First Person | Uphold human rights
Once you curtail freedom, social unrest will rise. We have gone through this. Those who are drunk with power never learn from history.
First Person | Uphold human rights
POSTS FOR "Commentary"
ADVERTISEMENT
Who is Dennise Velasco?
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.
First Person | Amanda’s doleful eyes, a window to a bright, gentle soul
First Person | Amanda’s doleful eyes, a window to a bright, gentle soul
It didn't surprise me when bright, gentle Amanda passed the highly competitive exam for the Philippine High School for the Arts and then UP Diliman, and scripted a whole play about feisty Nanay Mameng, urban poor leader Carmen Deunida. I learned she could also paint and write poetry, a true Renaissance talent maybe owing to her illustrious genes.
First Person | The case of Rey
First Person | The case of Rey
They kept Rey jailed because he had another case. This was in Lupon, Davao Oriental, where he has never set foot until case trial started after over a year in prison. Yet he was charged with murder and attempted murder against government troops in an alleged encounter between them and the New People’s Army (NPA).
We will not be muzzled
We will not be muzzled
The red-taggers’ mantra “If you are not with us, you are against us” is so skewed and illogical. The media’s role is to serve as a watchdog of wrongdoings especially by those in power.
Balik-Tanaw | The fortitude from the wilderness
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.
Why do we want news organizations to pay for visual content? A short explainer.
Why do we want news organizations to pay for visual content? A short explainer.
So no, it's not mainly about the money. It's more on how we want this important part of journalism to be accorded the respect that it deserves and not to be neglected by these gatekeepers.
COVID-19 pandemic and the continuing relevance of print media
COVID-19 pandemic and the continuing relevance of print media
In the context of community print publications, they should be strengthened not just by the people’s support but by ensuring that press freedom will be promoted and upheld by the government.
Activism as cure to information disorder
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.
Balik-Tanaw | A gradual moving towards fullness of life
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.”
First Person | Slapshock’s Agent Orange
First Person | Slapshock’s Agent Orange
The immediate effect was to facilitate a conversation, if not an outright stand on imperialist wars waged by the U.S.
Balik-Tanaw | The blessed ones
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.
Empirical bases for ending the semester and mass promoting UP Diliman students (and ousting you-know-who)
Empirical bases for ending the semester and mass promoting UP Diliman students (and ousting you-know-who)
Remote learning cannot continue in the wake of the global pandemic and the strong typhoons, not to mention the incompetence and indifference of the Duterte administration.
Balik-Tanaw | Saying no to an unjust system
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.”
Bagyo, baha at diktadura
Bagyo, baha at diktadura
Malawakan man ang pananalanta ng bagyo at pagbaha ng 1972, at ginawa man itong pamamaraan para sa konsolidasyon ng diktadura at katiwalian sa pamahalaan, makikita ring malaki ang ambag ng baha ng 1972 sa pagmomobilisa at pagmumulat sa mga mamamayan. Ang malawakang pagbaha ang nagbigay-daan upang mapasangkot ang maraming mga mamamayan sa pagbibigay ayuda dahil napagtanto nilang kulang o walang ginagawa ang pamahalaan upang maibsan ang pagdurusa ng marami.
Opinion | Revolution is the path towards a more human existence
Opinion | Revolution is the path towards a more human existence
When you are “free” to choose between which business you give your money to so you can survive and work tomorrow for another one, you are not free. You are trapped in an endless hell for the benefit of these few businesses.
Uncertain future following close elections in former British colony
Uncertain future following close elections in former British colony
Biden has a host of issues ahead of him come January – including a healthcare crisis and ethnic and racial violence.
Media literacy should include fighting and demanding
Media literacy should include fighting and demanding
The future of public communication rests on giving relevant media literacy. Audiences should be taught the valuable lesson of asserting and fighting for a media that we all deserve. This means fighting attempts by government to control the media, as well as demanding responsible gatekeeping by the owners of social media platforms.
At cross-purposes with itself
At cross-purposes with itself
It explains why it is abridging the people’s right to information: it is to prevent the citizenry from demanding that government truly address the roots of poverty by, among other means, curbing the dishonesty in public office that contributes to the hopelessness, hunger and despair that has led many Filipinos to take up the gun. His own regime is in that sense at cross-purposes with Mr. Duterte’s oft repeated promise to end corruption.
Unreason as norm
Unreason as norm
Both reactions provoke further criticism and even outrage not only from ordinary citizens but even from their fellow officials themselves. No one can blame those who, as a result, end up concluding that regime bureaucrats focus on non-essentials because the administration they’re serving can’t even articulate its own policies and actions.
BE A BULATLAT PATRON
A community of readers and supporters that help us sustain our operations through microdonations for as low as $1.