ko ang aking paningin. Wala namang nagbago— liban na lang sa mga salbabida sa di kalayuan.

Lumangoy ako tungo sa kumpol ng mga ito habang pilit na iniisip kung bakit pamilyar ang kanilang porma. Higit sa lahat, bakit sila mukhang water molecules?

Lumaki pa lalo ang uwang sa aking labi nang makita ko mismo kung paanong nag-iba ang hugis ng mga salbabida. Mula sa water molecule, nagbagong-anyo ang mga ito sa bilis na maihahalintulad sa mga chemical reaction na nabasa ko! Kasabay nito, biglang bumalik aking isipan ang to-do list na nakapaskil sa aking pader. Naku, may exam nga pala ako sa Chemistry!

Daglian akong lumangoy at pumadyak taliwas sa alon habang nangangatog sa kaba’t determinasyon. Kailangan kong makarating sa pampang sa lalong madaling panahon! Ngunit parang natatantiya yata ng mga molecule ang kagyat na pagbabago sa aking mga emosyon; lalong bumilis ang pagkalat nila, nagsisilutangan sa tubig na para bang mga bula. Hindi rin nakatutulong na mistulang hinahatak ako palayo ng mga alon—na para bang ayaw nito ako umahon.

Nagpatuloy pa rin ako sa paglan-

goy, ngunit maski ang pampang ay pinutakte na rin ng mga molecule!

Sa isang iglap, tila naglaho ang baybayin sa aking alaala; sa harap ko bumalandra ang sandamakmak na molecules. Nagkalat sila kahit saan—sa dalampasigan, sa katabing mga isla, at pati mga bangka. Pinalibutan nila ako, para bang nakatitig sa akin; ikinikintal sa aking kamalayan ang larawan ng munti kong to-do list, manipestasyon ng sandamakmak na gawain.

Sumulpot nang sumulpot ang mga molecules—ang mga gawain, ang walang katapusang mga aralin na kailangan habulin at ang kapayapaan na akala ko’y mananatili.

Hinahatak ng daluyong ang aking katawan palayo sa pampang, pailalim sa karimlan ng tubig. Hinahatak ng daluyong ng pangamba ang aking isipan tungo sa karimlan ng nakamamatay na sistema ng edukasyon; sa bawat paghila ng tubig pailalim, nananariwa sa aking isipan ang karimarimarim na katotohanan, ang takot na dulot ng mataas na ekspektasyon.

Sa katotohana’y, ako’y napag-iiwanan sa maraming aspeto ng buhay—akademika, pinansiyal, at pati sosyal. Minsa’y aking napagtatanto kung ano nga ba ang puno’t dulo ng lahat ng ito; ano ang makapangyarihang puwersang nagmamaniobra sa daluyong? Ngunit isang tingin lamang sa aking paligid—sa mga balita, sa social media, at sa estado ng aking komunidad—ay alam ko na ang kasagutan. Tulad ko, ang bayang aking kinagisna’y napag-iiwanan din sa maraming bagay, lahat ay dulot ng daluyong ng kapabayaan, kapalpakan, at pagkagahaman. Konektado ang malawak na katubigan, kaya’t habang walang habas na namamayagpag ang daluyong na ito sa ating mga buhay, patuloy lamang tayong hahatakin nito sa kapangl-

awan.

Oo, siguro nga’t desperado na rin ako—tayo— na makaahon sa daluyong na ito. Kaya siguro sinubukan kong takasan ito sa pamamagitan ng pag-iisip ng masasayang alaala—na kahit sa panaginip man lamang, mabura ang lahat ng pangamba.

Ngunit walang habas na hinahaklit ng daluyong ang nanghihina kong mga binti. Nilalamon ako nito nang buo, para bang halimaw ng realidad na kailanma’y di mabubusog.

Iginalaw ko ang binti’t mga bisig upang lumangoy, ngunit malakas ang daluyong.

Unang hampas ng alon; naalala ko ang mga bagay na dapat kong tapusin.

Ikalawang hampas ng alon; may presentation pa nga pala kami sa isang araw.

Ikatlong hampas ng alon; uulan na naman ba?

Ikaapat na hampas ng alon; paano na ang signal ng internet niyan?

Ikalimang hampas ng alon; may pinatay na naman ba?

Humampas muli ang alon; hirap na hirap na ako.

Huling hampas ng alon; naku, may exam pa nga pala ako mamayang 8:30!

10 op-grfx

VOLUME 33 ISSUE NO.. 3 THE MANILA COLLEGIAN

ITANONG MO KAY ISKO’ T ISKA Do you think UP is more prepared for distance learning in the 2nd semester? Or are we experiencing the same problems?

Elisse*

II-BS Public Health In some aspects, mas naging maayos nga this second sem. Mas organized yung calendar, mas maaga nabibigay yung lessons compared to last sem, mas kumpleto mga recordings, and profs are now more knowledgeable about zoom and canvas. Sadly, there are a lot of problems na hindi parin naaaddress. Isa dito yung retention and appreciation of the subject.

Marami samin (me and my friends), although nakakapag-aral at nakakascore naman ng mataas sa exams, ay hindi nareretain yung knowledge.

AG*

II-BA Development Studies Hindi. Wala namang pinag iba ang preparasyon nila ngayon sa ginawa nila noong 1st sem. Ang mga course packs ay nagsisilbing parang syllabus na nga lang sapagkat may online meetings pa rin upang ma-complement ang pagkatuto na dapat naman talaga naiibigay sa klase. Course packs are nothing special.

Hindi sa ganitong paraan madadaan ang edukasyon kung compassion ang pinaka kailangan sa ganitong panahon.

Rupert *

III-BS Public Health After a year, many of the faculty have been able to adapt. Synchronous sessions are now often optional and recorded.

Disconnection policies for examinations and other synchronous activities have also been ironed out, with there being contingency plans in place.

However, there are still challenges in policy and accessibility. What is still needed is more compassion and measures to address inequalities exacerbated by distance learning, such as the accessibility of gadgets and internet. At the end of the day, distance learning is worth pursuing only if it is fair and not alienated from the plights of students on the ground.

*not their real name @mkule

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opinion 11

VOLUME 33 ISSUE NO. 3 THE MANILA COLLEGIAN

SCRIBBLE

Sharing knowledge won’ t make anyone poorer Angela Vanessa Manuel

“KNOWLEDGE MAKES A man unfit to be a slave” -Frederick Douglass, American social reformer and abolitionist.

In the wee hours of the night, as I prepared for the next morning’s class, I came across a man whose principles and ideas were so enticing; to say that I became deeply inspired by him is an understatement.

In one of my majors, we discussed knowledge management.

After finishing the required readings, I delved further into the topic, maximizing the internet resources available to prepare.

My research led me to a man named Aaron Swartz — a computer genius and a hacktivist, some even called him a martyr. He was widely known for his involvement in the creation of RSS, Markdown, and Creative Commons. Swartz was also one of the biggest advocates for progressive changes, particularly on freedom of knowledge amidst stiffening intellectual

property legislation in the world.

As a digital native, it is puzzling that I only came across the name ‘Aaron Swartz’ in 2021. I first watched a documentary titled, “The Internet’s Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz” (The film is publicly available at the Internet Archive, upholding Swartz’ lifelong advocacy) and his views on knowledge left a lasting impression on me. Swartz preached, “A piece of knowledge, unlike a piece of physical property, can be shared by large groups of people without making anybody poorer.”

I kept on watching decades-old published videos of Swartz pitching his liberal ideas on “knowledge is power” and how we as a society can eliminate “digital inequality” in different conferences.

In his talk on O’Reily’s Tools of Change for Publishers presented in

2008, he explained his then-new project named Open Library, the world’s free digital library. It’s main visions are to “make all the published works of humankind available to everyone in the world” and “build towards universal access to all knowledge.” Swartz credited Noam Chomsky’s book, “Understanding Power,” for opening his eyes on just how bad the society we live in really is -- and it was this specific talk of Swartz’ that made me realize it, too.

What a great man, I thought.

More than the incredible amount of knowledge he possesses, it was the way he viewed and used his knowledge that made me admire him. I couldn’t fathom how one can be this courageous and selfless in the name of providing equal access to information for the human race.

Although we still benefit from his marvellous works and the lasting change he has brought to the world wide web, Aaron Swartz is no longer with us. In 2013, he passed away at the age of only 26. He built his short life ensuring that the power is given to the people, making everything good that the Internet can offer accessible to everyone.

I felt like I was too late in knowing this story. But maybe I just met him at the right time.

I discovered his story when the whole world is at a phase of great uncertainty. At a time when social ills and inequality are at their

MEMOIR

Eulogy for the Stolen Letters Shanin Kyle C. Manuel

YOU WILL BE missed, but the bereaved can never be at peace.

Suddenly, they all vanished into thin air. A decade ago, everyone in our town was encouraged to write love letters to their future pals and keep them in the captain’s safety box. The patrolmen would zeal them at the end of the year and let the diggers bury the box deep in the ground as if it was a fancy coffin. Back then, the practice of sending letters to the unborn version of ourselves is covertly meant to help us escape from the unfathomable reality of our time.

Instead of the children worrying too much about the lack of food on the table, they were instructed to send off a note to the captain that he may help the farmers till the land. Instead of the sick elders crying about the scarcity of medicines, they would write a letter to their future sons and daughters that they may rally for an inclusive healthcare program. There were

tons of wishes made in town every year—safe spaces, food security, poverty alleviation, women empowerment, and government accountability—hoping that the next generation will make them possible. In my case, I only wish to be heard and understood.

Our town criers told us that soon enough all the captains will connive to fulfill our wishes upon unlocking the memory box. But now, we received such news that a pile of letters was stolen—and only a few were saved. For the poorest of us, that signifies dreams that can never transpire. For the children, they were advised never to imagine again—as there are no longer hopes for the future.

And we’re all back at that bleak reality we wished to write off. We were left in a helpless situation, where hundreds of thousands of us got sick and some died of famine

peak. Needless to say that the global pandemic greatly affected the youth’s education and the hope they have for their own future and for the society as a whole. Perhaps this is the right time where I, rather we, should echo what Swartz was fighting for.

Today, amidst the social unrest, we, the students, are forced to partake in a hostile environment of learning. The education system still impose individualistic learning, coercing competition, pitting students against one another — with only the most privileged and those who have access to knowledge satisfying their standards. To this, let us choose to live by Swartz’s word — “a piece of knowledge, unlike a piece of physical property, can be shared by large groups of people without making anybody poorer.”

I want to end this with an excerpt from Aaron Swartz’s piece titled, the “Guerilla Open Access Manifesto” *** Those with access to these resources — students, librarians, scientists — you have been given a privilege. You get to feed at this banquet of knowledge while the rest of the world is locked out. But you need not — indeed, morally, you cannot — keep this privilege for yourselves. You have a duty to share it with the world. And you have: trading passwords with col-

and contagion. But the captain was surprisingly calm.

In a town hall meeting, he arrived bearing a new set of promises to replace those that were written. He assured the restless farmers that the uncultivated land will be converted into malls and skyscrapers to help the economy grow. He convinced the famished street dwellers that homes are not for the lazy—and there are tons of jobs waiting for those who keep on searching.

The captain kept on blabbering. He gazed at us, the dissenting children, and ordered us not to leave home and crave for anything more than our society could offer.

He gave his words to the agitated workers that soon their seemingly unending labor will pay off. Meanwhile, he told our mothers and their poor sisters that “good things” come to those who follow the rules of men.

For more than a decade, I vividly remembered how several of us were compelled to imbibe all sorts of violence sponsored by the captains and the corrupted statesmen.

The masses weren’t allowed to speak—but they could write their fears, struggles, and hopes for the future. Today, the cycle is again in full swing as the only space that allowed us to dream was stolen. The worse thing is they were not even read.

leagues, filling download requests for friends.

There is no justice in following unjust laws. It’s time to come into the light and, in the grand tradition of civil disobedience, declare our opposition to this private theft of public culture. ***

I discovered his story when the whole world is at a phase of great uncertainty. At a time when social ills and inequality are at their peak.

Needless to say that the global pandemic greatly affected the youth’s education and the hope they have for their own future and for the society as a whole.

Perhaps this is the right time where I, rather we, should echo what Swartz was fighting for.

But we’ve had enough of that.

We’ve already left our last farewell to the chances we lost. However, we believed that the stolen letters aren’t necessarily the death of humanity. That merely paved the way to a new spring of life where a dictator can never define our peace.

We realized that we are done dreaming. It’s about time to make those dreams possible altogether— and we will allow our discomfort to lead the way.

Adieu, our old ways! Soon enough, the people will connive to fulfill our forgotten dreams.

For more than a decade, I vividly remembered how several of us were compelled to imbibe all sorts of violence sponsored by the captains and the corrupted statesmen.

The masses weren’ t allowed to speak— but they could write their fears, struggles, and hopes for the future.

MAGNA EST VERITAS ET PREVAELEBIT

SAANG MANG DAKO Mga Kuwentong Pawang Pangkababaihan Ni Barbara Herondale at Shanin Kyle Manuel ISINILANG SIYANG WALANG saplot—walang muang kung maglaro sa kuna, sa duyan, sa papag, sa bilangguan. Sa lipunang madilim, maingay, at mapanudyo, natuto siyang maka-aninag sa karimlan, makipagtalastasan sa ingay, at makipagtunggali sa dahas. Natuto siyang tumayo’t maglakad nang walang andador at suporta. Natuto siyang mangarap sa kabila ng maramot at mapanakal na kasaysayan.

Apat na naratibo, iisang punto. Saan mang dako, sa kalunsuran o kanayunan, ay may nanggagalit at nanggigipit. Sa likod ng mga ito, may babaeng tumitindig at nakikibaka, hinaharana ang mga nagbabakasakali—Ineng, sumabay ka sa daluyong ng paglaya.

Sa Tahanan: Minsan tirahan, minsan piitan Mula sa tipikal na kuwentong pambata, ang tahanan ang tampulan ng saya, ligalig, at pighati. Dito nararanasan ang unang aruga—ang yapos ng ina, ang gabay ng ama. Tulad sa mga eksena sa pelikula, ang tahanan ang tagpuan ng masayang pamilya.

Subalit ang nakapapanabik na umaga sa nakararami ay nakasisindak para sa ilan. May tagpong hindi gaanong napapanood sa TV o naririnig sa radyo. Bihirang isinasadula o nirereport ‘yung pumapaimbulog na suntok, panunutok ng baril, pangungutya, panggigipit, at iba pang porma ng karahasan.

Mula sa Philippine National Demographic and Health Survey noong 2017, isa sa apat na babae ang nakararanas ng karahasan sa kaniyang tahanan. Halos 30 porsyento sa mga biktima nito ang napapatay ng asawa o kinakasama. Ang malubha pa rito’y habang papataas ang tantos ng kababaihang inaabuso sa gitna ng pandemya, pababa naman nang pababa ang bilang ng mga kasong naitatala ng iba’t ibang ahensiya.

Tinatanyang isa sa tatlong babae lamang ang may kakayahang humingi ng tulong. Kabilang sa mga primaryang balakid ang kagyat na pagpapatigil ng transportasyon, paglilimita sa iilang ahensiya na magpaunlak ng kliyente, at pagbabawal sa mga musmos at kabataang kababaihan na lumabas ng tirahan.

Iba-iba man ang porma—ang lebel ng paninindak, ang bigat ng kamao, ang dagundong ng boses… Iisa lamang ang sistemang nagpapairal dito. Patriyarkiya.

Sa Kalsada: Peligro ang kalsada lubak man o bagong aspalto Bago man ang aspaltong kalsada, ito ay hindi sapat para sa mapayapang lakbayan, nakagigimbal pa rin ang kaliwa’t kanang ugong. “Psst Sexy, Kumain Ka na ba?” o ‘di kaya’y “Idol ano ang Number mo?”

Sa ilalim ng patriyarkal na lipunan, anumang uri ng kalsada ay mapanganib para sa kababaihan. Sementuhin man ng kung sinong trapo ang lubak-lubak na daan, hindi kayang tapusin mapa hatinggabi ang seksismo at baluktot na pagtingin sa uring kababaihan. Kahit anong pagsuong o pagbabandera ng “women empowerment” kung walang sapat na diskurso, malabong matatamo ang mithing kaunlarang pangkababaihan.

Hindi gamit ang mga babaeng kinagigiliwan ng sinoman. Ang isyung ito ang nagpasibol sa unang yugto ng feminismo. Pawang nag-ugat sa malalim na kulturang patriyarkiya, na sistemik kung tawagin. Kaya’t kung sasabihing ang sekswal na pang aabuso ay nakapagpapataas ng moral, bilang isang kompliment, ipinagsasawalang-bahala nito ang mi-

lya-milyang pakikibaka ng kababaihan. Kasabay nito ang mukha ng isang macho-berdugo, na may pigurang lubak-lubak gaya ng daang binabagtas ng kababaihang api, pakinisin man ngayon ay babalik at babalik pa rin sa dati.

Ano mang lupalop ang ibig nilang tahakin, kung hindi kolektibong pagpapalaya ang layon, ay mananatiling paurong.

Sa Trabaho: Ang mulat ang tunay na nakararaos Masikhay ang uring naaapi. Sa lipunang maralita, walang puwang ang indolensiya. Sa umaga, may naglalatag ng samot-saring paninda sa bangketa, may nagsasaka’t nag-aararo sa bukid, at may naghahanap ng labada. Sa hapon, may nag-aaruga ng anak— habang namamalantsa, habang nagbibilad ng palay. Sa gabi, may ibang raket na inaaatupag, minsan ay kasama pa ang paslit na hindi maiwan.

Hiyang ang mismong kaayusan ng ekonomiya sa kababaihan at uring manggagawa. Tinatrato ng kapitalismo ang lakaspaggawa bilang aparato upang bilugin ang isipan nila—na nasa kapangyarihan at karangyaan nasusukat ang liberasyon ng naaapi. Iginigiit nila na ang panlipunang pagkakapantay-pantay ay nakakawing sa kapasidad ng kababaihang makipagsabayan o makipagtunggali sa kalalakihan at naghaharing uri—pagdating sa pagpapalago’t pagkamkam ng labis na kita.

Samakatuwid, tinuturuan silang mga naaapi na ang pagdurusa ay nagtatapos sa kanilang pagkakasapi sa paksyon ng naghaharing uri, habang tamad at iresponsable ang napag-iiwanan.

Tinuturuan manahimik ang babae, taliwas sa mandato nilang maging malaya. Subalit malinaw ang aral ng kasaysayan, walang lumalaya nang nakapiring ang mata’t nakabusal ang bibig. Kailangan niyang mamulat. Kailangan niyang magsalita. Kailangan niyang makibaka.

Sa huli, disenteng trabaho rin ang pagbaklas ng kapitalismo at patriyarkiya.

Sa Pulitika: Pambihira ang uring kababaihan Halos lahat ng gumagawa ng batas para sa kapakanan ng mga babae ay ang mga taong hindi alam ang tunay na pangangailangan ng nila.

Mahalaga na may babae sa kamara—sa senado at kongreso, upang ihain ang komprehensibong polisiyang nagsusulong ng ligtas na espasyo at sapat na sahod, at nagpapatigil ng anumang uri ng abuso sa hanay ng kababaihan.

Mahalaga ang boses ng kababaihan sa hudikatura. Gayunpaman, kilala ang bansa sa duwag nitong hukuman. Tinatanyang sampung taon pa nga bago maresolba ang kaso ng domestikong pang-aabuso. Uso na kasi ang pagkiling sa makapangyarihan at mayaman. Ikaw na walang salapi, wari sinasanay kang yapusin ang inhustisya.

Higit sa pagkakataong ang mismong hukom ay pinamumunuan din ng kalalakihan at dominanenteng uri, napalalabnaw nito ang tunay na kampanya ng kababaihan. Sila-sila lamang ang naghahari sa institusyong inaasahan na magbibigay ng hustisya.

Bunsod nito, maaaring magiging matagal pa ang pagsusulong sa mga inklusibong patakarang tumutugon sa pangangailangan ng mga pinagkait at patuloy na pinagkakait. Malayo pa nga hangga’t iisang mukha lamang ang nagpapatakbo ng sistema sa pulitika.

Saang lupalop man siya bumagtas, tila may mga aninong sumusunod, nagbabanta. Sinasabing hinubog daw ang kababaihan para manatili at magparaya—hindi maglakbay. Pero ngayon mulat na ang babae, mas pinaniniwalaan niya ang boses ng kababaihang nagkakaisa at lumalaban. Babaligtarin niya ang sistemang gahaman at mapang-api. Hindi na mahalaga kung saang dako ka man naroroon—basta’t ang lugar mo ay sa pakikibaka.

ILLUSTRATION | TREVOR PHOENIX LOMOTOS