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Seeking justice: The uphill battle for safer spaces in academic institutions

Last June 2020, Miriam College High School came under fire after several cases of sexual harassment were uncovered, starting the #MCHSDoBetter hashtag. Consequently, other educational institutions followed, and the #DoBetter movement trended on social media. These women, notably from prominent schools like St. Paul College Pasig, Marikina Science High School, and Ateneo de Manila Junior…

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Makibaka, huwag matakot: Raising our fists against red-tagging

This practice is known as “red-tagging” and is defined by the International Freedom of Expression Exchange as a “form of harassment against critics of [the] government.” Red-tagging can come in many forms: threatening accusations, arrests, forced disappearances, and even death.  Under the Duterte administration, red-tagging has intensified due to widespread troll farms, fake news, and…

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Vital check: Inside the COVID-19 response

The long and arduous fight against the COVID-19 pandemic has been an uphill battle faced by all sectors of society, but one that is particularly reliant on the presence of healthcare workers. They take the challenges head-on from the frontlines to the vaccine rollout, even if the challenges stem from a deeply flawed healthcare system.…

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The crux of power: Into the machinations of police brutality

“As an activist, encounters with the state’s armed machinery like the police and the military are unfortunately inevitable,” says Trist’n Buenaflor, deputy national spokesperson of the Student Christian Movement of the Philippines. Last year, Buenaflor was arrested along with 63 other peasant, youth, and worker organizers on their way to a rally for the president’s…

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Of the people, for the people: The power of community pantries

Aside from a health crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic has also only brought about an economic one. The shutting down of businesses and subsequent employee lay-offs have greatly exacerbated the already-pervasive issues of hunger and unemployment in the country. As ayuda (relief aid) and other government support services remain insufficient for the needs of the people,…

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A sudden homecoming: Realities of COVID-19 displaced OFWs

There is a multitude of ways to view the Filipino diaspora. Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are hailed as heroes, exemplars of the modern Filipino, with a temperament and skillset suited for the globalized economy. Domestic workers, seafarers, and healthcare workers alike set forth from their homeland to search for employment elsewhere, all for the upward…

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Laying the groundwork: The nuances of youth-led conservation efforts

When people think of nature, images of various flora and fauna interacting and thriving in their habitat come to mind—untouched by the ravages of time. Rarely do people include the human species in this mental picture. As nature is often associated with concepts free from human influence, a line is drawn between humanity and nature.…

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Lumalaban sa lansangan, lumalaban sa kulungan: The plight of political prisoners

It started with a simple request from the police. Well into the second day of their nationwide protest to decry the insufficient pandemic response that has left drivers to fend for themselves, transport group Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) was summoned to the Caloocan city hall. “Pagkatapos kausapin ng hepe, ay…

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Lest we forget: Lessons from the Diliman Commune

“My memory is not that sharp anymore,” Dr. Judy Taguiwalo confesses. With her recollection weathered by time, she has taken to writing and archival research as a means to preserve her memory. For the former UP-Diliman professor, forgetting would be an unforgivable crime. And so if you ask her about the events of the Diliman…

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At gunpoint: COVID-19 and the indigenous struggle

For indigenous peoples across all borders, the struggle for autonomy is an undeniably familiar narrative that spans generations. Subjected to violence, pillaging, and erasure since the Spaniards first stepped on our shores, these communities are consistently relegated to the fringes of history—constantly left behind by the state-constructed Filipino identity characterized by settler colonial symbols. But…