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,…
Tag: Highline
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…
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.…
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…
“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…
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…
When the COVID-19 pandemic first hit, many industries came to a standstill. The lockdown measures implemented to keep people safe had adverse effects on their livelihoods as well. Profits were lost, businesses were shut down, and workers were laid off. Nonetheless, some enterprises were able to adapt and remain flexible by implementing strict physical distancing…
Death is only truly tangible once you’ve lost someone. It’s in the cold that invades their side of the bed. It’s in the quiet that comes to haunt the room where they once were. It is in the belongings they leave behind, untouched and gathering dust. Death is undeniably real and for many, making peace…
Many Filipinos are kept within the confines of their homes because of the ongoing pandemic. Gone are the days when one can go out and engage in their favorite pastimes, like dining in their favorite restaurants or catching a flick in the movie house. Now, people find entertainment through online streaming sites, boosting viewership in…
“Makibaka! ‘Wag matakot!” is a cry that has been heard for decades as activists who march on the streets time and again express their resistance against a system that they feel has failed the people. One of the biggest ripple of activism in history is the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, often touted as a…