Tapatan 2019: Tatak Ng Kabataan was held last March 27 to 29, which featured an interactive exhibit at The Verdure, fourth floor of Henry Sy Sr. Hall for the three aforementioned days and a senatorial and partylist forum held at the Teresa Yuchengco Auditorium, which capped off the last day of activities.
The event, which was hosted by Alyansang Tapat sa Lasallista (Tapat), was conducted as part of Boto Lasalyano Sulong Pilipino, in partnership with Sining Kadmay, Art Rally MNL, DLSU – Law Paralegal Volunteers Office, Lasallian Sage, and DLSU-POLICY.
The senatorial and partylist forum, which aimed to shed light on the national elections and its candidates, was attended by representatives from eight partylists, namely Akbayan Citizens’ Action (Akbayan), Kabataan, the United Nationalist Democratic Organization (UNIDO), Gabriela Women’s Party (Gabriela), Awareness of Keepers of the Environment (AWAKE), Barangay Natin (BANAT), Bayan Muna, and Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM), and featured senatorial candidates such as Otso Diretso candidates Samira Gutoc, Erin Tañada, and Gary Alejano; Labor Party Philippines candidate Sharif Albani; RJ Javellana of the Katipunan ng Demokratikong Pilipino; and Leody De Guzman of PLM.
The interactive exhibit, on the other hand, displayed the artistic abilities of theater groups Sining Kadamay (SIKAD) and Art Rally MNL, as their presentations exhibited the injustices experienced by the marginalized sector under the Duterte administration.
The reality being faced
“Hindi lang hanggang sa awareness. Kailangan kasi natin ng calls to action. So after this, we need to do something more—na-maibigay natin yung information sa community,” Meagan Ragudo (I, AB-POM), project head of the Tapatan Interactive Exhibit, advocated.
(It’s not only until awareness. We also need calls to action. So after this, we need to do something more—that we can give information to the community.)
Ragudo also recounted that her team initially intended to display a wider selection of theater groups, but decided on the two aforementioned, stressing the importance of content rather than quantity.
Both the goals of the theater organizations and that of Tapat’s were in line with one another, she revealed, citing SIKAD’s documentary on the war on drugs and Art Rally MNL’s recent performance at the 2019 Pasinaya Open House Festival, a multi-arts festival carried out at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, as examples.
The exhibit also starred Normita Lopez, mother of the late Djastin Lopez, one of the victims of President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs. Lopez’s autopsy report revealed that he sustained six gunshots—five to the chest and stomach, and one to the arm. Police argued that the victim fought back, citing that they recovered 10 packs of shabu and a handgun from Lopez.
As a parent, Normita Lopez explained that she wanted to emphasize how acts of injustice really do occur in different parts of the country, citing documented experiences she and other victims had.
Martin Naling, another performer at the exhibit, also gave his stance on the event, and explained, “Isa rin sa sa mga naging inspirasyon namin sa paggawa ng maikling play na ito [ay] yung mga kwento na hindi nababahagi ng media—yung mga kwento sa kanto; mga pagbagsak; mga pagdapa; mga pamamasdan.”
(I guess what is also among our inspirations in making this short play are the stories that go unreported in media—the stories on the streets; the fallen; those on their knees; and the bystanders.)
Voice for the voiceless
The format of the forum was composed of different rounds where partylist representatives were asked questions on relevant issues faced by the country. They were also given the chance to advocate their stances and their respective party’s.
A specified amount of time was given to the representative in order to address those concerns, with the option to express those opinions in English or Filipino.
The representatives emphasized the role of their partylists in the political system. Kabataan representative Sarah Elago pressed that one goal her partylist aims to do is “magkaroon ng boses sa paggawa ng batas ang mga walang boses.”
(To provide a voice for the voiceless in the creation of laws.)
Each of the partylists also pushed their advocacies forward during the forum, with Gabriela advocating the welfare of women and the LGBTQ+ community; BANAT for a grassroots movement centered around the barangays; AWAKE for the water conservation and the environment; UNIDO for employment and overseas Filipino workers; Kabataan for the youth; Bayan Muna for farmers; PLM for public school teachers and the urban poor; and Akbayan for women and the youth.
Political dynasties were also discussed during the forum, with all representatives sharing their stance on why they do not approve of such methods.
“Disgusting” was the only word Gillian Tze of Banat had to say on the topic, pointing out how most partylists currently comprise of friends and relatives. She assured the audience that her party, on the other hand, does not condone such acts.
When asked about pork barrel, or the use of public funds for personal goals, Bayan Muna representative Carlos Zarate recalled a story where a senior member of the House of Representatives approached him and asked whether he already tasted pork. Zarate responded, “Sorry, sir, vegetarian po ako.”
(Sorry, sir, I am a vegetarian.)
He also added that his party list is against ill actions and pushes for the abolishment of such deeds, arguing that pork barrel is a source of graft and corruption within the Philippine government.
Senatorial hopefuls
Similar to the partylist representatives, the forum for senate hopefuls focused on answering different inquiries the moderator and audience had for the candidates.
Among their advocacies, Abani pressed for religious unity in order to solve problems of poverty and morality, while Gutoc advocated for peace, stating how one act of kindness to a person could change the world.
Javellana, on the other hand, rallied against price increases and the privatization of utilities, calling for an end to excise tax and the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001, an act which privatized electricity.
De Guzman and Tañada both advocated for the welfare of Philippine workers, with De Guzman citing his humble origins as a textile worker and Tañada declaring, “Masipag at hindi tamad ang Pilipino.”
(Filipinos are hardworking and not lazy.)
The candidates were divided on the issue of gay marriage, with De Guzman showing his support for same-sex marriage, while the rest of his fellow candidates opposed it. Tañada, however, clarified that he is “open to it, but it’s not yet time.”
He furthered his statement by pressing for a step-by-step approach focusing on civil union partnerships to define the relation of LGBTQ+ couples and their consideration of communal property. After that, he concluded that they could progress toward same-sex marriage.
On the extension of martial law in Mindanao, only Abani supported the decision. The candidate, however, was not given the opportunity to further elaborate on his decision.
Portions of the talk were also accompanied by heated debates on current socio-political issues. Among these were Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte’s recent comment on honesty not being a requirement for a Senate bid.
“Honesty is a conduct—it’s nature in our law that you should be honest,” Gutoc said, rebutting the Davao City Mayor’s statement.
She emphatically stated that such claims from Sara Duterte violates several laws in various degrees, pressing that at a moral and spiritual level, it breaches what the government stands for.
She asked the crowd rhetorically, ”How do we believe someone who is a liar?”
Importance of a vote
DLSU President Br. Raymundo Suplido FSC explained that the younger generation makes up “a very big percentage of [the] electoral body” and explained that it is that very reason why the senatorial and partylist forum for Tapatan 2019 was of great importance.
He feared wrongful voting due to electorate unawareness may lead to electing the wrong candidates; instead of seating those who champion people’s rights, its biggest offenders may win instead. Suplido also emphasized the need for men and women who advocate a just and fair system of authority.
“It is important that you will be able to discern; listen to the speakers; listen to the priorities that their parties or [partylists] are propagating—‘What are their priorities?’ ‘What do they consider important?’—and see if you agree with them,” he stressed.
