On June 20, 25-year-old Enzo Manzano stood outside the United Nations headquarters in New York in solidarity with activists and human-rights defenders who were voicing discontent toward the administration of President Duterte.
With him were two slogans that read, “Duterte and the Philippine government are taking away my people’s rights,” and “Filipinos can’t protest so I hope the world can see us instead.”
The son of actor Edu Manzano, Enzo’s solo protest came on the heels of the pronouncement of Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra that rallies are disallowed on the eve of Independence Day in the country on June 12, along with the passing of the Anti-Terrorism Bill in Congress that critics say will suppress political dissent.
The proposed legislation, certified as an urgent matter by the President amid the current Covid-19 pandemic, enforces warrantless arrest and detention for up to 24 days of “terror suspects” who, among other things, “create an atmosphere or message of fear,” or “seriously destabilize or destroy the fundamental political, economic and social structures of the country.” Meanwhile, those convicted on the basis of overbroad definitions of terrorism, including the expression of social and political opinions, face charges of up to 12 years to life-in-prison without parole.
The United Nations Human Rights Office decried the measure as “a very worrying development.” In a 26-page report, the UN stated that the bill, which is “slated to replace the already problematic Human Security Act, dilutes human rights safeguards, broadens the definition of terrorism and expands the period of detention without warrant.”
“The vague definitions in the Anti-Terrorism Act,” according to the UN, “may violate the principle of legality.”
Manzano said in an exclusive interview with Y2Z that the government “tries to maneuver their way around these things and act as if it is being done with the right and best intentions.” He added: “Filipinos can’t be fooled that easily.”
Manzano also condemned the government’s alleged attack on press freedom following the conviction of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa and journalist Rey Santos over cyber libel charges, as well as the shutdown of ABS-CBN last month after a long battle over its franchise renewal.
“[There is] obvious resentment and bias against people who are critical of the government,” Manzano said. “We must not forget the way the President has threatened journalists and those critical of him with his own words.”
Manzano prodded people to continue to post online, to try to get their message across, while keeping in mind that “it does not end there.”
“Continue to educate yourselves in current events and history; it’ll give more meaning and context to things that are happening,” he said. “Also, do not compromise your beliefs on how your country should be handled and do not be afraid to disappoint others when it comes to the way you want to pursue those beliefs.”
#HijaAko
In less than 280 characters, 19-year-old Frankie Pangilinan proved how the voice of the youth is instrumental in advocating for the rights of women and girls.
The daughter of Sen. Francis Pangilinan and actress Sharon Cuneta, Frankie ushered in the #HijaAko trend on Twitter after an exchange with broadcaster Ben Tulfo on the issue of rape culture and victim-blaming in the country.
Tulfo, the tough-talking host of public service program Bitag, told Pangilinan that men are always waiting for the opportunity to commit sexual assault. He also referred to Pangilinan as hija, or young girl.
Speaking on ANC, Pangilinan said that hija is a term constantly used in a condescending manner, especially when “speaking to youth like me when we have something to say or a point to make. It kind of seems like the first instinct was to invalidate everything I was saying based upon my age.”
Pangilinan also argued that it is through Tulfo’s reasoning that society trivializes the objectification of women and perpetuates a disregard of women’s right and safety.
According to a 2016 report by nonprofit organization Centre for Women’s Resources, a woman or child is raped every 53 minutes in the Philippines.
“[Here], there’s still a stigma regarding women who are survivors,” said Maica Teves, executive director of Spark, a women’s empowerment organization that presented an exhibition last year, titled “Don’t Tell Me How to Dress.”
“Misogyny is very much rampant in the Philippines,” she said. “It’s always, ‘what were you wearing,’ ‘what were you doing?’ It’s never about the rapists’ actions. It’s always about the women.”
Pangilinan added that the root of the problem is the bigger theme: that rape culture is real. “There is a culture that constantly perpetuates this type of over-masculinization, where they are constantly kind of pushed to talk about their sexuality and be comfortable about their sexuality whereas women are shamed for it constantly.”
#SaveLumadSchools
Just last year,the Department of Education has ordered the permanent closure of 55 schools for indigenous peoples (IP) in the Davao region, displacing children and leaving them struggling for cultural preservation.
Now, IP communities face a new threat as the United Nations place them in the most vulnerable health category during the pandemic.
The youth-led Save our Schools Network (SOSN) reported that among the problems faced by the members of the ethnic group are malnutrition and immune-suppressive health conditions, along with poor access to sanitation, lack of clean water and inadequate medical services. The IP youth also find themselves in sites of armed conflict between the New People’s Army and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
As such, Lumad evacuees are unable to return home to their ancestral lands, much more find a school where they can receive education oriented toward their culture and traditions.
“Education is a basic human-right essential in realizing all other human rights,” SOSN said. “However, most Filipino children are deprived of this right and peasants and indigenous peoples’ right to education are far more neglected.”