POSTS FOR "Columns"

Balik-Tanaw | Solitary life, lepers and Valentine’s Day

On this feast of a martyr for God, let us remember the love of mothers who lost their sons and daughters to this nonsensical war on drugs, those healthcare workers serving the frontlines risking their lives out of love and care for Covid patients, the homeless, hungry and needy, the children suffering in desperate conditions, the women and children victims of domestic violence whose numbers have risen in the advent of the lockdown, the rising number of out-of-school youth and adults, the LGBTQ community pushed to the margins of society, and many more who suffer a martyrdom, a loss of the sense of self, a loss of a sense of hope.

Bulatlat Contributors | Feb 14, 2021

Two decades of the Left in Congress

It dutifully served the role of an opposition force guided by its principles and program of action while bridging the agenda of the other parliament, the parliament of the streets.

Mong Palatino | Feb 13, 2021

Standard Chartered, stop funding our destruction!

A Filipina climate activist tells a British multinational bank: "Your money kills people, fuels the climate crisis, and destroys our homes."

Bulatlat Contributors | Feb 8, 2021

BLOOD RUSH | People’s war for the 21st century

In the midst of a heightened climate of impunity, this current volume locates the place of the people’s war as a revolutionary process in which alternatives are approached in terms of tactical and strategic objectives. In doing so, resistance is foregrounded as both an actual reality and a goal of people’s war taking place in two different and parallel spheres, namely, organized and legal street protest and the underground revolutionary armed struggle.

Sarah Raymundo | Feb 8, 2021

Balik-Tanaw | Quiet time

Working in a school environment is such a tough, demanding and challenging mission, yet a gratifying one. It presents me with great joy and also with great challenges as well as frustrations and pains. My work allows me to encounter people from all walks of life, the learned and unschooled, the rich, powerful and famous, and those at the margins of society who are victims of impoverishment and social justice neglect.

Bulatlat Contributors | Feb 7, 2021

Balik-Tanaw | Leading by example

A true leader goes to the people. That is what Jesus did when He went to Capernaum. He did not wait for people to go to Him. He was the one who went to the people. A true leader knows where to go -in the synagogue where people are. A true leader knows what to do -teach. A true leader knows how to do it -with authority.

Bulatlat Contributors | Jan 30, 2021

Balik-Tanaw | Struggles of following Christ

The world we live in today continues to be a hostile place, especially for the majority who are deprived of the basics in life. Statistics would tell us that most of the world’s resources are held only by a few and the aphorism “the rich are getting richer and poor are getting poorer” continues to be true. If we take a look at what’s happening around us, we can see that this is due to the fact that those who are in power wield such power with impunity, and those with wealth continue to enrich themselves at the expense of the ordinary people. This indeed is a hostile world for God’s people.

Bulatlat Contributors | Jan 23, 2021

What makes The Accord* special?

Those activists taught us how to expand, how to imagine the world with compassion, a sense of mission and commitment, freely, creatively and scientifically. None of our goals end when our personal ambitions shatter. There is a bigger picture to this accord and even to the so-called student power that made it possible.

Sarah Raymundo | Jan 20, 2021

Balik-Tanaw | Of Immersion and Baptism

An immersed church is very much capable of taking the side of the poor, and those who have been wronged by the system. We need a Church that denounces the powers-that-be who have entitled themselves to an exclusive right to accumulate properties, profits, and personal benefits at the expense the poor.

Bulatlat Contributors | Jan 11, 2021

Balik-Tanaw | The Epiphany of the Lord Jesus Christ

As we become the living testament of God’s epiphany in a broken world, let us rise up, and speak up, and be silent no more. Let our light uncover new and radical alternatives that usher new and better possibilities for the people. Let Jesus’ light hover our lives to eliminate the darkness that has blocked peace out of our land.

Bulatlat Contributors | Jan 4, 2021

The books I read in 2020

Bookworm, activist and former legislator Mong Palatino shares with us the books he read in 2020.

Mong Palatino | Jan 2, 2021

How ‘ako chamber’ diminishes us all, including our activism

The internet has many uses and one thing it conveniently offers is the boosting of individualism while rebranding it as a platform of empowerment. It poses unique challenges for community building and the pursuit of activism.

Mong Palatino | Dec 30, 2020

Balik-Tanaw | The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, a Reflection

"...the life of our brothers and sisters in this huge family is still in such agony of waiting. Waiting for this pandemic to cease, waiting for the end of this seemingly unending terror attacks in many forms and waiting for families to get reunited because there is no more migration due to hunger and poverty. "

Bulatlat Contributors | Dec 27, 2020

Balik-Tanaw | Mary, Reina Mae, and Amanda

As Mary is portrayed as a woman that committed to the fulfillment of the Savior’s birth, Reina Mae and Amanda are among the many young women that carry-on Jesus’ mission. They have embodied love and service to God’s people- the poor and the marginalized. They are channels of God’s grace and salvation to those who are oppressed and disenfranchised.

Bulatlat Contributors | Dec 20, 2020

Who is Dennise Velasco?

Prior to his arrest, Dennise was coordinating relief efforts in Marikina. He planned to use proceeds from his small coffee business to procure relief goods and offer livelihood opportunities in the neighborhood.

Mong Palatino | Dec 13, 2020

Balik-Tanaw | The fortitude from the wilderness

As a forerunner of the Messiah, John the Baptist was an activist during his time. He dared to defy the system and talk against the status quo. He challenged the authorities to straighten their crooked ways of doing things. He preached justice and social transformation. His daring stance landed him to prison which led to his tragic death. He was decapitated for speaking the truth.

Bulatlat Contributors | Dec 6, 2020

Activism as cure to information disorder

Activism is our fact-checking initiative against so-called "fake news." We cannot engage in politics without a proper social investigation. Mao Zedong has a succinct quote for it: “No investigation, no right to speak”. Our statements must be grounded on the reality that affects the masses. We articulate the social condition based on verifiable facts.

Mong Palatino | Nov 29, 2020

Balik-Tanaw | A gradual moving towards fullness of life

The season of advent calls us to continue to participate in the establishment of God’s kingdom in the here and now of the Philippine society, to be firm in our resolve to live in righteousness by being vigilant, ever awake and responsible of our God given duties to nurture and protect his household – the Philippine society from the evil schemes of the fake “Lords.”

Bulatlat Contributors | Nov 29, 2020

Balik-Tanaw | The blessed ones

Amid this miserable situation, we are still a nation not running out with GREAT PEOPLE...They are sometimes called activists, human rights defenders, advocates, change makers, dreamers. However, under Anti-Terrorism Act, they can be called terrorists or be victims of red-tagging.

Bulatlat Contributors | Nov 22, 2020

Balik-Tanaw | Saying no to an unjust system

The Bible, through this parable, is teaching us to say NO to an unjust system that exploits our workers and laborers. We advocate for ‘living wages’ and necessary benefits for our laborers. We face the greedy masters and tell them, “enough is enough.”

Bulatlat Contributors | Nov 14, 2020

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