tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19984713972944290492024-03-13T20:24:49.334+08:00HUMAN FACE by CeresColumn pieces ("Human Face"), feature stories, news, investigative and special reports by journalist Ma. Ceres P. Doyo in the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Plus photographs and other stuff.Ma. Ceres P. Doyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511411019105686412noreply@blogger.comBlogger1042125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998471397294429049.post-25538818185101282762023-02-03T09:38:00.004+08:002023-02-03T16:37:05.740+08:00<p><span style="font-family: arial;"> <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/category/columnists" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.04em; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">COLUMNISTS</a></span></p><div id="art-head-group" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(224, 228, 230); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 20px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 738.766px;"><hgroup style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 738.766px;"><div id="bc-share" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 738.766px;"><div id="sm_share" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 2px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div class="vuukle-powerbar" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="0" id="h-sharebar-0" name="h-sharebar-0" scrolling="no" src="https://cdn.vuukle.com/widgets/sharebar.html?version=2.17.9" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; font: inherit; height: 47px; margin: 0px; min-height: 45px; min-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;" title="Vuukle Sharebar Widget"></iframe></span></div></div></div><div id="art_kicker" style="border: 0px; color: #686868; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">HUMAN FACE</span></div><h1 class="entry-title" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.1em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">From freezer to fire in Kuwait</span></h1></hgroup><div id="byline_share" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 738.766px;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div data-byline-strips="Ma. Ceres P. Doyo" id="art_author" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/byline/ma-ceres-p-doyo" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ma. Ceres P. Doyo</a></span> - <a class="art_twt" href="https://www.twitter.com/@inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">@inquirerdotnet</a></span></div><div id="art_plat" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; float: left; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 14px; margin: 3px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/source/philippine-daily-inquirer" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Philippine Daily Inquirer</a> / 05:11 AM February 03, 2023</span></div></div></div></div></div><div id="art_body_wrap" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: 738.766px;"><div class="article_align" id="article_content" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-feature-settings: "lnum"; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 640px; zoom: 1;"><div style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In 2018, the corpse of a Filipino overseas worker (OFW) who was a domestic helper in Kuwait was found in a freezer. Joanna Demafelis’ employers, a Syrian-Lebanese couple living in Kuwait (and possibly with a Kuwaiti mindset), left their rented domicile with the freezer still on, and in it the body of Demafelis frozen for a year before it was discovered.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Two weeks ago, the burned corpse of an OFW-domestic helper, Jullebee Ranara, was found in a Kuwait desert, thrown there for predators to devour, by her alleged killer, a teenage son of her employers.</p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">ADVERTISEMENT</span><div id="bb_box" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec1" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The manner in which they were killed is one thing, but the ways their bodies were disposed of or hidden are so sickening they should belong to the encyclopedia of crimes of the vilest kind against OFWs for future generations to read.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">These two crimes alone are stranger than the US crime series on cable TV and Netflix, where the cases almost always end up solved and the perpetrators brought to justice. Enough for you to believe that there is justice in this world.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">OFWs in the Middle East have had it bad, and if their tales of woe would be compiled, it would be voluminous. I have written a good number myself, some so bloody and tragic (and heartwarming ones, too) they cry to heaven for vengeance, but more importantly, they raise the question: How have our compatriots come to this?</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">For decades, nay, almost half a century, many OFWs have been carrying the burden their host countries would rather not carry, housework foremost among them, because they have the money to pay those they look upon as slaves. These slaves might have had higher education than some members of their wealthy employers’ families. Their maids could have been school teachers/principals back in their homeland. So do these employers resent it or do they resent it?</p><div class="ztoop" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-pixel1" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div id="anyclip_2021" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And there are other factors besides. Namely that these employers might have had little or no values education enough to make them realize that outside of their cultural and religious circles are human beings who have the same rights as they have. Yet we worship the same God we call by different names.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And, oh, remember OFW in Kuwait Luzviminda Siapo (“No name for her pain,” my April 13, 2017 column)? Her son, Raymart, who had a club foot, was running for his life when he was shot dead, one of the thousands of casualties of President Duterte’s dirty war on drugs. Siapo, whose given name Luzviminda is the representation of the Philippine islands, had to kiss the feet of her Kuwaiti employer three times, so she would be allowed to go home and bury her son. Mater dolorosa personified.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David to Luzviminda: “My heart was crushed when I read the news. I could not swallow the bread I was eating, so I decided to tell you that we are here for you.”</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">So what is it about them? And what is it about us? It is high time to again rethink why we keep sending our people to the slaughter, to cultures where domestic helpers are looked upon as slaves. Why can’t we just strike them off—Kuwait, particularly—from the list of OFW destinations? Even if only for a while till their culture of cruelty stares them in the face and they become cultural pariahs and the laughingstock of the world. As in, they put maids in the freezer, don’t they? They burn and throw maids in the desert, don’t they?</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I remember how I closely followed the 1990 invasion of Kuwait by Iraqi forces with their flying scud missiles seen on TV. Brought to us by journalists in the war zone, mind you. I remember US Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf’s Operation Desert Storm, an extensive air campaign along with international forces, driving out Saddam Hussein’s forces. It was like a movie playing out to save Kuwaitis and their oil fields. But do ordinary Kuwaitis remember and pay back with compassion? I am speaking as a resentful Filipino citizen. I. Am. Not. Sorry.</p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">ADVERTISEMENT</span><div id="bb_box2" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec2" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><div class="lfform-inquirer lfform-inquirer-horizontal form_inline norelated" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And so dispatching more OFWs to Kuwait need not be stopped, the Department of Migrant Workers tells us. The silence of the lambs. Where is the fierceness?</p></span></div></div></div><span style="border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Read more: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/160800/from-freezer-to-fire-in-kuwait#ixzz7sDKhwQT9" style="border: 0px; color: #003399; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">https://opinion.inquirer.net/160800/from-freezer-to-fire-in-kuwait#ixzz7sDKhwQT9</a><br />Follow us: <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@inquirerdotnet on Twitter</a> | <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">inquirerdotnet on Facebook</a></span>Ma. Ceres P. Doyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511411019105686412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998471397294429049.post-11602342128683401782023-01-27T12:50:00.005+08:002023-02-03T16:38:27.131+08:00<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Philippine Daily Inquirer/OPINION?by Ma. Ceres P. Doyo </span></p><section id="inq_section" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><article data-io-article-url="https://opinion.inquirer.net/160618/woman-destroying-a-woman" id="article_level_wrap" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 980px;"><div id="art_body_wrap" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: 980px;"><div class="article_align" id="article_content" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-feature-settings: "lnum"; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 640px; zoom: 1;"><div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span><p><span><span style="color: #333333; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Woman condemning a woman</span></span></span></p><p><span><span style="color: #333333; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Condemning a penitent or nonpenitent to hellfire is a no-no, with or without biblical admonitions from the sanctimonious and the pure of heart, but verily it is right and just to condemn the evil deed itself for which a penitent is asking for forgiveness.</span></span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">More than relief (because what else is new after a series of recantations by witnesses?), it was disgust. It was my reaction upon learning of the acquittal for a murder case of self-styled whistleblower Sandra Cam and, more importantly, her admission that she had wrongly implicated former justice secretary and former senator Leila de Lima in drug and corruption cases. Cam’s admission and recantation, though too late in the series, was the breaking news of the day, not so much her acquittal, if you ask me. She had wronged someone.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">How I wish I could say, another one bites the dust. With Cam’s acquittal came her penitential confession of having added to the weight of the case against De Lima, that is, adding manufactured tales to the bombshell that belongs to the “sex, lies, and videotapes” movie genre.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">A couple of weeks from now, Feb. 24 to be exact, De Lima would have been six years in detention. Well, unless in the coming days some miracle happens in the legal conundrum that set her up to be behind bars for crimes she has belied in court. These were crimes she had allegedly committed as secretary of justice during the Aquino administration, trumped-up charges the succeeding president Duterte and his minions pinned on her to make her suffer.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">As a senator during the Duterte reign, De Lima had exposed what she thought needed to be exposed, namely what was wrong with the so-called Duterte drug war and whatever else she had perceived to be a travesty of justice. Could Cam’s admission of having lied (or to have been forcibly made to lie, as she said she was) be the last nail to be removed from the door of De Lima’s prison cell? After all, Cam had also driven a nail herself.</span></p><div class="ztoop" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-pixel1" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div id="anyclip_2021" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">De Lima has become a poster girl for those deprived of liberty for a considerable stretch of time, even while witnesses against her were recanting one by one. With the release on bail of Gigi Reyes, chief of staff of former senate president Juan Ponce Enrile, after nine years in detention for a plunder case, comes a sliver of hope for De Lima. No similarities whatsoever in their cases, except for their prolonged detention while their cases drag on. Justice delayed is justice denied. But that is another story.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The case of De Lima is one where so-called macho men ganged up on her, from the past president, to his underlings in the justice system, to the inmates of the national penitentiary, drug traffickers in their own right, who implicated De Lima for whatever promise they might have been offered. The last group of men are euphemized as PDLs or persons deprived of liberty, but who ain’t deprived at all. Again, that is another story.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Added to this bunch of men is one controversial woman (on and off the media limelight) named Sandra Cam, who also wanted to see De Lima in irons. She was forced to, is her story now. Whatever and whoever pushed her is the story we need to know. I have always thought that women should stand up for fellow women who are oppressed, unjustly accused, with added sexist and sexual ingredients to titillate the public and the fornicators in suits.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Publicly admitting guilt and repentance are not enough; it should not free the penitent from responsibilities to help restore justice. True, Cam said she has asked De Lima for forgiveness that the latter freely gave. Should it stop there? The penitent evildoer has to make some kind of atonement, which can take many forms. I leave it to Cam to be creative, but not to exclude standing with a megaphone on a busy sidewalk. Walking on one’s knees in Baclaran Church is forbidden. Seriously, Ms. Cam, sign a sworn statement before a lawyer, that way, your traitorous act of perfidy against a fellow woman—done under threat perhaps?—is on record. I would appreciate a copy.</span></p><div class="lfform-inquirer lfform-inquirer-horizontal form_inline norelated" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I had a barrage of invectives held back inside me for the likes of Cam, who had stepped out of the line to join a cabal of men to unjustly persecute a fellow woman. Dare me and say that this is not a woman issue. It is, too, and shouldn’t we want to know from the penitent how this came to be? I am eager to know.</span></p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div></span></div></div></div></article></section>Ma. Ceres P. Doyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511411019105686412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998471397294429049.post-76764337387905973882023-01-20T13:11:00.002+08:002023-02-03T16:40:28.449+08:00<p><span style="font-family: arial;"> https://opinion.inquirer.net/160453/onion-suicides</span></p><div id="art-head-group" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(224, 228, 230); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 20px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"><hgroup style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"><h1 class="entry-title" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.1em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Onion suicides</span></h1></hgroup><div id="byline_share" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div data-byline-strips="Ma. Ceres P. Doyo" id="art_author" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/byline/ma-ceres-p-doyo" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ma. Ceres P. Doyo</a></span> - <a class="art_twt" href="https://www.twitter.com/@inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">@inquirerdotnet</a></span></div><div id="art_plat" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; float: left; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 14px; margin: 3px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/source/philippine-daily-inquirer" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Philippine Daily Inquirer</a> / 05:11 AM January 20, 2023</span></div></div></div></div></div><div id="art_body_wrap" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"><div class="article_align" id="article_content" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-feature-settings: "lnum"; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 640px; zoom: 1;"><div style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I have in my head a story scenario—dystopian, fictional—where poor Filipino onion farmers who are heavily in debt rise up in revolt because of the neglect and shabby treatment they get from government officials who choose to hobnob with the world’s wealthiest and wallow in food porn, instead of addressing problems of starvation on the ground. I have it all written out in my mind, except for the details on how it would end—perhaps a bloody denouement for the protagonists and the antagonists that would spark a national revolt worthy of world attention. Think Basi Revolt of 1807 or something like that, but with media coverage.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But before I could finish the story in my cinematic imagination, here comes this newspaper’s headline story where cases of suicide by distressed onion farmers are cited, because of their desperation over their debts, loss of joy and purpose in life, the dark scenario ahead, the burden that is too heavy to bear.</p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><div id="bb_box" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec1" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I assume that the farmers’ despair and hopelessness are unlike those of the differently situated suicidals who are also experiencing extreme emotional pain and hopelessness—results of many factors—that are nevertheless just as legit. In comparison, farmers who till the soil are a hardy breed physically and emotionally, or so we think.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Many of our farmers are still into so-called subsistence agriculture for their own survival, lucky if they have surplus to sell. But I think of them as so much better situated than those who had moved to the cities and live under bridges and beside garbage-filled creeks. Alas, farmers who stay and endeavor to produce cash crops later realize that the big world out there is one sinister, dog-eat-dog world where predators hold sway.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Whenever farmers raise an outcry (as in the case of the rice tariffication law that was detrimental to them), I think of French artist Jean-François Millet’s painting that inspired American poet Edwin Markham’s “The Man with the Hoe” that we had to memorize and recite in class. It is an ekphrasis or poem that describes a piece of art, a protest poem that deals with social injustice.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Straight from memory, here goes: “Down by the centuries he leans/ Upon his hoe and gazes on the ground,/ The emptiness of ages in his face,/ And on his back the burden of the world./ Who made him dead to rapture and despair,/ A thing that grieves not and that never hopes,/ Stolid and stunned, a brother to the ox?”</p><div class="ztoop" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-pixel1" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div id="anyclip_2021" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Google the entire poem and the painting which is not, by any standard, Amorsolo-esque.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Last Tuesdays’ banner story (“Losses driving onion farmers to desperation,” by Melvin Gascon, Jordeene B. Lagare, and Marlon Ramos) said: “Merlita Gallardo of Bayambang, Pangasinan, the widow of an onion farmer who killed himself in January 2021, recounted to the Senate committee hearing on agriculture how their sustained losses beginning with the pandemic year worsened their anxieties.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“‘He went far away from the farm to kill himself. Because our debts were piling up, and he didn’t want to borrow [money] anymore.’” Her husband, Roger, was 49.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Elvin Jerome Laceda, president of nongovernmental organization Young Farmers’ Challenge Club of the Philippines, said his group has learned about four other farmers in Bayambang who were also driven to suicide because of debt.”</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">That, while the President of this republic and himself as (his self-appointed) secretary of agriculture and his coterie of 70 or so (as reported) how-do-you-call-them are in snowy Switzerland for the World Economic Forum. While airline personnel who bring home a few kilos of onions as tacky pasalubong are threatened with smuggling charges, and the big-time onion smugglers are smug and happy.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em;">From Leonardo Montemayor, chair of the Federation of Free Farmers: “If there had to be importation, it could have been done earlier. It should not coincide with the harvest period. It is painful for farmers who toiled in the face of typhoons, pests, high prices of fertilizers and pesticides, and then at harvest time, when they expect to recoup their expenses, imported onions would arrive.” (A translation from Tagalog.)</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In some parts of the world, India among them, the farming sector has some of the highest number of suicides. Even the US farming sector has a noticeable high rate of suicide.</p><div class="lfform-inquirer lfform-inquirer-horizontal form_inline norelated" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In this country, farming as a livelihood—not as a hobby or pastime—could drain the life out of those who till the land, an irony because it is the farming sector that nourishes us to life. How is it that the life-giving land has become a curse, a graveyard for their dreams?</p></span></div></div></div><p><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></p>Ma. Ceres P. Doyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511411019105686412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998471397294429049.post-58956656480068166072023-01-13T13:15:00.028+08:002023-02-03T16:42:46.319+08:00<p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></p><hgroup style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 594.125px;"><div id="art_kicker" style="border: 0px; color: #686868; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">HUMAN FACE</span></div><h1 class="entry-title" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.1em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Acquitted!</span></h1></hgroup><div id="byline_share" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 594.125px;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div data-byline-strips="Ma. Ceres P. Doyo" id="art_author" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/byline/ma-ceres-p-doyo" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ma. Ceres P. Doyo</a></span> - <a class="art_twt" href="https://www.twitter.com/@inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">@inquirerdotnet</a></span></div><div id="art_plat" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; float: left; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 14px; margin: 3px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/source/philippine-daily-inquirer" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Philippine Daily Inquirer</a> / 05:11 AM January 13, 2023</span></div></div></div></div><p><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Read more: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/?p=160279#ixzz7s2XxYcyw" style="border: 0px; color: #003399; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">https://opinion.inquirer.net/?p=160279#ixzz7s2XxYcyw</a><br />Follow us: <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@inquirerdotnet on Twitter</a> | <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">inquirerdotnet on Facebook</a></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> In the end, it was a triumph for those wrongly accused of perjury, a triumph for the 10 human rights defenders whose only intention or fault, if you may, was to seek protection for themselves and their fellow human rights workers but who, as a result, were accused as liars, perjurers. They may have had disruptions in their everyday lives while the case was going on, they may have had sleepless nights and worry days, but after what they had gone through—going to trial and all—they became the poster people for those who suffer harassment from those who wield power. A double win, I must say.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Oh, but their main accuser and the prosecutors who lost the case could claim triumph, too—because they had successfully, if unwittingly (?), caused fear, worry, and anxiety among the accused, their families, and communities. The case was a warning—clear, dangerous, fearsome. Unprecedented even. A lesson, too.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">For how is it that a group of people who seek succor from the Supreme Court by filing a petition for a writ of amparo and habeas data would be slapped with a perjury case by a high-ranking government official on account of a slight error in their petition? Unbeknownst to the petitioners, the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP), to which a petitioner belongs, was no longer registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). “Slight” to me, because the petitioners were mostly human rights workers, not corporate types with hired corporate lawyers who look after their papers.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">And so they are liars, perjurers who must be haled to court, a nun among them, Sister Elenita Belardo of the Religious of the Good Shepherd, former chair of the RMP? So is Edita Burgos, widow of press freedom icon Jose Burgos who belongs to the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites? (Her son Jonas is a desaparecido who was allegedly abducted by military men.)</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">From the decision penned by Judge Aimee Marie B. Alcera of the Metropolitan Trial Court (Branch 139) of Quezon City:</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><div class="ztoop" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-pixel1" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div id="anyclip_2021" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div><p style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">“In sum, for failure of the prosecution to establish beyond reasonable doubt that all accused made a willful and deliberate assertion of a falsehood, all accused must perforce be acquitted.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">“WHEREFORE, in light of the foregoing,” Sister Elenita Belardo, RGS, Elisa Tita Lubi, Cristina Palabay, Roneo Clamor, Gabriela Krista Dalena, Edita Burgos, Jose Mari Callueng, Wilfredo Ruazol, Joan May Salvador, Gertrudes R. Libang “are ALL hereby ACQUITTED of the charge of perjury, all on the ground of REASONABLE DOUBT.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">“SO ORDERED. 09 January 2023, Quezon City.”</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">What a relief for the 10 accused who, for more than three years since 2019, had to endure anxiety and worry, not to mention disruptions in their everyday lives, simply because of an erroneous entry in their 2019 petition for a writ of amparo and habeas data.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The RMP, founded some 50 years ago, is a mission partner of the Conference of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines. It has been tagged by the military as a communist-terrorist front. Red-tagged. The perjury case against the 10 accused was an effort of Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, National Security Adviser and vice chair of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict during the Duterte administration.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I have a copy of the decision of Judge Alcera and the trial memorandum “for accused Belardo,” which I found a bit entertaining, if not instructive. There it was argued that the SEC registration is not even material to the amparo petition. The prosecution also failed to discredit Belardo’s invocation of good faith. In her judicial affidavit, Belardo stated: “I am at peace because I did not lie.”</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">And when asked about the group’s petition for a writ of amparo and habeas data, Belardo answered: “The writ of amparo will protect us from respondents’ acts of Red-tagging and harassment that threaten our security and safety. Personally, it was my hope and prayer that with the filing of the petition, the respondents would relent from committing further acts of Red-tagging and harassing RMP and its members.”</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">That is where it all started. But even before the petition of amparo was filed with the Supreme Court on May 6, 2019, Esperon already had the goods on RMP. “One curious fact,” the memorandum called it. But that, folks, is called “intelligence.”</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">With all due respect to those in power who are into intelligence work and, uh, oodles of so-called “intelligence funds” that citizens of this country may not be privy to, use the funds intelligently.</span></p><div class="lfform-inquirer lfform-inquirer-horizontal form_inline norelated" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><p style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Words of triumph from Burgos: “This acquittal is a downpour on parched land!”</span></p><p style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></p><span style="border: 0px; font-family: trebuchet; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Read more: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/?p=160279#ixzz7s2XYr1CB" style="border: 0px; color: #003399; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">https://opinion.inquirer.net/?p=160279#ixzz7s2XYr1CB</a><br />Follow us: <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@inquirerdotnet on Twitter</a> | <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">inquirerdotnet on Facebook</a></span>Ma. Ceres P. Doyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511411019105686412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998471397294429049.post-80233318703104791722023-01-06T13:22:00.003+08:002023-02-03T16:44:20.217+08:00<p> <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/category/columnists" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.04em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">COLUMNISTS</a></p><div id="art-head-group" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(224, 228, 230); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 20px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 965.547px;"><hgroup style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 965.547px;"><div id="bc-share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 965.547px;"><div id="sm_share" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 2px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div class="vuukle-powerbar" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="0" id="h-sharebar-0" name="h-sharebar-0" scrolling="no" src="https://cdn.vuukle.com/widgets/sharebar.html?version=2.17.9" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; font: inherit; height: 47px; margin: 0px; min-height: 45px; min-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;" title="Vuukle Sharebar Widget"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="art_kicker" style="border: 0px; color: #686868; font-family: mallory; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">HUMAN FACE</div><h1 class="entry-title" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.1em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Scrollback: ‘Ein Papst aus Deutschland’</span></h1></hgroup><div id="byline_share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 965.547px;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div data-byline-strips="Ma. Ceres P. Doyo" id="art_author" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/byline/ma-ceres-p-doyo" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ma. Ceres P. Doyo</a></span> - <a class="art_twt" href="https://www.twitter.com/@inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">@inquirerdotnet</a></div><div id="art_plat" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; float: left; font-family: mallory; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 14px; margin: 3px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/source/philippine-daily-inquirer" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Philippine Daily Inquirer</a> / 05:11 AM January 06, 2023</div></div></div></div></div><div id="art_body_wrap" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: 965.547px;"><div class="article_align" id="article_content" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-feature-settings: "lnum"; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 640px; zoom: 1;"><div style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2023/01/viber_image_2023-01-05_19-18-20-808.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #004985; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title=""><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-160128 size-large" decoding="async" height="620" sizes="(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px" src="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2023/01/viber_image_2023-01-05_19-18-20-808-620x620.jpg" srcset="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2023/01/viber_image_2023-01-05_19-18-20-808-620x620.jpg 620w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2023/01/viber_image_2023-01-05_19-18-20-808-300x300.jpg 300w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2023/01/viber_image_2023-01-05_19-18-20-808-768x768.jpg 768w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2023/01/viber_image_2023-01-05_19-18-20-808-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2023/01/viber_image_2023-01-05_19-18-20-808-50x50.jpg 50w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2023/01/viber_image_2023-01-05_19-18-20-808-342x342.jpg 342w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2023/01/viber_image_2023-01-05_19-18-20-808-70x70.jpg 70w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2023/01/viber_image_2023-01-05_19-18-20-808-55x55.jpg 55w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2023/01/viber_image_2023-01-05_19-18-20-808.jpg 1600w" style="border: 0px; clear: both; display: block; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 5px auto 40px; max-width: 620px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 620px;" width="620" /></a></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger, German) died on Dec. 31, 2022 at the age of 95 and was laid to rest yesterday amid solemn rites at the Vatican City. As we all know, he resigned from the papacy in 2013 for health reasons and was succeeded by Pope Francis (Jorge Bergoglio, Argentinian).</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Here are excerpts from my piece on his election as Pope Benedict XVI in 2005. He succeeded the charismatic Pope St. John Paul II (Karol Wojtyła of Poland).</span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">2005: I kept switching to Deutsche Welle (DW), the German channel on cable TV, right after Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected Pope last week. What was it like for the Germans, the predominantly Catholic Bavarians especially, to have one of them become Papst Benedikt XVI? The crawler on the TV screen said “Ein Papst aus Deutschland” (the Pope from Germany).</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">DW had first crack at the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick maker, so to speak, in Ratzinger’s hometown in Bavaria. Now, cookies and bread are being named after him.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">DW showed tabloids with screaming headlines saying “Papa Ratzi,” “German Shepherd,” “God’s Rottweiler,” and something about the Hitlerjugend, to which Ratzinger was conscripted in his youth.</span></p><div class="ztoop" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-pixel1" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div id="anyclip_2021" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Bavarians are supposed to be warmer in disposition compared with Germans from the north. Several of my mentors in college were German Benedictine nuns who hailed mostly from Bavaria. I can name all of them, with their family names.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Shock, joy, acceptance. These were some reactions I solicited in the aftermath of Ratzinger’s election.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">“When I heard his name mentioned, my heart sank,” said American Maryknoll sister and theology professor Helen Graham the morning after the announcement. She’s had little sleep since the news broke the night before, she confided.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To console those who felt the same way, Graham reminded: “Ratzinger’s role in the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith differed from this new role as Pope which is to focus on unity.”</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Ratzinger was the late Pope John Paul II’s enforcer of orthodoxy, the one who cracked the whip on doctrinal matters. He authored the “Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Collaboration of Men and Women in the Church and in the World” which was hugely criticized by women’s rights advocates. Rep. Risa Hontiveros’ maiden speech in Congress last year was a stinging criticism of Ratzinger’s letter.</span></p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">ADVERTISEMENT</span></span><div id="bb_box2" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec2" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Graham was not entirely distraught. “I have some hope that this new role would take him in new directions. Now he has a different agenda, a different job, which is to be a symbol of unity.”</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Interviewed by the Inquirer just before the conclave, Graham had said she “was saddened by the opposition to even discussing the issue of women’s ordination, the stifling of imaginative theological thinking, and the inability to make any change whatsoever in reproductive issues that profoundly affect the lives of women.’” Graham is a proponent of the use of inclusive language in the liturgy.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I noticed that John Paul II’s funeral and Benedict XVI’s installation liturgies were grandly, hugely, almost entirely all-male. Even the choir was all-boys.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">“I was very happy,” Bishop Rolando Tria-Tirona of the recently devastated Prelature of Infanta told the Inquirer. “I hope to see him put back moral, spiritual, and pastoral sense in Western Europe where the church is dwindling. There has been too much relativism, a kind of wishy-washiness there.”</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In his homily before the conclave, Ratzinger had warned about relativism. Tirona added the new pope might leave his old public persona behind. “When you are in another position, you will shed your old role. You have greater perspective.” Tirona and Ratzinger had met briefly in the past, and Tirona was impressed by Ratzinger’s aura of humility.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">And what does Sister Mary John Mananzan, Germany-educated prioress of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters in the Philippines, known feminist and women’s rights advocate here and abroad, founder of the Institute of Women’s Studies of St. Scholastica’s College, and one of the driving spirits behind the Ecumenical Association of Third World Women Theologians? “The only thing I want to say is: I believe in the Holy Spirit more than I believe in my human judgment. That is why I am accepting Pope Benedict XVI in faith. I have nothing more to add.”</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Interviewed some years ago on Bavarian TV, Ratzinger was asked if he really believed the Holy Spirit plays a role in the election of the Pope. His answer: “I would not say so in the sense that the Holy Spirit picks out the Pope, because there are too many contrary instances of popes the Holy Spirit would obviously not have picked. I would say that the Spirit does not exactly take control of the affair, but rather like a good educator, as it were, leaves us much space, much freedom, without entirely abandoning us … Probably the only assurance he offers is that the thing cannot be totally ruined.” I agree. Only I refer to the Holy Spirit as a she.</span></p><div class="lfform-inquirer lfform-inquirer-horizontal form_inline norelated" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">2023: And may it be so when the time comes for Pope Francis’ successor to be elected.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">ead more: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/160106/scrollback-ein-papst-aus-deutschland#ixzz7s2YqhnpL" style="border: 0px; color: #003399; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">https://opinion.inquirer.net/160106/scrollback-ein-papst-aus-deutschland#ixzz7s2YqhnpL</a></span></p></div></div></div><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Follow us: <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@inquirerdotnet on Twitter</a> | <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">inquirerdotnet on Facebook</a></span>Ma. Ceres P. Doyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511411019105686412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998471397294429049.post-32411894749407852532022-12-30T14:13:00.002+08:002023-02-03T16:46:06.874+08:00<p> <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/category/columnists-business" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.04em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">COLUMNISTS</a></p><div id="art-head-group" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(224, 228, 230); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 20px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"><hgroup style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"><div id="bc-share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"><div id="sm_share" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 2px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div class="vuukle-powerbar" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="0" id="h-sharebar-0" name="h-sharebar-0" scrolling="no" src="https://cdn.vuukle.com/widgets/sharebar.html?version=2.17.9" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; font: inherit; height: 47px; margin: 0px; min-height: 45px; min-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;" title="Vuukle Sharebar Widget"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="art_kicker" style="border: 0px; color: #686868; font-family: mallory; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">HUMAN FACE</div><h1 class="entry-title" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.1em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">‘Chasing Windmills’</span></h1></hgroup><div id="byline_share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div data-byline-strips="Ma. Ceres P. Doyo" id="art_author" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/byline/ma-ceres-p-doyo" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ma. Ceres P. Doyo</a></span> - <a class="art_twt" href="https://www.twitter.com/@inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">@inquirerdotnet</a></div><div id="art_plat" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; float: left; font-family: mallory; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 14px; margin: 3px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/source/philippine-daily-inquirer" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Philippine Daily Inquirer</a> / 05:06 AM December 30, 2022</div></div></div></div></div><div id="art_body_wrap" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"><div class="article_align" id="article_content" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-feature-settings: "lnum"; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 640px; zoom: 1;"><div style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/12/viber_image_2022-12-29_20-55-44-271.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #004985; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title=""><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-159950 size-full" decoding="async" height="1280" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" src="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/12/viber_image_2022-12-29_20-55-44-271.jpg" srcset="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/12/viber_image_2022-12-29_20-55-44-271.jpg 1280w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/12/viber_image_2022-12-29_20-55-44-271-300x300.jpg 300w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/12/viber_image_2022-12-29_20-55-44-271-620x620.jpg 620w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/12/viber_image_2022-12-29_20-55-44-271-768x768.jpg 768w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/12/viber_image_2022-12-29_20-55-44-271-50x50.jpg 50w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/12/viber_image_2022-12-29_20-55-44-271-342x342.jpg 342w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/12/viber_image_2022-12-29_20-55-44-271-70x70.jpg 70w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/12/viber_image_2022-12-29_20-55-44-271-55x55.jpg 55w" style="border: 0px; clear: both; display: block; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 5px auto 40px; max-width: 620px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 620px;" width="1280" /></a></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Eyes are on the city of Utrecht in the Netherlands, where Communist Party of the Philippines’ (CPP) founder Jose Ma. Sison died on Dec. 16 after his almost four decades in the land of windmills. Utrecht is where a group of Filipinos is on self-exile, working for decades to promote the fulfillment of the CPP’s ideological and political agenda in the Philippines. They belong to the so-called RAs (reaffirmist wing) of the CPP and its National Democratic Front of the Philippines-New People’s Army allied with Sison that remain after the RJs (the rejectionists) broke away. The latter have since created their own paths individually or as political groups in mainstream Philippine society.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em;">What now? is the question in the minds of both the pro-Sison and not-so-pro-Sison who had once worked together to fight the Marcos dictatorship. That was long before so-called people’s revolt emerged from left field, so to speak, to steal the thunder and ousted the dictator and his helmsmen/women who had plundered this country and brought it to its knees.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Those are the big stories. But forming the warps and woofs of the antidictatorship movement were lives under the radar, some lived outside the home country and in the service of the ideology they believed in and fought for.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Such was the life of Maya Butalid, a political activist who was sent to and worked as a CPP functionary in the Netherlands from 1983 until 1993—a good 10 years—after which the CPP split into the so-called RAs and RJs, and the leadership descended into a bloody purge that saw comrades killing fellow comrades. When the smoke had cleared, persons essential to the hierarchy abroad, like Butalid, had to make decisions for themselves, their families, and their future.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The book “Chasing Windmills” (Olympia Publishers, London, 2022) tells Butalid’s story of leaving the home country in service of a political ideology, and staying for good in a foreign land that she and her family embraced as their own. That is, despite her break from those who brought her to the land of windmills, symbols of quixotic pursuits. But that is going ahead of the story.</span></p><div class="ztoop" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-pixel1" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div id="anyclip_2021" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">“My windmills,” writes Butalid, “[were] the challenges that I successfully faced during the various phases of my life.” She describes her written work as “conversations with my soul.”</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The book’s chapters do not necessarily follow a timeline, but one can see a first half and a second half—life as a CPP functionary abroad while doing so-called solidarity work, and life after—with flashbacks set in the homeland.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Born in 1957, in Cebu City, Butalid studied at the University of the Philippines, where she developed into a political activist. Butalid recounts her search for God while in the university (a whole chapter), and how it led her to the oppressed sectors of society. To make a long story very short, Butalid found answers in political activism. One thing led to another, and before long, she was holding important positions (as political officer, among them) in the underground movement.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">“Chasing Windmills” is a collection of no-frills stories about Butalid’s journey mainly in the Netherlands, raising a family abroad, working with the CPP hierarchy in exile, and breaking away, integrating, and immersing herself in Dutch society as an immigrant, pursuing higher studies (a master’s degree from the University of Tilburg), building a career, serving as a civil servant. She even went through a bout with cancer.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I was looking for juicy bits about the CPP characters in Utrecht, her bosses, the cabal that gave directives to the underground movement in the Philippines, but they were few and far between. Those in the know might be able to tell whereof Butalid speaks, the whys, the wherefores. These could have been instructive. There was much that was left unsaid. “Chasing Windmills” is not a tell-all.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em;">The instructive parts, especially for immigrants in Europe, are Butalid’s observations, reflections, and the lessons she learned that could benefit those caught in a cultural maelstrom, while pursuing a meaningful life for one’s growing family, details about day-to-day life, decision-making, seeking new avenues to be of service, etc.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">From 2003 to 2010, Butalid served as Tilburg city councilor. She now works with the Netherlands Council for Refugees and, since 2012, with Pasali, a development nongovernment organization in Mindanao. Butalid and husband Carlo have two daughters and four grandchildren.</span></p><div class="lfform-inquirer lfform-inquirer-horizontal form_inline norelated" style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">As it was in the beginning of the book when Butalid wrote about her search for God in her youth, so does she end with the chapter “About God,” the constant one while she chased her windmills.</span></p></div></div></div><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Read more: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/159926/chasing-windmills#ixzz7s2ktw9HV" style="border: 0px; color: #003399; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">https://opinion.inquirer.net/159926/chasing-windmills#ixzz7s2ktw9HV</a><br />Follow us: <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@inquirerdotnet on Twitter</a> | <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">inquirerdotnet on Facebook</a></span>Ma. Ceres P. Doyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511411019105686412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998471397294429049.post-14938073709072261322022-12-23T14:19:00.001+08:002023-02-01T14:20:22.632+08:00<p> <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/category/columnists-business" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.04em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">COLUMNISTS</a></p><div id="art-head-group" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(224, 228, 230); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 20px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 641.172px;"><hgroup style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 641.172px;"><div id="bc-share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 641.172px;"><div id="sm_share" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 2px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div class="vuukle-powerbar" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="0" id="h-sharebar-0" name="h-sharebar-0" scrolling="no" src="https://cdn.vuukle.com/widgets/sharebar.html?version=2.17.9" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; font: inherit; height: 47px; margin: 0px; min-height: 45px; min-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;" title="Vuukle Sharebar Widget"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="art_kicker" style="border: 0px; color: #686868; font-family: mallory; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">HUMAN FACE</div><h1 class="entry-title" style="border: 0px; font-family: mallory; font-size: 52px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.1em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Flashback: Ceasefire 1986</h1></hgroup><div id="byline_share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 641.172px;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div data-byline-strips="Ma. Ceres P. Doyo" id="art_author" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/byline/ma-ceres-p-doyo" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ma. Ceres P. Doyo</a></span> - <a class="art_twt" href="https://www.twitter.com/@inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">@inquirerdotnet</a></div><div id="art_plat" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; float: left; font-family: mallory; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 14px; margin: 3px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">05:05 AM December 23, 2022</div></div></div></div></div><div id="art_body_wrap" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto !important; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: 641.172px;"><div class="article_align" id="article_content" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: "lnum"; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; font-weight: inherit; height: auto !important; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 640px; zoom: 1;"><div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-159773" decoding="async" height="1280" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" src="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/12/doyo12232022.jpg" srcset="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/12/doyo12232022.jpg 1280w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/12/doyo12232022-300x300.jpg 300w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/12/doyo12232022-620x620.jpg 620w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/12/doyo12232022-768x768.jpg 768w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/12/doyo12232022-50x50.jpg 50w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/12/doyo12232022-342x342.jpg 342w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/12/doyo12232022-70x70.jpg 70w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/12/doyo12232022-55x55.jpg 55w" style="border: 0px; clear: both; display: block; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 5px auto 40px; max-width: 620px !important; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 620px;" width="1280" /></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">With the death on Dec. 16 in the Netherlands of Jose Maria Sison, 83, founding head of the Communist Party of the Philippines/National Democratic Front/New People’s Army (CPP-NDF-NPA), speculations are rife on what’s ahead for the world’s longest running insurgency which is in the Philippines. No peace talks or ceasefire in the horizon.</p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-family: mallory; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">ADVERTISEMENT</span><div id="bb_box" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sison was still in prison when I made him tell his story in a two-part series in the Sunday Inquirer Magazine (“Joma tells all,” April 6 and 13, 1986). In December 1986, when the CPP-NDF-NPA and the Cory Aquino government were to hold the first peace talks ever, I wrote the magazine’s Sunday editorial (“Ceasefire: Media’s suckling child,” Dec. 7, 1986). Here are excerpts with some rewrites from 36 years ago:</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Imagine yourself waiting on a wharf on a cold morning for a figure to emerge from the mist. Or bathing in a freezing river to wash off mud just before a press conference in the mountain fastness. Or backriding on the wheels of a member of the deadly Sparrow Unit. Or waiting by a doughnut stand where, after half a doughnut, somebody comes to haul you off to an “undisclosed place.” (Eyes down, you are told, so that even if torturers threaten to gouge your eyes, you will never be able to reveal which way you went.)</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">For journalists who covered the underground, it’s always been a waiting, a leap in the dark, or to borrow more mystical language, an entering into the “cloud of unknowing” from where you emerge later with a story with the whats, wheres, whos, and hows but without the wheres. And if your editor insisted on a place, you had to come up with “the suburbs of Manila” or the “forest primeval.”</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Journalists who have been through this since the martial law era and, more recently, during the ceasefire negotiations will hopefully no longer play hide and seek with imagined or real stalkers in military uniforms for a period of 60 days starting Dec. 10 (Human Rights Day) when the ceasefire agreement between the government and communist rebels takes effect.</p><div class="ztoop" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-pixel1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div id="anyclip_2021" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The ceasefire document signed on Nov. 27, 1986 lists surveillance as one of the “hostile acts” that the two signing parties may not indulge in during the ceasefire period. We, in the media, may sound presumptuous or paranoid in thinking that we are of any consequence, but surveillance was indeed one of the threats reporters feared. Try following a reporter. Where their roads end could be a story and more.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Putting possible stalkers off track was therefore one of those dizzying games reporters played when getting to underground sources. It was fun and exciting only because we psyched ourselves to believe it was so. But it could sometimes be perilous and torturous. For some, it was a death-defying act, especially when they came under heavy mortar fire. One of our photographer-friends recalls how he suddenly froze during one of those, and recovered only when a guerrilla shook his shoulders and said, “Pare, okay lang, walang mangyayari sa iyo!”</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Climbing mountains to get “there” was exciting only after, when we regaled friends with jungle stories, close brushes, or how we covered our tracks to protect our news sources and, of course, ourselves. But some colleagues have died in an armed encounter as in the case of the late ace Vietnam war photographer Willy Vicoy and reporter Pete Mabazza. Some of us have been accused of “giving comfort to the enemy” or “writing propaganda” in favor of one side.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The night before the signing of the pact, journalists waiting for NDF negotiators to break the news about the agreement, drank and toasted the ceasefire’s imminent success, stopping only when they thought the heady brew might affect the next day’s headlines.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We will miss those days of living dangerously, and we hope 60 days will be forever. Surely, it is not presumptuous for us to say that somehow, media, despite its faults, played a part in the forging of the peace pact. We would like to think that even in a very small way, we played midwives to this suckling child called ceasefire.</p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-family: mallory; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">ADVERTISEMENT</span><div id="bb_box2" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec2" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It is the season of Advent. For us, the irreverent lot, here are some Advent lines from Isaiah, the prophet and writer who knows what ceasefire is all about.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The wolf shall dwell with the lamb</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And the leopard shall lie down with the kid,</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And the calf and the lion and the fatling together,</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And a little child shall lead them.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The cow and the bear shall feed,</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Their young shall lie down together</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And the lions shall eat straw like the ox</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The suckling child shall play over the hole of the asp</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto !important; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den. <ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3470805887229135" data-ad-format="auto" data-ad-slot="8007816029" data-ad-status="filled" data-adsbygoogle-status="done" style="border: 0px; 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border-width: 0px; font: inherit; height: 280px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;" vspace="0" width="640"></iframe></div><p></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">They do not hurt nor harm on all my holy mountain,</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">For the country is filled with the knowledge of Yahweh</p><div class="lfform-inquirer lfform-inquirer-horizontal form_inline norelated" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">As the waters swell the sea.</p></div></div></div><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Read more: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/?p=159753#ixzz7s2mX7Sbf" style="border: 0px; color: #003399; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">https://opinion.inquirer.net/?p=159753#ixzz7s2mX7Sbf</a><br />Follow us: <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@inquirerdotnet on Twitter</a> | <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">inquirerdotnet on Facebook</a></span>Ma. Ceres P. Doyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511411019105686412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998471397294429049.post-9453715475529070912022-12-16T14:16:00.005+08:002023-02-03T16:35:05.478+08:00<p> <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/category/columnists" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.04em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">COLUMNISTS</a></p><div id="art-head-group" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(224, 228, 230); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 20px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 814.844px;"><hgroup style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 814.844px;"><div id="bc-share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 814.844px;"><div id="sm_share" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 2px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div class="vuukle-powerbar" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="0" id="h-sharebar-0" name="h-sharebar-0" scrolling="no" src="https://cdn.vuukle.com/widgets/sharebar.html?version=2.17.9" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; font: inherit; height: 47px; margin: 0px; min-height: 45px; min-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;" title="Vuukle Sharebar Widget"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="art_kicker" style="border: 0px; color: #686868; font-family: mallory; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">HUMAN FACE</div><h1 class="entry-title" style="border: 0px; font-family: mallory; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.1em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">‘Christmask’ and other thoughts</span></h1></hgroup><div id="byline_share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 814.844px;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div data-byline-strips="Ma. Ceres P. Doyo" id="art_author" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/byline/ma-ceres-p-doyo" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ma. Ceres P. Doyo</a></span> - <a class="art_twt" href="https://www.twitter.com/@inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">@inquirerdotnet</a></div><div id="art_plat" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; float: left; font-family: mallory; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 14px; margin: 3px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/source/philippine-daily-inquirer" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Philippine Daily Inquirer</a> / 05:05 AM December 16, 2022</div></div></div></div></div><div id="art_body_wrap" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: 814.844px;"><div class="article_align" id="article_content" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-feature-settings: "lnum"; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 640px; zoom: 1;"><div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-159587" decoding="async" height="490" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" src="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/12/doyo12162022.jpg" srcset="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/12/doyo12162022.jpg 1280w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/12/doyo12162022-300x300.jpg 300w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/12/doyo12162022-620x620.jpg 620w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/12/doyo12162022-768x768.jpg 768w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/12/doyo12162022-50x50.jpg 50w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/12/doyo12162022-342x342.jpg 342w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/12/doyo12162022-70x70.jpg 70w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/12/doyo12162022-55x55.jpg 55w" style="border: 0px; clear: both; display: block; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 5px auto 40px; max-width: 620px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 620px;" width="490" /></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">It has been all of three years. How time moved exceedingly slow during the three years of the COVID-19 pandemic that the world went through, that you and I endured and survived, but which millions did not. How the world stood still and was shuttered. Although not totally because there were the frenzied race to discover a vaccine, if not a cure, and those in the health care sector who were up on their feet day and night to attend to the sick, the dying, and the dead.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em;">With the national electoral race providing surreal moments and a quickening pace, we cast caution to the wind, still with our protective masks on, to make our hopes within reach. Alas, for the many who braved the tsunami of lies, disinformation, trolls, and everything that money could make happen, it was not to be.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: inherit;">During this Advent season of looking back and prayerful waiting, I recalled all the longing that quivered with hope, dashed and flung to the ground. Our hopes in tatters? No. </span><i>Venceremos.</i></span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">With the year drawing to a close, I went over the pieces I wrote in this space and elsewhere in the last three years that were related to the COVID-19 pandemic. I was surprised to count 53 in all. No, they were not medical treatises for scientific journals, but commentaries and observations on what was going on in our daily lives and in the government that was supposed to care for the governed. They were about the heroes who quietly but bravely went about doing their sworn duty to serve and go even beyond what was expected of them. They were also about the heels, the antiheroes, the scoundrels who made hay while we were on lockdown and in fear.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Christmas week 2020 and the first week of 2021 could have been a quiet time for me to do anything within the imposed health protocols. Then I was assigned to write the banner story on the 2020 Filipino of the Year (FOTY) chosen by the Inquirer editors—the Filipino health care workers. The call did not allow room for refusal. Arrrgh! There goes my quiet vacay, I thought, but who was I to refuse the privilege? (But no privilege of a byline for this kind of piece that reflects the newspaper’s official choice.)</span></p><div class="ztoop" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-pixel1" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div id="anyclip_2021" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">And then, another phone call—a separate piece, a side bar, on the essential workers who kept us alive, fed, moving, and sane—from the security guards to the food delivery guys to the law enforcers. Another arrrgh, but they, too, deserved the honor.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">For the FOTY, there was the research department that provided a pile of information. I had to read up, think, and even meditate on the profound meaning of the story I was to write, face the computer, and let it all spill out. Words, images, thoughts, ideas, and whatever else crowd the mind, but writing, in the end, is a very solitary exercise.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">A foreign church-related online magazine asked me to write a long feature on the community pantry begun by Ana Patricia Non that caught fire and inspired countless Filipinos to do the same. Non would later be voted the Inquirer’s 2021 FOTY, along with Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz. Non and those she inspired could have secluded themselves in the safety of their abodes, but did not. They thought outside the box and worked out concrete ways to help others.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Now, still with our masks on, we plod through this “Christmask” season in hopes that the mask—the reminder that the deadly virus is still with us and still claims lives—would soon be a thing of the past. Remember how that required extra layer of protection, the face shield, got in the way of our vision, voices, head movements, and already labored breathing caused by the masks? Thank heavens they are now in the landfills.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">What we still have in many nooks and crannies of our homes are face masks used and unused, in a variety of colors and designs, and even with messages crying out to be read and heeded.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.16px;">Christ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em;">mas 2022 is the third Christmas that we find ourselves still being required to wear face masks in certain places. We hope we can shuck them soon like so many bad memories caused by those who ruled over us and who could have done better. The fancy, nondisposable ones I will keep to remind me of the </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em;"><i>anni horribiles </i></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em;">that we survived.</span></span></p></div></div></div><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Read more: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/159570/christmask-and-other-thoughts#ixzz7s2lj3rzV" style="border: 0px; color: #003399; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">https://opinion.inquirer.net/159570/christmask-and-other-thoughts#ixzz7s2lj3rzV</a><br />Follow us: <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@inquirerdotnet on Twitter</a> | <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">inquirerdotnet on Facebook</a></span>Ma. Ceres P. Doyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511411019105686412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998471397294429049.post-2688921207039386272022-12-09T14:21:00.001+08:002023-02-01T14:22:20.403+08:00<p> <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/category/columnists-business" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.04em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">COLUMNISTS</a></p><div id="art-head-group" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(224, 228, 230); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 20px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 917.594px;"><hgroup style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 917.594px;"><div id="bc-share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 917.594px;"><div id="sm_share" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 2px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div class="vuukle-powerbar" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="0" id="h-sharebar-0" name="h-sharebar-0" scrolling="no" src="https://cdn.vuukle.com/widgets/sharebar.html?version=2.17.9" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; font: inherit; height: 47px; margin: 0px; min-height: 45px; min-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;" title="Vuukle Sharebar Widget"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="art_kicker" style="border: 0px; color: #686868; font-family: mallory; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">HUMAN FACE</div><h1 class="entry-title" style="border: 0px; font-family: mallory; font-size: 52px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.1em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Object of ridicule, suspicion, derision</h1></hgroup><div id="byline_share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 917.594px;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div data-byline-strips="Ma. Ceres P. Doyo" id="art_author" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/byline/ma-ceres-p-doyo" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ma. Ceres P. Doyo</a></span> - <a class="art_twt" href="https://www.twitter.com/@inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">@inquirerdotnet</a></div><div id="art_plat" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; float: left; font-family: mallory; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 14px; margin: 3px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/source/philippine-daily-inquirer" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Philippine Daily Inquirer</a> / 05:06 AM December 09, 2022</div></div></div></div></div><div id="art_body_wrap" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: 917.594px;"><div class="article_align" id="article_content" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: "lnum"; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 640px; zoom: 1;"><div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Many Filipinos, when faced with something against them that seems insurmountable, go into the “if you can’t lick them, laugh at them” mode. And not just laugh, but ridicule their adversaries till the carabaos come home. They hurl satires, caricatures, jingles, and memes in the hope that they could bring the monster to its knees. (Remember the Pharmally anomaly jingle sung to the tune of Yoyoy Villame’s “Buchikik”?)</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And so we’re back at creating eye- and ear-catching scenarios in hopes that our worst fears will not come to be. Bring it on!</p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-family: mallory; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">ADVERTISEMENT</span><div id="bb_box" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I leave it to the legal and financial experts to eloquently question and argue against the Maharlika Wealth Fund bill that, if passed, would dig into the pension funds of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and the Social Security System (SSS), and invest them in foreign corporate bonds or wherever. Whosever’s brainchild it is—and there is a cabal of them—it was like a piece of (…) that hit the ceiling fan. The fallout was immediate, triggering reactions from GSIS and SSS contributors, pensioners, and the militant subspecies of suspicious doubters, bless them.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Government funds of whatever name have been equated with plunder and, thankfully, with prison time for the guilty. But the guilty are back in power in no time, grinning at you from ear to ear. The word “plunder” has an onomatopoeic ring to it because it rhymes with thunder. Alas, the plunderers must have such insatiable appetites that they never learn from the thunderous boos that booted them out of power. They come back. For more?</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And that is what many are afraid of. The ghost of the multibillion coco levy fund coughed up by millions of coconut farmers during the Marcos dictatorship that haunts us to this day. Not a single centavo had gone back to individual farmers in some shape or form long after the culprits had scampered away and, later, while the legal debate was raging on whether it was a private or public fund. Many coconut farmers hobbled to their graves in a state of penury. Not even the spirit of tuba could ease their distress. And now, pray tell, what is the state of our coconut industry?</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Oft quoted in social media is the succinct argument of former Supreme Court senior associate justice Antonio Carpio on the Maharlika fund: “The SSS and GSIS funds are personal contributions of their respective members who own the funds. Even the employers’ contributions in effect form part of the compensation of the employees. Thus, the income of SSS and GSIS investible funds must benefit only their respective members. The income of the Maharlika Sovereign Wealth Fund is for the benefit of all Filipinos, including non-SSS and non-GSIS members. The law cannot give the income from SSS and GSIS funds to non-members who did not contribute to the funds. This is taking of private property for a public purpose without just compensation, which is unconstitutional.”</p><div class="ztoop" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-pixel1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div id="anyclip_2021" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Others who went through the bill word for word saw red flags in it, saying in conclusion that “the bill is authored by at least two legislators connected to the plunderous dynasty that the Filipino people ousted in 1986. We don’t want the fox to guard the chicken coop.” There’s more.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The bill has no solid provision for the contributors to be represented. You don’t put up a fund for whatever purpose from funds that belong to individual contributors but who have no say in it. And like in the case of the coco levy fund, will there be a legal debate later on whether the Maharlika fund is public or private? One cannot help conjuring images of Maharlika as becoming a milking cow, as in Maharlicow. Whoever thought of using the ancient word for something questionable must have thought it was cool.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Think of the bureaucrats who will manage the funds, the perks, the allowances, etc., while the hard-working contributors brave traffic, typhoons, sickness, and old age. Think of the high risks that come with investments. And the profits, if at all, will not be channeled back to the source of the funds and their owners.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Exhale. We have our suspicions about so-called confidential funds and intelligence funds that are granted those who hold high positions, who think transparency could be a hindrance to their mandate. How and why, they do not explain. Their gain, our loss.</p><div class="lfform-inquirer lfform-inquirer-horizontal form_inline norelated" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Today is the 37th anniversary of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. I celebrate my almost 37 years (starting as a magazine feature writer) in this paper and its various platforms. More power to the word!</p></div></div></div><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Read more: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/159402/object-of-ridicule-suspicion-derision#ixzz7s2nAkYjE" style="border: 0px; color: #003399; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">https://opinion.inquirer.net/159402/object-of-ridicule-suspicion-derision#ixzz7s2nAkYjE</a><br />Follow us: <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@inquirerdotnet on Twitter</a> | <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">inquirerdotnet on Facebook</a></span>Ma. Ceres P. Doyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511411019105686412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998471397294429049.post-30306091055950702652022-12-02T14:23:00.001+08:002023-02-01T14:23:47.459+08:00<p> <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/category/columnists" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.04em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">COLUMNISTS</a></p><div id="art-head-group" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(224, 228, 230); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 20px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 803.922px;"><hgroup style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 803.922px;"><div id="bc-share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 803.922px;"><div id="sm_share" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 2px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div class="vuukle-powerbar" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="0" id="h-sharebar-0" name="h-sharebar-0" scrolling="no" src="https://cdn.vuukle.com/widgets/sharebar.html?version=2.17.9" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; font: inherit; height: 47px; margin: 0px; min-height: 45px; min-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;" title="Vuukle Sharebar Widget"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="art_kicker" style="border: 0px; color: #686868; font-family: mallory; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">HUMAN FACE</div><h1 class="entry-title" style="border: 0px; font-family: mallory; font-size: 52px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.1em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">End violence vs women, De Lima</h1></hgroup><div id="byline_share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 803.922px;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div data-byline-strips="Ma. Ceres P. Doyo" id="art_author" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/byline/ma-ceres-p-doyo" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ma. Ceres P. Doyo</a></span> - <a class="art_twt" href="https://www.twitter.com/@inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">@inquirerdotnet</a></div><div id="art_plat" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; float: left; font-family: mallory; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 14px; margin: 3px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/source/philippine-daily-inquirer" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Philippine Daily Inquirer</a> / 05:05 AM December 02, 2022</div></div></div></div></div><div id="art_body_wrap" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: 803.922px;"><div class="article_align" id="article_content" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: "lnum"; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 640px; zoom: 1;"><div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-159245" decoding="async" height="1600" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" src="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/12/doyo12022022.jpg" srcset="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/12/doyo12022022.jpg 1600w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/12/doyo12022022-300x300.jpg 300w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/12/doyo12022022-620x620.jpg 620w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/12/doyo12022022-768x768.jpg 768w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/12/doyo12022022-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/12/doyo12022022-50x50.jpg 50w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/12/doyo12022022-342x342.jpg 342w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/12/doyo12022022-70x70.jpg 70w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/12/doyo12022022-55x55.jpg 55w" style="border: 0px; clear: both; display: block; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 5px auto 40px; max-width: 620px !important; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 620px;" width="1600" /></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Launched in 2008 under the United Nations, the UNITE to End Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) initiative is “a multiyear effort to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls around the world.” It was initiated to support the civil society-led 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign around the world.</p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-family: mallory; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">ADVERTISEMENT</span><div id="bb_box" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">UNITE exhorts governments, civil society, women’s groups, the private sector, media, and the UN system to join forces to address the global pandemic—yes, it is a pandemic—of violence against women and girls.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This year’s campaign runs from Nov. 25 to Dec. 10 (Human Rights Day). UNITE gives notice that “VAWG remains the most widespread and pervasive human rights violation worldwide affecting more than an estimated one in three women, a figure that has remained largely unchanged over the last decade.” It adds that the most recent global estimates show that, on average, more than five women or girls are killed every hour by someone in their own family.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Initiatives, no matter how small, have a way of creating sparks that become flames, like the #MeToo movement that called attention to long-kept women’s experiences of sexual abuse. There has been progress in this area, but there have also been roadblocks.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">According to the special rapporteur on human rights defenders, “women defenders are facing increased repression, violence, and impunity, despite formal state commitments to fulfill their legal human rights obligations without discrimination.” Front Line Defenders reveal that “the killings of women human rights defenders is on the rise; women are routinely targeted with online violence to silence their public participation in social media.”</p><div class="ztoop" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-pixel1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div id="anyclip_2021" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hereabouts, women who support former senator Leila de Lima, who has been in detention for more than five years despite the recantation of witnesses against her, are calling for her immediate release so that she could be home for Christmas. Women are posting photographs and images of flowers (mostly by them) on social media with the hashtag #FreeLeilaDeLimaNow. I am doing my part with chosen photographs from my own camera. (It is also my way of exhibiting results of a hobby that grew during the COVID-19 pandemic, posts approved by Birdwatch Philippines of which I am a member, albeit an amateur birder.)</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Here is EveryWoman’s statement to End Violence Against Leila de Lima issued on Nov. 25, 2022:</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“#EveryWoman joins the 16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women with Free Leila as the central theme. For what violence is greater than the state’s use of its entire coercive apparatus against a woman who dared speak truth to power in defense of human rights violated by the Duterte government’s horrific drug war?</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Detained the past five years and a half for trumped up drug trafficking charges, the prosecution has used false testimonies of witnesses extracted through coercion, threats, and intimidation. Four witnesses have since recanted, leaving no legal leg for the case to stand on. This is evidently a political case, the revenge of the powers whom former senator De Lima exposed for their criminal acts.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“We call on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to be true to his human rights pronouncements and turn words into action! We appeal to Secretary Jesus Remulla to order the Department of Justice to review the case and immediately drop all the fake charges against Senator De Lima. We request the prosecutors to stop delaying the case with their repetitive, lengthy, circuitous cross-examination of defense witnesses.</p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-family: mallory; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">ADVERTISEMENT</span><div id="bb_box2" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec2" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“We count on the judges to exercise their independence and impartiality in promptly rendering their decision, and release Senator De Lima before Christmas. Every single day she is kept in detention compromises her safety and puts her life at risk.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“We applaud the brilliant legal defense team of Senator De Lima, which has consistently stood by her and presented incontrovertible, strong evidence of her innocence.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“We ask schools, churches, parishes, communities to launch the Innocence Campaign for Senator De Lima during the 16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women!</p><div class="lfform-inquirer lfform-inquirer-horizontal form_inline norelated" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“We call on all freedom-loving Filipino women and men to rally behind Senator De Lima’s fight for us, for our human rights, for our democracy! #FreeLeiladeLimaNow #EveryWoman”</p></div></div></div><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Read more: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/159228/end-violence-vs-women-de-lima#ixzz7s2nWzuN0" style="border: 0px; color: #003399; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">https://opinion.inquirer.net/159228/end-violence-vs-women-de-lima#ixzz7s2nWzuN0</a><br />Follow us: <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@inquirerdotnet on Twitter</a> | <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">inquirerdotnet on Facebook</a></span>Ma. Ceres P. Doyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511411019105686412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998471397294429049.post-57149164187121369532022-11-25T14:24:00.001+08:002023-02-01T14:25:24.497+08:00<p> <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/category/columnists" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.04em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">COLUMNISTS</a></p><div id="art-head-group" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(224, 228, 230); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 20px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 923.266px;"><hgroup style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 923.266px;"><div id="bc-share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 923.266px;"><div id="sm_share" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 2px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div class="vuukle-powerbar" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="0" id="h-sharebar-0" name="h-sharebar-0" scrolling="no" src="https://cdn.vuukle.com/widgets/sharebar.html?version=2.17.9" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; font: inherit; height: 47px; margin: 0px; min-height: 45px; min-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;" title="Vuukle Sharebar Widget"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="art_kicker" style="border: 0px; color: #686868; font-family: mallory; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">HUMAN FACE</div><h1 class="entry-title" style="border: 0px; font-family: mallory; font-size: 52px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.1em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Prison movies and other ruminations</h1></hgroup><div id="byline_share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 923.266px;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div data-byline-strips="Ma. Ceres P. Doyo" id="art_author" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/byline/ma-ceres-p-doyo" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ma. Ceres P. Doyo</a></span> - <a class="art_twt" href="https://www.twitter.com/@inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">@inquirerdotnet</a></div><div id="art_plat" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; float: left; font-family: mallory; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 14px; margin: 3px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/source/philippine-daily-inquirer" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Philippine Daily Inquirer</a> / 05:05 AM November 25, 2022</div></div></div></div></div><div id="art_body_wrap" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: 923.266px;"><div class="article_align" id="article_content" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: "lnum"; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 640px; zoom: 1;"><div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-159053" decoding="async" height="1600" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" src="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/doyo11252022.jpg" srcset="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/doyo11252022.jpg 1600w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/doyo11252022-300x300.jpg 300w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/doyo11252022-620x620.jpg 620w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/doyo11252022-768x768.jpg 768w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/doyo11252022-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/doyo11252022-50x50.jpg 50w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/doyo11252022-342x342.jpg 342w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/doyo11252022-70x70.jpg 70w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/doyo11252022-55x55.jpg 55w" style="border: 0px; clear: both; display: block; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 5px auto 40px; max-width: 620px !important; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 620px;" width="1600" /></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">That in the movie world there is a so-called prison genre means that so many movies on prison life have been made. So these movies are in a genre of their own.</p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-family: mallory; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">ADVERTISEMENT</span><div id="bb_box" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">When we are faced with something that seems incredible, we are likely to remark that it happens only in the movies. Or that it is stranger than fiction. The shock effect soon dissipates, and we know for sure it isn’t straight out of a movie. Life imitates art and art imitates life, and that is all there is to it.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">No two ways about it. This country’s overcrowded national penitentiary or the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), home to tens of thousands of convicts serving time, is truly a drug den, a lair of liars, even a resort of sorts for the privileged few who can afford to make their prison dwellings the envy of the free. Here, drug trafficking thrives (prostitution, too, I learned), crimes are plotted, game cocks for betting are raised, booze is aplenty, and apartments are built for rent. Name it. Everything under the sun that should not be happening there is happening there.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I do not discount that saints live in the midst of scoundrels. But that is another story.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The latest to be discovered is a huge excavation so deep no prison official can explain it without breaking into a sweat. The NBP is a mini-society unto itself, with a hierarchy of influencers that seems immune to the authorities who run the facility. That is the picture that we have begun to see.</p><div class="ztoop" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-pixel1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div id="anyclip_2021" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">These shockers are not new. How many times in the recent past have these incredible happenings been exposed? But as quickly as they were in the media limelight or became the subject of Senate investigations and the like, they receded into the mist and nothing was heard of them until something again exploded in the news. Like the murder of broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa that, it turned out, was partly plotted there by inmates whose power, money, and reach could be the envy of newbie politicians. These convicts are now euphemistically called persons deprived of liberty or PDL. Deprived?</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The last time we were treated to a melodrama was when inmates implicated Leila de Lima, then a senator during the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte, who the senator severely criticized for his alleged human rights violations that date back to when he was the mayor of Davao City. Before becoming senator, De Lima was secretary of justice during the presidency of Benigno Aquino III. That was when she was supposed to have received drug money from NBP biggies.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">De Lima, to Duterte’s delight, has been in solitary detention for more than five years now even while her accusers are recanting one by one, reversing their testimonies and after two cases against her have been dropped.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Last month, a detainee from a neighboring section of the detention facility where De Lima is being held barged into her detention area and held her hostage at knifepoint. The hostage- taker lost his life courtesy of a police marksman, but De Lima could have lost hers too.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">When will De Lima, the “longest-held hostage” of our justice system, be allowed to post bail? Or be freed for good? Facebook users, mostly women, are posting photos of flower power with the hashtag #FreeLeilaDeLimaNow.</p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-family: mallory; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">ADVERTISEMENT</span><div id="bb_box2" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec2" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">While ruminating on all these, I thought of the prison movies I have watched, some true-to-life, others imitation of life. There is so much one can learn from them, the human aspect especially, and how crime, law, and the justice system affect lives in a complex society.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Here are some prison movies I remember I had watched, including war-related ones:</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Philippines: “Bulaklak ng City Jail,” “Liway,” “Miracle in Cell No. 7.”</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Liway” is about a political detainee who raised her son behind bars. She was arrested and detained after her group’s armed clash with the military. She was released in 1986. I interviewed for a magazine story this former New People’s Army fighter whose nom de guerre was Kumander Liway (Cecilia Oebanda in real life) when she was already the head of a nongovernment organization. Her son Kip, who grew up in prison, directed the movie.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Foreign: “The Great Escape,” “Papillon,” “Escape from Alcatraz,” “Shawshank Redemption,” “Dead Man Walking,” “Unbroken,” “The Green Mile,” “The Last Castle,” “Schindler’s List,” “The Photographer of Mauthausen.”</p><div class="lfform-inquirer lfform-inquirer-horizontal form_inline norelated" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Shawshank” is considered the best prison movie there is, and one of the best movies of any genre ever made.</p></div></div></div><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Read more: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/159030/prison-movies-and-other-ruminations#ixzz7s2ntsbtE" style="border: 0px; color: #003399; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">https://opinion.inquirer.net/159030/prison-movies-and-other-ruminations#ixzz7s2ntsbtE</a><br />Follow us: <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@inquirerdotnet on Twitter</a> | <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">inquirerdotnet on Facebook</a></span>Ma. Ceres P. Doyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511411019105686412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998471397294429049.post-64284111580165885162022-11-18T14:26:00.001+08:002023-02-01T14:26:57.904+08:00<p> <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/category/columnists" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.04em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">COLUMNISTS</a></p><div id="art-head-group" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(224, 228, 230); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 20px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"><hgroup style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"><div id="bc-share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"><div id="sm_share" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 2px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div class="vuukle-powerbar" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="0" id="h-sharebar-0" name="h-sharebar-0" scrolling="no" src="https://cdn.vuukle.com/widgets/sharebar.html?version=2.17.9" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; font: inherit; height: 47px; margin: 0px; min-height: 45px; min-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;" title="Vuukle Sharebar Widget"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="art_kicker" style="border: 0px; color: #686868; font-family: mallory; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">HUMAN FACE</div><h1 class="entry-title" style="border: 0px; font-family: mallory; font-size: 52px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.1em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Doing Bilibid</h1></hgroup><div id="byline_share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div data-byline-strips="Ma. Ceres P. Doyo" id="art_author" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/byline/ma-ceres-p-doyo" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ma. Ceres P. Doyo</a></span> - <a class="art_twt" href="https://www.twitter.com/@inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">@inquirerdotnet</a></div><div id="art_plat" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; float: left; font-family: mallory; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 14px; margin: 3px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/source/philippine-daily-inquirer" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Philippine Daily Inquirer</a> / 05:06 AM November 18, 2022</div></div></div></div></div><div id="art_body_wrap" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"><div class="article_align" id="article_content" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: "lnum"; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 640px; zoom: 1;"><div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/Doing-Bilibid-11182022.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #004985; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title=""><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-158854" decoding="async" height="620" sizes="(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px" src="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/Doing-Bilibid-11182022-620x620.jpg" srcset="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/Doing-Bilibid-11182022-620x620.jpg 620w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/Doing-Bilibid-11182022-300x300.jpg 300w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/Doing-Bilibid-11182022-768x768.jpg 768w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/Doing-Bilibid-11182022-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/Doing-Bilibid-11182022-50x50.jpg 50w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/Doing-Bilibid-11182022-342x342.jpg 342w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/Doing-Bilibid-11182022-70x70.jpg 70w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/Doing-Bilibid-11182022-55x55.jpg 55w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/Doing-Bilibid-11182022.jpg 1600w" style="border: 0px; clear: both; display: block; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 5px auto 40px; max-width: 620px !important; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 620px;" width="620" /></a>I can say that doing stories from the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) had been a privilege, if not an enriching experience for me.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Working journalists worth their salt and press IDs, sure have bragging rights added to what other bragging rights they have, if they had done Bilibid at any time during their reportorial years. Bilibid is the national penitentiary in Muntinlupa City (Munti to regular habitués), not the Old Bilibid Prison in Quiapo. (I had also been in the Iwahig Penal Colony in Palawan.)</p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-family: mallory; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">ADVERTISEMENT</span><div id="bb_box" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Doing Bilibid means doing stories from where tens of thousands of prisoners, euphemized as persons deprived of liberty (PDL), are confined for the duration of their sentences. Bilibid stories are usually written by those in the justice and police beats. I was not a beat reporter. I was a magazine feature writer who also did investigative stories for the special reports section while also writing column pieces. Straight news reporting on unfolding stories like the latest goings-on in Bilibid (cadavers piling up, underground tunnels discovered, mysterious deaths, etc.) could give a beat news reporter a heady, adrenaline rush while beating a deadline. They are a special bunch.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Feature writers are allowed more time to dig deeper into the obvious what-where-when-how-why, to let the story percolate into a fuller brew. And so the need for more interviews, news sources, and bigger ears for what is said and unsaid, bigger eyes for what is seen and unseen. Find “Deep Throats” and secret documents and dalliances, if any, all in a complicated setting where human lives clash and intertwine.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">With all the new complex skyways and expressways going south, I don’t know if I can drive and find my way to Bilibid like I used to, easily park in front of what looks like a medieval castle sans moat and drawbridge. One cannot miss the imposing towers with teeth-like crenellations that heritage conservationists might want to assess before it is too late.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What is inside is another story. I remember the times I did Bilibid. My first story was on convicted rapists on death row before the death penalty by electrocution was abolished. I was warned that no one will admit guilt. But several did talk to me about life behind bars. The death penalty would later be abolished, restored, and again abolished.</p><div class="ztoop" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-pixel1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div id="anyclip_2021" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Fast forward to February 1999. I was with an Inquirer team that covered the execution by lethal injection of convicted child rapist Leo Echegaray, the first since the restoration of the death penalty under the Estrada administration. There was a drawing of lots for a seat in the viewing chamber, and although the Inquirer did not get a seat, we were covering anyway.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Reporters camped out for the night on Bilibid grounds. When the day dawned, it was pandemonium as reporters outdid each other to get the latest from prison officials. At 3 p.m., Echegaray was pronounced dead.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Months later, the Inquirer got a seat for the June 1999 execution of Eduardo Agbayani, convicted for raping his daughters. I had the grim privilege of watching the execution from behind a glass panel. We were allowed to carry only a notebook and pen. I was seated behind Agbayani’s sobbing daughter. Via the sound system, we could hear the convict’s fading voice while the lethal injection was taking effect. I saw Agbayani’s face fall toward the side where we were seated.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The doctor announced the convict’s time of death. Then a loud cry: “Stop! Stop!” The curtains were drawn, and we all rushed out to find out what happened. President Estrada, it turned out, heeded Bishop Teodoro Bacani’s plea for a stay of execution, but the call from Malacañang came too late. What a story it was.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">My last visits to Bilibid were in 2003 to interview the 10 so-called Aquino-Galman convicts, the military men who escorted Sen. Ninoy Aquino while disembarking from the plane that brought him back from exile in the US on Aug. 21, 1983. Aquino was shot dead before he could step on ground. So was Rolando Galman, who was first tagged as Aquino’s gunman.</p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-family: mallory; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">ADVERTISEMENT</span><div id="bb_box2" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec2" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">At that time, the convicts had been in prison for 20 years. To interview them, I had to ask for a written consent from the Department of Justice. I went to Bilibid almost every day for several days. I even had photos of myself with them.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">My series came out in the Inquirer in time for Ninoy Aquino’s 20th death anniversary in 2003. Doing the story was exhausting, but it was worth it. Not long after, I learned that one of the ten was stabbed to death. The last of them were freed in 2009.</p><div class="lfform-inquirer lfform-inquirer-horizontal form_inline norelated" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">One of the Bilibid finds that I had photographed was a rough white statue of Jesus the Good Shepherd beside the prison chapel. A shepherd looking up and with pain on his face, so unlike many that I have seen.</p></div></div></div><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Read more: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/158831/doing-bilibid#ixzz7s2oKXt59" style="border: 0px; color: #003399; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">https://opinion.inquirer.net/158831/doing-bilibid#ixzz7s2oKXt59</a><br />Follow us: <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@inquirerdotnet on Twitter</a> | <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">inquirerdotnet on Facebook</a></span>Ma. Ceres P. Doyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511411019105686412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998471397294429049.post-29993457534372282152022-11-11T14:30:00.001+08:002023-02-01T14:31:03.285+08:00<p> <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/category/columnists" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.04em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">COLUMNISTS</a></p><div id="art-head-group" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(224, 228, 230); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 20px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"><hgroup style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"><div id="bc-share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"><div id="sm_share" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 2px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div class="vuukle-powerbar" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="0" id="h-sharebar-0" name="h-sharebar-0" scrolling="no" src="https://cdn.vuukle.com/widgets/sharebar.html?version=2.17.9" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; font: inherit; height: 47px; margin: 0px; min-height: 45px; min-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;" title="Vuukle Sharebar Widget"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="art_kicker" style="border: 0px; color: #686868; font-family: mallory; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">HUMAN FACE</div><h1 class="entry-title" style="border: 0px; font-family: mallory; font-size: 52px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.1em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A cadaver story</h1></hgroup><div id="byline_share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div data-byline-strips="Ma. Ceres P. Doyo" id="art_author" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/byline/ma-ceres-p-doyo" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ma. Ceres P. Doyo</a></span> - <a class="art_twt" href="https://www.twitter.com/@inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">@inquirerdotnet</a></div><div id="art_plat" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; float: left; font-family: mallory; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 14px; margin: 3px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/source/philippine-daily-inquirer" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Philippine Daily Inquirer</a> / 05:05 AM November 11, 2022</div></div></div></div></div><div id="art_body_wrap" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"><div class="article_align" id="article_content" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: "lnum"; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 640px; zoom: 1;"><div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/viber_image_2022-11-11_02-11-40-788.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #004985; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title=""><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-158685 size-large" decoding="async" height="620" sizes="(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px" src="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/viber_image_2022-11-11_02-11-40-788-620x620.jpg" srcset="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/viber_image_2022-11-11_02-11-40-788-620x620.jpg 620w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/viber_image_2022-11-11_02-11-40-788-300x300.jpg 300w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/viber_image_2022-11-11_02-11-40-788-768x768.jpg 768w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/viber_image_2022-11-11_02-11-40-788-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/viber_image_2022-11-11_02-11-40-788-50x50.jpg 50w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/viber_image_2022-11-11_02-11-40-788-342x342.jpg 342w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/viber_image_2022-11-11_02-11-40-788-70x70.jpg 70w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/viber_image_2022-11-11_02-11-40-788-55x55.jpg 55w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/viber_image_2022-11-11_02-11-40-788.jpg 1600w" style="border: 0px; clear: both; display: block; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 5px auto 40px; max-width: 620px !important; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 620px;" width="620" /></a></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">For three years during the COVID-19 pandemic and after, sari-sari store owner Ermesina Dimas had not received word from her husband Juancho, who had been in the National Balibad Prison for five years. So when she received a letter from prison authorities requesting her to come and identify her husband’s remains, she lost no time. Her husband died of pneumonia a month ago, the letter said.</p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-family: mallory; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">ADVERTISEMENT</span><div id="bb_box" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Erme had expected Juancho to rot in prison. He had been an abusive husband and father to his and Erme’s five children. There was no way she would take him back if and when he would be released, she had told relatives and neighbors repeatedly. Her children agreed.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Juancho was convicted for being part of a drug trafficking operation. All Erme knew was that he was caught fishing out from the open sea off Pangasinan a package that turned out to contain high-grade meth. Juancho was a tricycle driver and part-time fisherman who seldom came home with enough catch. That big catch of his turned out to be his last.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Look at the photographs of these dead prisoners,” the jail warden told Erme so casually, like he has been doing it often. “See which one looks like your husband. This way, you do not have to look at the 170 dead prisoners in the funeraria, a mountain of them there.”</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Erme looked at the photos of the dead one by one. After some 20 minutes, she pointed at one. “This looks like him, number 121. I can easily identify him. The man has a tattoo of an anchor on his right arm and a hidden part of his body. He had dreamed of being a seaman, but…” Erme’s son, Juancho Jr., confirmed it was his dead father’s photo.</p><div class="ztoop" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-pixel1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div id="anyclip_2021" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Off they went to the Southeast Funeral Homes nearby, accompanied by the warden and a guard who was at the wheel.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The funeraria assistant brought out Cadaver No. 121. It was on some kind of gurney, not a coffin. Erme let out a soft gasp. She looked at the dead man’s lower arm just above his right hand and, sure enough, there was an anchor tattoo. She looked at the tag tied on the man’s big toe. On it was a Chinese name of three syllables, not Juancho Dimas.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Sir, why does the tag have a Chinese name?” Erme asked. “This dead man is my husband, Juancho. What does it say on your list, sir?”</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Oh, ah, ah, just a slight error perhaps. So many cadavers from prison, you know. Good thing he did not die of COVID-19, otherwise he would have been cremated immediately.”</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">While the warden and guard were out of the room talking to the funeral parlor assistant, Juancho Jr., with his cell phone, took photos of the cadaver in prison garb and the name tag that had a Chinese name on it. He immediately shoved the cell phone into his pocket.</p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-family: mallory; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">ADVERTISEMENT</span><div id="bb_box2" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec2" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The warden asked the funeral parlor assistant to remove the name tag on the cadaver. “This is a mistake, a mistake, so sorry,” he muttered while putting the tag in his vest pocket.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Are you in school, young man?” the warden asked Juancho Jr. “What course?”</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Yes, off and on, sir. Working student. I want to become a policeman, sir. ”</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Do not worry,” the warden assured Erme and Juancho Jr. “Now that he has been identified, we will arrange with the funeral parlor to prepare his body for cremation. Do you agree? No expense on your part. Just between us, okay? Promise?” He smiled and winked.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Erme and Juancho Jr. looked at each other and nodded.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Here is my number,” the warden said. “Let us know when you will be back to get his ashes. Please, no word about the wrong name tag.”</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">—————–</p><div class="lfform-inquirer lfform-inquirer-horizontal form_inline norelated" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Folks, that is just a product of my imagination. I deny making any allusions to real life. But not imagined is the fact that in a Muntinlupa funeral parlor there are, right now, 178 unclaimed cadavers of inmates of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) who died of various causes (but not of COVID-19) in the last couple of years. Justice Secretary Jesus Remulla wants that autopsy be performed on all of them. Each cadaver would have a story to tell.The NBP is no longer a place for rehabilitation and redemption but a cesspool where booze, drugs, and deadly weapons are aplenty. It has become some kind of command center where crimes are plotted and distantly carried out, like the recent murder of broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa that blew the lid off underground goings-on at the NBP.</p></div></div></div><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Read more: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/158635/a-cadaver-story#ixzz7s2pJf8xf" style="border: 0px; color: #003399; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">https://opinion.inquirer.net/158635/a-cadaver-story#ixzz7s2pJf8xf</a><br />Follow us: <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@inquirerdotnet on Twitter</a> | <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">inquirerdotnet on Facebook</a></span>Ma. Ceres P. Doyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511411019105686412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998471397294429049.post-74967390857289771302022-11-04T14:32:00.001+08:002023-02-01T14:33:13.754+08:00<p> <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/category/columnists" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.04em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">COLUMNISTS</a></p><div id="art-head-group" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(224, 228, 230); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 20px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"><hgroup style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"><div id="bc-share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"><div id="sm_share" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 2px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div class="vuukle-powerbar" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="0" id="h-sharebar-0" name="h-sharebar-0" scrolling="no" src="https://cdn.vuukle.com/widgets/sharebar.html?version=2.17.9" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; font: inherit; height: 47px; margin: 0px; min-height: 45px; min-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;" title="Vuukle Sharebar Widget"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="art_kicker" style="border: 0px; color: #686868; font-family: mallory; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">HUMAN FACE</div><h1 class="entry-title" style="border: 0px; font-family: mallory; font-size: 52px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.1em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Murder, she wrote</h1></hgroup><div id="byline_share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div data-byline-strips="Ma. Ceres P. Doyo" id="art_author" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/byline/ma-ceres-p-doyo" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ma. Ceres P. Doyo</a></span> - <a class="art_twt" href="https://www.twitter.com/@inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">@inquirerdotnet</a></div><div id="art_plat" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; float: left; font-family: mallory; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 14px; margin: 3px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/source/philippine-daily-inquirer" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Philippine Daily Inquirer</a> / 05:11 AM November 04, 2022</div></div></div></div></div><div id="art_body_wrap" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"><div class="article_align" id="article_content" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: "lnum"; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 640px; zoom: 1;"><div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/doyo-110422.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #004985; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title=""><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-158462 size-large" decoding="async" height="620" sizes="(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px" src="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/doyo-110422-620x620.jpg" srcset="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/doyo-110422-620x620.jpg 620w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/doyo-110422-300x300.jpg 300w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/doyo-110422-768x768.jpg 768w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/doyo-110422-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/doyo-110422-50x50.jpg 50w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/doyo-110422-342x342.jpg 342w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/doyo-110422-70x70.jpg 70w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/doyo-110422-55x55.jpg 55w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/11/doyo-110422.jpg 1600w" style="border: 0px; clear: both; display: block; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 5px auto 40px; max-width: 620px !important; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 620px;" width="620" /></a></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The unfolding of new information on the Oct. 3 murder of broadcaster and vlogger Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa of the “Lapid Fire” radio program reads like a classic whodunit. There was the surrender and confession on Oct. 17 of hired gunman Joel Escorial, that was promptly followed by the mysterious death on Oct. 18 of New Bilibid Prison (NBP) inmate Jun Villamor who, according to Escorial, acted as a “middleman” between him and the mastermind who paid him and his accomplices P550,000. Villamor knew the mastermind and made intimations about his own impending death to his next of kin. A second middleman is now in police custody.</p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-family: mallory; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">ADVERTISEMENT</span><div id="bb_box" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Things are making sense to me now after noted forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun presented her report at an Oct. 29 press conference, where she said that Villamor died of asphyxia or suffocation with a plastic bag. Present at the presentation was Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla, who had requested the pathologist’s services for a second autopsy.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The National Bureau of Investigation had earlier made its own autopsy and concluded that there were no signs of foul play.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There is not only one way of dying by asphyxiation, but being so specific about the use of a plastic bag when a plastic bag was not found in the vicinity of the murder scene suggests that someone knew about a plastic bag—and brought it up.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Most plastic bags that come with appliances have a warning printed on them, to keep them away from children. Prison officials should now consider plastic bags as life-threatening to others and to self. Remember the American actor whose cause of death was autoerotic asphyxia?</p><div class="ztoop" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-pixel1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div id="anyclip_2021" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Fortun’s findings—evidence of pulmonary congestion, edema, and hemorrhages in the lungs—bolstered the plastic bag possibility or, shall we now say, that it is the other way around? That the plastic bag factor bolstered Fortun’s findings? I imagine the forensic pathologist getting a lead that makes her decide where to look. And so she looked. Eureka!</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Murder, she wrote.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">If I may digress, that was the title of the long-running TV whodunit series in the 1990s starring British-American Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher, bestselling author of books on crime and solving them. The peripatetic Mrs. Fletcher was a modern-day Sherlock Holmes without the trench coat. Smartly dressed, hair coiffed in place, and pleasantly chatty, she always seemed to know where to look. The ageless Lansbury died on Oct. 11 at the age of 96. I say ageless because she played the mother of Elvis Presley in the 1961 movie “Blue Hawaii” long before she hit gold with “Murder, She Wrote.” People love murder mysteries.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And so where does the investigation go from here? Who knew about the plastic bag? Where is the plastic bag? That DNA-laden piece of evidence should add grist to the story.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But the case does not end with the silencing of Villamor. He had made known his fears to members of his family, who now fear for their lives. Well, as long as they keep the secret to themselves, they will always be in danger of being silenced. Better to make a counterthreat of revealing what they know in a sworn statement or video recording. The mastermind acting on his threat will only reinforce suspicions about his guilt.</p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-family: mallory; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">ADVERTISEMENT</span><div id="bb_box2" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec2" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Last Oct. 30, the Catholic faithful was reminded of the day being Prison Awareness Sunday. The Philippine bishops issued a statement saying that “what these PDLs (persons deprived of liberty) need are understanding and respect for them as human beings, a suitable place for correction and reformation, and a justice system that is centered on rehabilitation.”</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In its totality, it was a bleeding-heart statement, indeed.</p><div class="lfform-inquirer lfform-inquirer-horizontal form_inline norelated" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">As the jigsaw pieces fall into place, one can see that the NBP, far from being a rehabilitation facility, is a breeding ground for vermin. Its ideal holding capacity of 6,435 inmates has been breached. It now has 28,545 warm bodies (2021 figures). It had/still has (?) “five-star” facilities for the privileged. Drug dealing, murder, corruption, name it, are plotted from there under the gaze, if not with the alleged connivance, of some prison officials.</p></div></div></div><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Read more: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/158448/murder-she-wrote#ixzz7s2poF5O4" style="border: 0px; color: #003399; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">https://opinion.inquirer.net/158448/murder-she-wrote#ixzz7s2poF5O4</a><br />Follow us: <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@inquirerdotnet on Twitter</a> | <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">inquirerdotnet on Facebook</a></span>Ma. Ceres P. Doyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511411019105686412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998471397294429049.post-1435605765795530812022-10-28T14:36:00.001+08:002023-02-01T14:36:56.033+08:00<p> <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/category/columnists" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.04em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">COLUMNISTS</a></p><div id="art-head-group" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(224, 228, 230); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 20px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 891.812px;"><hgroup style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 891.812px;"><div id="bc-share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 891.812px;"><div id="sm_share" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 2px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div class="vuukle-powerbar" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="0" id="h-sharebar-0" name="h-sharebar-0" scrolling="no" src="https://cdn.vuukle.com/widgets/sharebar.html?version=2.17.9" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; font: inherit; height: 47px; margin: 0px; min-height: 45px; min-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;" title="Vuukle Sharebar Widget"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="art_kicker" style="border: 0px; color: #686868; font-family: mallory; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">HUMAN FACE</div><h1 class="entry-title" style="border: 0px; font-family: mallory; font-size: 52px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.1em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">70 Cordillera youth tell their stories</h1></hgroup><div id="byline_share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 891.812px;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div data-byline-strips="Ma. Ceres P. Doyo" id="art_author" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/byline/ma-ceres-p-doyo" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ma. Ceres P. Doyo</a></span> - <a class="art_twt" href="https://www.twitter.com/@inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">@inquirerdotnet</a></div><div id="art_plat" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; float: left; font-family: mallory; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 14px; margin: 3px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/source/philippine-daily-inquirer" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Philippine Daily Inquirer</a> / 05:11 AM October 28, 2022</div></div></div></div></div><div id="art_body_wrap" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: 891.812px;"><div class="article_align" id="article_content" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: "lnum"; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 640px; zoom: 1;"><div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/10/doyo-102822.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #004985; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title=""><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-158290 size-large" decoding="async" height="620" sizes="(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px" src="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/10/doyo-102822-620x620.jpg" srcset="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/10/doyo-102822-620x620.jpg 620w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/10/doyo-102822-300x300.jpg 300w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/10/doyo-102822-768x768.jpg 768w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/10/doyo-102822-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/10/doyo-102822-50x50.jpg 50w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/10/doyo-102822-342x342.jpg 342w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/10/doyo-102822-70x70.jpg 70w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/10/doyo-102822-55x55.jpg 55w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/10/doyo-102822.jpg 1600w" style="border: 0px; clear: both; display: block; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 5px auto 40px; max-width: 620px !important; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 620px;" width="620" /></a></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">You help send us to college each time you buy our products.”—Cordillera youth</p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-family: mallory; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">ADVERTISEMENT</span><div id="bb_box" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Those words are on the caps of the jam, jelly, and marmalade jars sold (sold out, sometimes) at the Religious of the Good Shepherd (RGS) Mountain Maid Training Center (MMTC) store in Baguio City. The hands-down bestseller is, of course, the ube jam that, on some days, might require crowd management. But the baked goodies, like the ensaymada, can hold their own, especially when one lingers for a cup of brewed upland coffee while beholding the hills from the viewing deck, or passing time beneath the pines near the statues of St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier and Jesus the Good Shepherd.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Unbeknownst to many, the MMTC products pass through the hands of young Cordillera students who work their way through college and are under the guidance of the Good Shepherd nuns. Through the decades, thousands of student workers (not scholars), as their mentors prefer to call them, have passed through MMTC and graduated into life beyond their Cordillera homeland and Baguio City with college diplomas to show. But more important than the academic degrees and skills were the values they had imbibed during their four or more years of stay. These values would serve them well when they face the forks on the highways or take the roads less traveled. They have been equipped to face life, it is hoped.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">As October, Indigenous Peoples Month, draws to a close, reading the coffee-table book “Celebration 3: Seventy Years of the Good Shepherd in Baguio, 1952-2022” can induce reflection. It is a tribute to the Cordillera youth who were part of MMTC. “Celebrate 3” because it is the RGS Baguio community’s third milestone after its 25th and 50th year.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The RGS came to the Philippines in 1912. Founded in France in 1835, the congregation has both apostolic and contemplative nuns present in 72 countries. They “build partnerships that promote the dignity and human rights of all, especially women and children.”</p><div class="ztoop" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-pixel1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div id="anyclip_2021" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Notably striking is that “Celebrate 3” does not focus mainly on the Good Shepherd nuns but on the student workers (female and male) and their stories, 70 of them, each one crying out to be told—and read. These are not student stories oozing with angst or questioning life’s blows with eloquence and spunk. The stories in “Celebrate 3” are straight from the ground, from the mountain peaks and trails of the Cordillera, if you may, and the indigenous communities whence these students came. Short and crisp, no frills, but they pack a wallop. One nun said she practically sobbed into one story while she was reading it. It was difficult to imagine, she said, what one so young had to go through in order to step into college.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Once in college as a student worker, it is another ball game. Working in MMTC enables student workers to be enrolled in nearby colleges and universities. A hostel in the Good Shepherd compound serves as home to most, if not all. It is not all work and study. It could be a healing experience for some.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It is after college and beyond that the back stories begin to gel and wait to be told, not too easily perhaps, but with time, distance, purpose, and grateful hearts, memories become sharp and clear. And so “Celebrate 3” became the medium. The stories include what life was like at MMTC, the mentors, fellow workers, tasks, school, overcoming personal insecurities, courses they chose.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But as in many stories, the flashbacks could take center stage. I noticed similarities—the difficult lives the storytellers had before MMTC. Abandonment by parents, absent parents, walking for hours to reach school, extreme poverty, addiction, large families, life in the hinterlands. Now, think of Filipino brats who went to some of the world’s most expensive schools but dropped out, preferring a happy-go-lucky life, or later, politics.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The courses finished are varied—education, hotel and restaurant management, medicine, accountancy, law, business, nursing, information technology, engineering, name it. As the stories tell us, these graduates have become enabled, productive citizens of the world.</p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-family: mallory; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">ADVERTISEMENT</span><div id="bb_box2" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec2" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">From the storytellers, before I run out of space:</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“During those sad, painful moments, I felt God’s love and became closer to Him. He gave me best friends I never had before. He gave me a new family I will always cherish.”</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Working with the RGS planted the seed of hope and confidence in my village girl’s heart.”</p><div class="lfform-inquirer lfform-inquirer-horizontal form_inline norelated" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“My overriding sentiment is gratitude.”</p></div></div></div><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Read more: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/158244/70-cordillera-youth-tell-their-stories#ixzz7s2qo2zXT" style="border: 0px; color: #003399; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">https://opinion.inquirer.net/158244/70-cordillera-youth-tell-their-stories#ixzz7s2qo2zXT</a><br />Follow us: <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@inquirerdotnet on Twitter</a> | <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">inquirerdotnet on Facebook</a></span>Ma. Ceres P. Doyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511411019105686412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998471397294429049.post-44261147621503325862022-10-21T14:38:00.001+08:002023-02-01T14:38:35.942+08:00<p> <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/category/columnists" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.04em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">COLUMNISTS</a></p><div id="art-head-group" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(224, 228, 230); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 20px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 763.891px;"><hgroup style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 763.891px;"><div id="bc-share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 763.891px;"><div id="sm_share" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 2px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div class="vuukle-powerbar" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="0" id="h-sharebar-0" name="h-sharebar-0" scrolling="no" src="https://cdn.vuukle.com/widgets/sharebar.html?version=2.17.9" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; font: inherit; height: 47px; margin: 0px; min-height: 45px; min-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;" title="Vuukle Sharebar Widget"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="art_kicker" style="border: 0px; color: #686868; font-family: mallory; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">HUMAN FACE</div><h1 class="entry-title" style="border: 0px; font-family: mallory; font-size: 52px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.1em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Oratio imperata vs. corruption</h1></hgroup><div id="byline_share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 763.891px;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div data-byline-strips="Ma. Ceres P. Doyo" id="art_author" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/byline/ma-ceres-p-doyo" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ma. Ceres P. Doyo</a></span> - <a class="art_twt" href="https://www.twitter.com/@inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">@inquirerdotnet</a></div><div id="art_plat" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; float: left; font-family: mallory; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 14px; margin: 3px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/source/philippine-daily-inquirer" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Philippine Daily Inquirer</a> / 05:11 AM October 21, 2022</div></div></div></div></div><div id="art_body_wrap" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: 763.891px;"><div class="article_align" id="article_content" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: "lnum"; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 640px; zoom: 1;"><div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/10/HUMAN-FACE-10212022.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #004985; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title=""><img alt="Oratio imperata vs. corruption" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-158071" decoding="async" height="1600" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" src="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/10/HUMAN-FACE-10212022.jpg" srcset="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/10/HUMAN-FACE-10212022.jpg 1600w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/10/HUMAN-FACE-10212022-300x300.jpg 300w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/10/HUMAN-FACE-10212022-620x620.jpg 620w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/10/HUMAN-FACE-10212022-768x768.jpg 768w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/10/HUMAN-FACE-10212022-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/10/HUMAN-FACE-10212022-50x50.jpg 50w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/10/HUMAN-FACE-10212022-342x342.jpg 342w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/10/HUMAN-FACE-10212022-70x70.jpg 70w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/10/HUMAN-FACE-10212022-55x55.jpg 55w" style="border: 0px; clear: both; display: block; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 5px auto 40px; max-width: 620px !important; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 620px;" width="1600" /></a></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I noticed that, even as the COVID-19 pandemic is softening its deadly impact hereabouts and seems to be on its way out, the oratio imperata after Masses in Catholic churches continues to be recited. For almost three years, the “Oratio Imperata for Protection Against COVID-19” was recited as a prayer in English and many Filipino languages, so that it has almost become part of the Mass (online and face to face) and was nearly memorized by those who attend Mass often.</p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-family: mallory; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">ADVERTISEMENT</span><div id="bb_box" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It is a prayer of supplication to God that the COVID-19 virus that had already claimed countless lives the world over would spare those who remain in this valley of tears. Special mention are the health frontliners who serve, and the scientists who work to discover a cure, a weapon to fight the deadly scourge that humankind had to face in this 21st century.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Oratio imperata” is Latin for obligatory prayers. They are short prayers that church authorities may ask the faithful to recite publicly, especially in time of grave danger and calamities, in the hope that God would deign to listen and avert potential harm to the community. We’ve had such prayers in the past, but only for short periods and while waiting for expected super hurricanes to blow over. Such situations brought to mind the biblical scene of how Jesus calmed the storm at sea while his bumbling bunch of disciples—they of little faith—screamed with fear that turned to awe.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Category 4 typhoons that brought flash floods, sea surges, landslides, and wreaked havoc on the environment and food-producing fields, have been part of our lives. Add volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and man-made calamities that are the result of over-quarrying, unregulated mining, deforestation, garbage, etc.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The man-made ones do not seem to qualify for an oratio imperata, but why? And speaking of man-made, why not corruption as well?</p><div class="ztoop" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-pixel1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div id="anyclip_2021" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This thought was percolating in my mind this past week while the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences is in Thailand for a two-week meeting. If I remember right, it was during the Marcos dictatorship and the dark martial law years that the Asian bishops popularized the “preferential option for the poor” theological imperative that was spawned in Latin America and later took root in Asian shores. I would like to believe that the churches in Asia were never the same after that. But I digress.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">With that in my mind, I was wondering why the other major scourges that bedevil this woebegone nation of ours do not deserve an oratio imperata. For a change, why not an “Oratio Imperata Against Corruption”? That would be a smooth segue from “Oratio Imperata for Protection Against COVID-19” that people have been reciting these past pandemic years, the anni horribiles.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The prayer should be composed in a way that highlights corruption as a Category 5 calamity that wreaks havoc on our lives and livelihoods, a deadly virus that infects many in government positions, a festering disease that needs a cure, if not divine intervention. It must also include a plea for the protection of those who expose the evil, the truth tellers (journalists among them) and whistleblowers especially, who risk life and limb so that light may penetrate the dark recesses of government agencies where corruption thrives.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I mention divine intervention because the scourge of corruption is bigger than us, like a so-called perfect storm.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Many corrupt government officials are churchgoers who even occupy front pews, whose right hands that drop donations into the collection pouch do not know what their sticky left hands are doing. Who knows—while in church and joining the recitation of the oratio imperata against corruption, the corrupt would find themselves praying against themselves and choose to change ways.</p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-family: mallory; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">ADVERTISEMENT</span><div id="bb_box2" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec2" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">So, bring it on! But not to use fire and brimstone, or threats of hellfire and damnation in the afterlife, as these could sound pharisaical and turn off people. Only gentle reminders that turn the focus on the most affected—the poor and the marginalized—so that those who commit grave wrongs in high places would change their ways. Because with divine intervention goes divine justice and retribution, even in this life.</p><div class="lfform-inquirer lfform-inquirer-horizontal form_inline norelated" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">From the back pew, I say, if caught and proven guilty, no mercy. But, hey, you say, why are they walking around in the august halls of the legislative?</p></div></div></div><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Read more: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/158054/oratio-imperata-vs-corruption#ixzz7s2rEyKv4" style="border: 0px; color: #003399; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">https://opinion.inquirer.net/158054/oratio-imperata-vs-corruption#ixzz7s2rEyKv4</a><br />Follow us: <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@inquirerdotnet on Twitter</a> | <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">inquirerdotnet on Facebook</a></span>Ma. Ceres P. Doyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511411019105686412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998471397294429049.post-11584230567225139602022-10-14T14:39:00.001+08:002023-02-01T14:40:35.535+08:00<p> <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/category/columnists" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.04em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">COLUMNISTS</a></p><div id="art-head-group" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(224, 228, 230); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 20px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 641.219px;"><hgroup style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 641.219px;"><div id="bc-share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 641.219px;"><div id="sm_share" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 2px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div class="vuukle-powerbar" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="0" id="h-sharebar-0" name="h-sharebar-0" scrolling="no" src="https://cdn.vuukle.com/widgets/sharebar.html?version=2.17.9" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; font: inherit; height: 47px; margin: 0px; min-height: 45px; min-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;" title="Vuukle Sharebar Widget"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="art_kicker" style="border: 0px; color: #686868; font-family: mallory; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">HUMAN FACE</div><h1 class="entry-title" style="border: 0px; font-family: mallory; font-size: 52px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.1em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The longest-held hostage</h1></hgroup><div id="byline_share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 641.219px;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div data-byline-strips="Ma. Ceres P. Doyo" id="art_author" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/byline/ma-ceres-p-doyo" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ma. Ceres P. Doyo</a></span> - <a class="art_twt" href="https://www.twitter.com/@inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">@inquirerdotnet</a></div><div id="art_plat" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; float: left; font-family: mallory; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 14px; margin: 3px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/source/philippine-daily-inquirer" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Philippine Daily Inquirer</a> / 05:05 AM October 14, 2022</div></div></div></div></div><div id="art_body_wrap" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: 641.219px;"><div class="article_align" id="article_content" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: "lnum"; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 640px; zoom: 1;"><div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Let me get this out before all else: Hear ye! While I do not wish it, a curse may befall those who intentionally delay the legal processes to block the release of former senator Leila de Lima from her more than five years of solitary confinement. For those concerned, time to do the right thing. In Pinoy street-corner lingo: May araw din kayo. It is a truism that comes from the ancients.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It may sound hyperbolic to say that De Lima is the longest-held hostage in the Philippines. More than five years, in solitary confinement in a police detention facility, for what clearly appear to be trumped-up charges. But it is not hyperbolic when one considers how she ended up being a real-life hostage, early morning last Sunday, when Feliciano Sulayao Jr. of the Abu Sayyaf Group barged into her detention area and held her hostage at knifepoint.</p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-family: mallory; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">ADVERTISEMENT</span><div id="bb_box" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The weapon: a metal fork that had been sharpened into a deadly instrument. The hostage-taker’s demands, as per police account: proof of life of the other two would-be escapees who, unknown to the hostage-taker, had been neutralized by then, plus a Hummer, and a chopper. Huh, who would lend a Hummer?</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">All three would-be escapees ended up dead, with two of them gunned down earlier, while Sulayao, before he could plunge his weapon into De Lima’s chest, took a bullet from marksman police Col. Mark Pespes. How elementary—the real-life Papillon would have guffawed at the escape attempt.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The dead, as Muslim customs dictate, must have been buried by now, while De Lima must still be nursing the trauma from what she called “a near-death experience.” A dramatic Sunday morning it was that generated more hows and what-ifs than satisfactory answers, foremost among them being De Lima’s long-drawn solitary confinement—and, oh, a metal fork as deadly weapon. Oh, but thanks to the police’s swift action right in their Camp Crame HQ, the drama did not last long. What a laughing matter it would have been had the three made it out.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">De Lima is, hyperbolically, literally, figuratively, and metaphorically, a hostage of a legal process that was allegedly conjured up to silence her, allegedly per the all-consuming desire of former president Rodrigo “Kill, kill, kill” Duterte, whose toes she had stepped on when she was senator. Never mind that several of the main witnesses against her have recanted her alleged drug deals when she was justice secretary (before she became senator). It is now up to those concerned, the judges and prosecution especially, to allow her to post bail, give her a “furlough” as suggested, whatever that means, or put her under house arrest. Anything (even for pogi and brownie points) so she could breathe the air of freedom, while she continues to prove her innocence.</p><div class="ztoop" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-pixel1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div id="anyclip_2021" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Opposition Rep. Edcel Lagman, he who espouses difficult causes, cited weak evidence against De Lima that should compel the current president to do the right thing. “The President is perfectly correct in desisting from meddling with the courts in the cases of De Lima, but he must be reminded that while the adjudication of criminal cases belongs to the judiciary, the prosecution of such cases is an executive function under his control and supervision pursuant to the Constitution.” A legal ABC there.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But shall the current President defy his predecessor?</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In 2021, to mark Sen. De Lima’s fourth year in prison, I ran in this space a four-part Q and A (“Conversation with Sen. Leila,” Feb. 18, 25, and March 4, 11). A question I asked: What are your moments of prayer and silence like?</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Her answer: “It’s usually in the early morning and early evening. It is very intimate and truly a spiritual communion with God, humbling and full of reflections. I pour out my thoughts and emotions to Jesus.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Amid the persecution, my faith in God has never faltered. Surrendering your fears, doubts and anger to God does not mean consenting to the abuse and suffering. Rather, it is accepting the painful struggle in the promise that nothing lasts forever, and that good will always prevail. ‘Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.’”</p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-family: mallory; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">ADVERTISEMENT</span><div id="bb_box2" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec2" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><div class="lfform-inquirer lfform-inquirer-horizontal form_inline norelated" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">De Lima was praying the rosary when the hostage-taker grabbed her at knifepoint. A near-death experience, indeed.</p></div></div></div><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Read more: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/157845/the-longest-held-hostage#ixzz7s2riYZfn" style="border: 0px; color: #003399; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">https://opinion.inquirer.net/157845/the-longest-held-hostage#ixzz7s2riYZfn</a><br />Follow us: <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@inquirerdotnet on Twitter</a> | <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">inquirerdotnet on Facebook</a></span>Ma. Ceres P. Doyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511411019105686412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998471397294429049.post-68564181005819991662022-10-07T14:41:00.001+08:002023-02-01T14:42:02.247+08:00<p> <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/category/columnists" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.04em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">COLUMNISTS</a></p><div id="art-head-group" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(224, 228, 230); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 20px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 850.516px;"><hgroup style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 850.516px;"><div id="bc-share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 850.516px;"><div id="sm_share" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 2px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div class="vuukle-powerbar" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="0" id="h-sharebar-0" name="h-sharebar-0" scrolling="no" src="https://cdn.vuukle.com/widgets/sharebar.html?version=2.17.9" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; font: inherit; height: 47px; margin: 0px; min-height: 45px; min-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;" title="Vuukle Sharebar Widget"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="art_kicker" style="border: 0px; color: #686868; font-family: mallory; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">HUMAN FACE</div><h1 class="entry-title" style="border: 0px; font-family: mallory; font-size: 52px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.1em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Journalists as endangered species</h1></hgroup><div id="byline_share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 850.516px;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div data-byline-strips="Ma. Ceres P. Doyo" id="art_author" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/byline/ma-ceres-p-doyo" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ma. Ceres P. Doyo</a></span> - <a class="art_twt" href="https://www.twitter.com/@inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">@inquirerdotnet</a></div><div id="art_plat" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; float: left; font-family: mallory; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 14px; margin: 3px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/source/philippine-daily-inquirer" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Philippine Daily Inquirer</a> / 05:11 AM October 07, 2022</div></div></div></div></div><div id="art_body_wrap" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: 850.516px;"><div class="article_align" id="article_content" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: "lnum"; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 640px; zoom: 1;"><div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/10/viber_image_2022-10-06_18-23-50-335.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #004985; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title=""><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-157668 size-large" decoding="async" height="620" sizes="(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px" src="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/10/viber_image_2022-10-06_18-23-50-335-620x620.jpg" srcset="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/10/viber_image_2022-10-06_18-23-50-335-620x620.jpg 620w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/10/viber_image_2022-10-06_18-23-50-335-300x300.jpg 300w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/10/viber_image_2022-10-06_18-23-50-335-768x768.jpg 768w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/10/viber_image_2022-10-06_18-23-50-335-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/10/viber_image_2022-10-06_18-23-50-335-50x50.jpg 50w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/10/viber_image_2022-10-06_18-23-50-335-342x342.jpg 342w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/10/viber_image_2022-10-06_18-23-50-335-70x70.jpg 70w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/10/viber_image_2022-10-06_18-23-50-335-55x55.jpg 55w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/10/viber_image_2022-10-06_18-23-50-335.jpg 1600w" style="border: 0px; clear: both; display: block; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 5px auto 40px; max-width: 620px !important; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 620px;" width="620" /></a></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A most profound question one writer asked a revolutionary fighter, who survived the battle of his life, was not how bloody difficult it was or how he won the battle. It was: “Were you afraid?”</p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-family: mallory; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">ADVERTISEMENT</span><div id="bb_box" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Were you afraid? That question could very well be thrown at us journalists, who have encountered danger while on difficult coverages or when simply writing dangerously, as we often find ourselves doing. This comes to mind in the wake of the murder last Oct. 3 of Percy Lapid, who was known for his “Lapid Fire” radio program. He was the 197th media person to be murdered since 1986. I also think of Quezon-based Inquirer colleague Delfin Mallari (he who calls himself ”peryodistang promdi”), who still has a bullet lodged in his back.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">After I learned about the murder of broadcaster Lapid, who was a critic of both former president Duterte and the current one, I posted on Facebook a photo of a fiercely blazing sunset on the Metro Manila skyline that I took the day before while coming down from the hills of Tanay. I captioned it with Dylan Thomas’ famous line: “Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The murder comes in the heels of one former government undersecretary threatening a judge whose decision on the use of the terrorism label she did not agree with. In a very rare move, the Supreme Court issued an order compelling the said undersecretary to explain why she should not be charged for her threat.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Media persons and lawyers/judges are ever in the crosshairs of the powerful who feel their toes have been stepped on or that their grip on power is threatened, not to mention their questionable behavior and transactions. This mindset had been exacerbated by the former president’s “kill, kill, kill” imperative that made tokhang and extrajudicial killings a scourge that befell the poor mostly, but not the big fish.</p><div class="ztoop" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-pixel1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div id="anyclip_2021" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There is a continuing vigorous exchange on social media on the role of journalists in this day and age vis-à-vis influencers who use social media to deliver opinions, and sometimes unverified information, for the benefit of their principals while invoking the right to freedom of expression. Bashing journalists, fact-checkers, and truth tellers has become the paid preoccupation of many on social media.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Someone posted clips of journalists covering life-threatening situations with the caption “Journalists show up even in the worst of times.” Yes, journalists risk life and limb to deliver the news, and do not merely sit in an ivory tower to comment on what is going on below. Sure, we get salaries from our media organizations only, but I consider journalism and writing not as a career or livelihood but as a calling, a vocation.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Vloggers and so-called media influencers may also be getting paid by whoever they support or are monetizing their posts, but they are not working journalists. This is not to scoff at what they are doing. Journalists adhere to a code of ethics and are equipped with investigative skills honed by years of reporting. We are not academics writing from air-conditioned rooms, but we draw much on our varied academic backgrounds and continuous training.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">One of my favorite movies about true-to-life journalism is “A Private War” (2018), based on the life and death of war correspondent Marie Colvin played by Rosamund Pike. An American, Colvin wrote for the British newspaper The Sunday Times.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Movie notes: “Celebrated war correspondent Marie Colvin is a woman who is as comfortable downing martinis with high society’s elite as she is brazenly staring down warlords and fleeing from gunfire. Driven by an enduring desire to bear witness and give voice to the voiceless, Colvin charges into danger, constantly testing the limits between bravery and bravado.”</p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-family: mallory; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">ADVERTISEMENT</span><div id="bb_box2" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec2" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Colvin lost an eye during an ambush in Sri Lanka, but she simply returned to the war zones with an eye patch. She died in 2012 while covering the siege of Homs in Syria. She was 56. In 2019, her family was awarded $302 million in damages after it was proven in court that the Syrian government had directly ordered her assassination.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Watch “A Private War” on Netflix. It got a high 88 percent rating from Rotten Tomatoes.</p><div class="lfform-inquirer lfform-inquirer-horizontal form_inline norelated" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Journalism, it is said, is the first draft of history—if not history in the making itself. I sometimes go over the 3,000 or so magazine feature stories and profiles, long investigative reports, news reports, and column pieces I have written over the decades, and I can only give profound thanks to The One who made them possible. Ut in omnibus glorificetur Deus.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">—————–</p></div></div></div><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Read more: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/157649/journalists-as-endangered-species#ixzz7s2s7mNe6" style="border: 0px; color: #003399; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">https://opinion.inquirer.net/157649/journalists-as-endangered-species#ixzz7s2s7mNe6</a><br />Follow us: <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@inquirerdotnet on Twitter</a> | <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">inquirerdotnet on Facebook</a></span>Ma. Ceres P. Doyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511411019105686412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998471397294429049.post-21539842796109301312022-09-30T14:43:00.001+08:002023-02-01T14:44:25.015+08:00<p> <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/category/columnists" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.04em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">COLUMNISTS</a></p><div id="art-head-group" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(224, 228, 230); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 20px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 788.906px;"><hgroup style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 788.906px;"><div id="bc-share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 788.906px;"><div id="sm_share" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 2px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div class="vuukle-powerbar" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="0" id="h-sharebar-0" name="h-sharebar-0" scrolling="no" src="https://cdn.vuukle.com/widgets/sharebar.html?version=2.17.9" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; font: inherit; height: 47px; margin: 0px; min-height: 45px; min-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;" title="Vuukle Sharebar Widget"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="art_kicker" style="border: 0px; color: #686868; font-family: mallory; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">HUMAN FACE</div><h1 class="entry-title" style="border: 0px; font-family: mallory; font-size: 52px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.1em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sierra Madre, mother mountain</h1></hgroup><div id="byline_share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 788.906px;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div data-byline-strips="Ma. Ceres P. Doyo" id="art_author" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/byline/ma-ceres-p-doyo" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ma. Ceres P. Doyo</a></span> - <a class="art_twt" href="https://www.twitter.com/@inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">@inquirerdotnet</a></div><div id="art_plat" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; float: left; font-family: mallory; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 14px; margin: 3px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/source/philippine-daily-inquirer" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Philippine Daily Inquirer</a> / 05:16 AM September 30, 2022</div></div></div></div></div><div id="art_body_wrap" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: 788.906px;"><div class="article_align" id="article_content" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: "lnum"; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 640px; zoom: 1;"><div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/doyo-093022.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #004985; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title=""><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-157460 size-large" decoding="async" height="620" sizes="(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px" src="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/doyo-093022-620x620.jpg" srcset="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/doyo-093022-620x620.jpg 620w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/doyo-093022-300x300.jpg 300w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/doyo-093022-768x768.jpg 768w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/doyo-093022-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/doyo-093022-50x50.jpg 50w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/doyo-093022-342x342.jpg 342w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/doyo-093022-70x70.jpg 70w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/doyo-093022-55x55.jpg 55w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/doyo-093022.jpg 1600w" style="border: 0px; clear: both; display: block; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 5px auto 40px; max-width: 620px !important; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 620px;" width="620" /></a></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Spaniards called her Mother mountain, this vast range stretching down the northeastern flank of the island of Luzon like the heaving backs of massive whales. Through the years, the trees and slopes of the Sierra Madre, acting like giant windbreaks, broke the backs of tropical cyclones swirling in from the West Pacific. She was also a weather maker. Her peaks and lonely upland valleys, blanketed with great sweeps of rainforest, were magnets for moisture, constantly building towering stacks of cumulus clouds, and rain. Bringing precious water to the rivers and rice fields of the thirsty lowlands…”</p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-family: mallory; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">ADVERTISEMENT</span><div id="bb_box" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">That is from the ode-like introduction of the book “The Last Great Forest: Luzon’s Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park” (Bookmark, 2000) by Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan. (The author headed World Wildlife Fund-Philippines for many years.) It is a book like no other because of the way the author presented it—with illustrations, photos, and highlighted texts that make the book look like a field guide that makes readers want to head for that “last great forest” and experience for themselves what a living mother it is. My signed copy has Lory’s handwritten words: “Forests=Water=Rice=Development. The Formula!”</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Why the Sierra Madre? Because after Supertyphoon “Karding” hit Luzon last Sunday, the Inquirer had a page one story with the headline “Netizens hail Sierra Madre for ‘taming’ typhoon” (9/27/2022) by Frances Mangosing and Jeannette I. Andrade. A mountain as story maker, not just a where in the what-where-when-why-how-how much, but a how. How did she do it? Also a what. What did many people think she did?</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The lead paragraph: “Sierra Madre … became a trending topic on Twitter during the onslaught of Supertyphoon ‘Karding’ (international name: Noru) as netizens called attention to how it protected Metro Manila and several provinces from calamities.”</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Netizens, the story said, reminded their followers of its important role as an effective barrier against storms coming from the Pacific Ocean. As of Monday morning, the topic had 78,000 tweets. What a welcome change from all the toxic, hateful posts on social media directed at persons who do good, while those who promote and defend evil are extolled.</p><div class="ztoop" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-pixel1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div id="anyclip_2021" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">An online petition, “Save Sierra Madre,” emphasizes that the mountain range is truly the longest mountain range in the Philippines. “It covers 10 provinces and stands proudly at 6,069 feet. It contains the largest remaining tract of old-growth tropical rainforest … which is about 1.4 million hectares of forest, representing 40 percent of the country’s forest cover…</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“(It is) home to hundreds of wildlife species, many of which are unique to the Philippines, including the Philippine eagle and the golden crowned flying fox.”</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Facebook friends Monette and Darwin Flores posted that they have checked with their Dumagat friends, who live in the higher areas of the Sierra Madre, and learned that the indigenous community there has lost all their rice that was supposed to be harvested in two weeks. “Each family consumes 15 to 18 sacks per year for their high-energy requirement. They walk up and down high mountains and work fields in steep inclines. We will have conversations with the Dumagats on how they wish to be assisted and what they, too, wish to share…” You may contact Monette or Darwin at 0920-923-2327.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Typhoon Karding versus the Sierra Madre became like an allegorical tale about might versus might. I found a folktale about the Sierra Madre in Tatler magazine (“Magical Paradise,” March 14, 2016) where other tales about Philippine must-visit places were featured. Let me tell it briefly in my own words.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Long ago, in the coastline of what is now Luzon, there lived a dedicated mother named Sierra and her two sons, Iloco and Tagalo. Bugsong Hangin, the king of the mighty easterly winds, often visited and brought destruction to the place. The king had always been jealous of Sierra’s husband, Lusong, a warrior who lost his life during one of the king’s destructive visits.</p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-family: mallory; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">ADVERTISEMENT</span><div id="bb_box2" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec2" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">To put an end to Bugsong Hangin’s wrath, Sierra lied down on the coastline, her arms shielding her two sons, while howling winds and torrents of rain buffeted them. Sierra lost her life, but her sons survived. The story of Sierra’s sacrifice lives on, her spirit felt by those who honor her and live in her protective embrace.</p><div class="lfform-inquirer lfform-inquirer-horizontal form_inline norelated" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Prayers and praise for the five Bulacan rescuers who lost their lives during the typhoon. May your families draw strength from your courage.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">—————-</p></div></div></div><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Read more: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/157445/sierra-madre-mother-mountain#ixzz7s2shhZ7g" style="border: 0px; color: #003399; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">https://opinion.inquirer.net/157445/sierra-madre-mother-mountain#ixzz7s2shhZ7g</a><br />Follow us: <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@inquirerdotnet on Twitter</a> | <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">inquirerdotnet on Facebook</a></span>Ma. Ceres P. Doyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511411019105686412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998471397294429049.post-7153039278376687792022-09-23T14:45:00.001+08:002023-02-01T14:46:03.246+08:00<p> <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/category/columnists" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.04em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">COLUMNISTS</a></p><div id="art-head-group" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(224, 228, 230); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 20px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1019.94px;"><hgroup style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1019.94px;"><div id="bc-share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1019.94px;"><div id="sm_share" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 2px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div class="vuukle-powerbar" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="0" id="h-sharebar-0" name="h-sharebar-0" scrolling="no" src="https://cdn.vuukle.com/widgets/sharebar.html?version=2.17.9" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; font: inherit; height: 47px; margin: 0px; min-height: 45px; min-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;" title="Vuukle Sharebar Widget"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="art_kicker" style="border: 0px; color: #686868; font-family: mallory; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">HUMAN FACE</div><h1 class="entry-title" style="border: 0px; font-family: mallory; font-size: 52px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.1em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Remembering (2): Hearken to the 11,103+</h1></hgroup><div id="byline_share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1019.94px;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div data-byline-strips="Ma. Ceres P. Doyo" id="art_author" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/byline/ma-ceres-p-doyo" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ma. Ceres P. Doyo</a></span> - <a class="art_twt" href="https://www.twitter.com/@inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">@inquirerdotnet</a></div><div id="art_plat" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; float: left; font-family: mallory; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 14px; margin: 3px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/source/philippine-daily-inquirer" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Philippine Daily Inquirer</a> / 05:05 AM September 23, 2022</div></div></div></div></div><div id="art_body_wrap" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1019.94px;"><div class="article_align" id="article_content" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: "lnum"; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 640px; zoom: 1;"><div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-157260" decoding="async" height="1600" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" src="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/doyo09232022.jpg" srcset="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/doyo09232022.jpg 1600w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/doyo09232022-300x300.jpg 300w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/doyo09232022-620x620.jpg 620w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/doyo09232022-768x768.jpg 768w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/doyo09232022-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/doyo09232022-50x50.jpg 50w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/doyo09232022-342x342.jpg 342w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/doyo09232022-70x70.jpg 70w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/doyo09232022-55x55.jpg 55w" style="border: 0px; clear: both; display: block; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 5px auto 40px; max-width: 620px !important; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 620px;" width="1600" /></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">These days, I ponder the freedom we had lost 50 years ago and the struggle to win it back. I express my profound gratitude to those who fought and perished in the night. Eternal rest be yours in the valley of the brave.</p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-family: mallory; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">ADVERTISEMENT</span><div id="bb_box" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Last Wednesday, Sept. 21, was the 50th anniversary of the declaration of martial law during the Marcos dictatorship that lasted from 1972 to 1986. In activities nationwide, many wore black to signify mourning and the resounding resolve in four words: Never again, never forget.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">11,103 is the number of victims-survivors of the martial law regime (1972-1986) of the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos that have been recognized by the Philippine government to receive compensation for their sufferings and losses. But there were more. The monetary compensation came from the $2 billion that the Swiss government sourced from the secret Marcos stash in Swiss banks and returned on condition that the amount would be used to compensate the victims-survivors.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Republic Act No. 10368 passed by Congress and signed by President Benigno Aquino III made this possible. A memorial archives-museum is provided in the law, and barring blocks from the present government, the long-awaited structure should be up soon if not sooner.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Note that the claims granted the 11,103 are different from what a Hawaii court granted the more than 6,000 victims-survivors who filed a class suit against the Marcos estate in the 1990s. The court granted $1.2 billion in compensation but, in this case, the claimants and their lawyers will have to search for the hidden wealth themselves while the Philippine government is also on the hunt. Finders keepers, you know. In the Hawaii case, the victims-survivors’ compensation has trickled in only two tranches until more hidden wealth is discovered.</p><div class="ztoop" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-pixel1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div id="anyclip_2021" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">These two different and separate landmark rulings to compensate victims-survivors—RA 10368 and the Hawaii court decision—prove and confirm that there were indeed abuses committed and there were victims during the martial law years.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Two days ago, on Sept. 21, the 50th anniversary of the imposition of martial law that marked the beginning of the dark years that many Filipinos endured, the documentary “11,103” was premiered at the UP Film Center and the Bantayog ng mga Bayani. I was familiar with four of the seven cases featured in the documentary. More on this another time. (What do you know, I had a two-second appearance in the documentary.)</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Here is the statement from martial law victims-survivors. In places where the date was solemnly and tearfully remembered, many wore black to signify mourning.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“We, the survivors and victims of the Marcos dictatorship, on the 50th year of the 1972 declaration of martial law and in the face of attempts by Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s forces to distort Philippine history, hereby attest:</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“That we bear personal witness to the abuses and atrocities committed by the dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. against the Filipino people, including the brutal suppression of dissent, the epic plunder of the nation’s resources, and the perpetuation of a culture of authoritarianism;</p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-family: mallory; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">ADVERTISEMENT</span><div id="bb_box2" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec2" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“That we reject and denounce any attempt to represent that darkest of periods in our modern history as any kind of golden age.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“We, therefore, demand:</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“That the incumbent President acknowledge the torture, illegal imprisonment, enforced disappearance, and other human rights violations that took place between 1972 and 1986;</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“That the long delayed, non-monetary reparations due martial law victims be given at the soonest possible time;</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“That an immediate stop be put to the Red-tagging, so clearly reminiscent of martial law years, of political and social thinkers and activists, and;</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“That the Marcos heirs continue to be accountable for the Marcos family debts to the Filipino people, whose present and succeeding generations they have impoverished, not alone by the remaining P126 billion in ill-gotten wealth they have not returned and the P203 billion in estate taxes they have not paid.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“National unity can be based only on truth, justice, and the free exercise of civil liberties and human rights.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Thus, we swear once more to dedicate the remainder of our lives to bearing the torch of freedom under the threat of renewed repression, to cast the light of truth on our past and present, and to ensure that justice comes to those who struggled and bore witness before us.</p><div class="lfform-inquirer lfform-inquirer-horizontal form_inline norelated" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“We, the survivors of martial law, will not have a single victim of the dictator die in vain.”</p></div></div></div><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Read more: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/157234/remembering-2-hearken-to-the-11103#ixzz7s2t7DBCD" style="border: 0px; color: #003399; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">https://opinion.inquirer.net/157234/remembering-2-hearken-to-the-11103#ixzz7s2t7DBCD</a><br />Follow us: <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@inquirerdotnet on Twitter</a> | <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">inquirerdotnet on Facebook</a></span>Ma. Ceres P. Doyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511411019105686412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998471397294429049.post-12373712528688968782022-09-16T14:48:00.001+08:002023-02-01T14:48:33.443+08:00<p> <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/category/columnists" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.04em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">COLUMNISTS</a></p><div id="art-head-group" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(224, 228, 230); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 20px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 952.031px;"><hgroup style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 952.031px;"><div id="bc-share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 952.031px;"><div id="sm_share" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 2px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div class="vuukle-powerbar" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="0" id="h-sharebar-0" name="h-sharebar-0" scrolling="no" src="https://cdn.vuukle.com/widgets/sharebar.html?version=2.17.9" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; font: inherit; height: 47px; margin: 0px; min-height: 45px; min-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;" title="Vuukle Sharebar Widget"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="art_kicker" style="border: 0px; color: #686868; font-family: mallory; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">HUMAN FACE</div><h1 class="entry-title" style="border: 0px; font-family: mallory; font-size: 52px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.1em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Remembering (1): Las Navas massacre</h1></hgroup><div id="byline_share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 952.031px;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div data-byline-strips="Ma. Ceres P. Doyo" id="art_author" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/byline/ma-ceres-p-doyo" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ma. Ceres P. Doyo</a></span> - <a class="art_twt" href="https://www.twitter.com/@inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">@inquirerdotnet</a></div><div id="art_plat" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; float: left; font-family: mallory; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 14px; margin: 3px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/source/philippine-daily-inquirer" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Philippine Daily Inquirer</a> / 05:05 AM September 16, 2022</div></div></div></div></div><div id="art_body_wrap" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: 952.031px;"><div class="article_align" id="article_content" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: "lnum"; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 640px; zoom: 1;"><div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Marela looked around and saw an infant who had been grabbed by an SF man and then flung to the ground. She tried to nurse the crying baby, whose elder sister Elsa came and told Marela to put the baby down for it was already dying.” —from “The Las Navas Incident: A Village Weeps for Its Dead as the Government Prepares for Its Defense” by Roberto Z. Coloma (WHO Magazine, Dec. 5, 1982)</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Many events are going on for the 50th anniversary of the declaration of martial law on Sept. 21. There is no forgetting for many victims and survivors of that dark era. One of the events was the launching of the book that I edited and cowrote, “Press Freedom Under Siege: Reportage that Challenged the Marcos Dictatorship” (University of the Philippines Press, 2019), in Toronto, Canada three days ago. It was organized by Filipino-Canadian advocacy groups. The book received the 39th National Book Award, Journalism category, from the National Book Development Board and the Manila Critics Circle this year. UP Press is now preparing a second edition.</p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-family: mallory; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">ADVERTISEMENT</span><div id="bb_box" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Las Navas massacre is among the stories in the book. I remember the blood-curdling accounts that came in at that time. Here again, if you can take it, are excerpts from Coloma’s story that happened 40 years ago almost to the day:</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“There was a cool drizzle in the early morning hours of September 15, when Marela and other sleeping inhabitants of Barrio Sag-od, Las Navas, Northern Samar were jolted awake by automatic rifle fire. The peasants heard men ordering them to get down from their huts and assemble in front of the barrio captain’s house for a meeting. Two lines were formed, one for the men and the other for the women and children.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“The barrio folk recognized the eighteen armed intruders as members of the Special Forces (SF) of the Integrated Civilian Home Defense Force, a paramilitary group of the armed forces. Their leader, who called himself Commander Brown, was allegedly the infamous Col. Charlie Lademora of the so-called Lost Command, which has been blamed for the grenade massacre at the San Pedro Cathedral in Davao last April 19, Easter Sunday…</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Some seventy SF men were reportedly brought to Samar in July 1980 by a timber corporation to enforce order in an area marked by the strong presence of the New People’s Army (NPA).</p><div class="ztoop" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-pixel1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div id="anyclip_2021" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Two of the SF men led the women and children toward the Malapanit stream outside the barrio. After fording the river, the women and children were made to sit for a while before being ordered to march again. A short distance out of Sag-od, they heard a burst of gunfire from the direction of the barrio.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Reynalda Durian, 25, thinking that they were being shot at, tried to run away with her one-year-old son but fell on a mud puddle. One of the armed caught up with her and threatened to shoot her if she tried to escape a second time.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“The march continued even as the gunfire went on and off for some twenty minutes. When the firing stopped, Reynalda recalled later, one of the SF men winked at his partner and said, ‘Tapos na ang lahat’ (It’s all over.) Both of them tied red kerchiefs around their heads. Soon, the other SF men joined the marchers and went in front of the group. When the women and children were slowed down by a stream, Reynalda and two other mothers quietly slipped out of the formation with their children and ran until they reached an upland farm owned by the barrio captain.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“The remaining women and children were told to stop and sit on the ground in a forested area about a kilometer from Sag-od. They were divided into two lines facing each other and questioned about the whereabouts of a certain Kumander Racel, a supposed NPA guerilla. After the women denied having any knowledge of him, they were ordered separated from their children, some of whom had to be dragged away. Marela and a few other children clung firmly to their mothers.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Then the shooting began.</p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-family: mallory; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">ADVERTISEMENT</span><div id="bb_box2" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec2" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Marela’s mother, Aurora, five months pregnant and carrying her four-year-old son, Jumar, was one of the first casualties. (Eight-year-old) Marela was pinned down by her mother’s body and lay still, pretending she was dead until she was sure the soldiers were gone. When she got up, she saw blood oozing down her neck—and her mother’s brains splattered on her hair. She realized she had been grazed by a bullet on the top of her head. Marela also discovered that her brother Jumar’s body had almost been halved by Armalite bullets that ripped a hole across his belly….”</p><div class="lfform-inquirer lfform-inquirer-horizontal form_inline norelated" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">That is only the first part of the article. It is a story that cries out to the heavens for justice. A total of 45 men, women, and children died in the Las Navas/Sag-od massacre.</p></div></div></div><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Read more: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/157044/remembering-1-las-navas-massacre#ixzz7s2tlEWYM" style="border: 0px; color: #003399; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">https://opinion.inquirer.net/157044/remembering-1-las-navas-massacre#ixzz7s2tlEWYM</a><br />Follow us: <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@inquirerdotnet on Twitter</a> | <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">inquirerdotnet on Facebook</a></span>Ma. Ceres P. Doyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511411019105686412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998471397294429049.post-89659032525203882662022-09-09T14:49:00.001+08:002023-02-01T14:50:02.787+08:00<p> <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/category/columnists" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.04em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">COLUMNISTS</a></p><div id="art-head-group" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(224, 228, 230); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 20px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1102.83px;"><hgroup style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1102.83px;"><div id="bc-share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1102.83px;"><div id="sm_share" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 2px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div class="vuukle-powerbar" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="0" id="h-sharebar-0" name="h-sharebar-0" scrolling="no" src="https://cdn.vuukle.com/widgets/sharebar.html?version=2.17.9" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; font: inherit; height: 47px; margin: 0px; min-height: 45px; min-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;" title="Vuukle Sharebar Widget"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="art_kicker" style="border: 0px; color: #686868; font-family: mallory; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">HUMAN FACE</div><h1 class="entry-title" style="border: 0px; font-family: mallory; font-size: 52px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.1em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Reinventing teaching of reading and writing</h1></hgroup><div id="byline_share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1102.83px;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div data-byline-strips="Ma. Ceres P. Doyo" id="art_author" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/byline/ma-ceres-p-doyo" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ma. Ceres P. Doyo</a></span> - <a class="art_twt" href="https://www.twitter.com/@inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">@inquirerdotnet</a></div><div id="art_plat" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; float: left; font-family: mallory; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 14px; margin: 3px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/source/philippine-daily-inquirer" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Philippine Daily Inquirer</a> / 05:06 AM September 09, 2022</div></div></div></div></div><div id="art_body_wrap" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1102.83px;"><div class="article_align" id="article_content" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: "lnum"; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 640px; zoom: 1;"><div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-156831" decoding="async" height="620" sizes="(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px" src="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/doyo-090922-620x620.jpg" srcset="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/doyo-090922-620x620.jpg 620w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/doyo-090922-300x300.jpg 300w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/doyo-090922-768x768.jpg 768w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/doyo-090922-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/doyo-090922-50x50.jpg 50w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/doyo-090922-342x342.jpg 342w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/doyo-090922-70x70.jpg 70w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/doyo-090922-55x55.jpg 55w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/doyo-090922.jpg 1600w" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 5px 20px 20px 0px; max-width: 620px !important; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="620" /></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Teaching is the profession that teaches all the other professions.” (Anonymous)</p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-family: mallory; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">ADVERTISEMENT</span><div id="bb_box" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">National Teachers’ Month began on Monday, Sept. 5, and ends on Oct. 5, which is National Teachers’ Day and World Teachers’ Day. Those directly connected to schools—teachers, students, parents, school administrators—are figuring out how this new school year will unfold, given the various ways of learning, teaching, and coping with new challenges that confront each one of them. COVID-19 is still very much around despite the vaccinations. The so-called “new normal” can still yield to “newer normals,” depending on the situation ahead.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Some days ago, I was with friends who had spent most of their lives teaching students and teaching teachers how to teach effectively. Though they have all retired from the academe, they—with their years of teaching experience and Ph.D.s in tow—continue to teach and mentor teachers when called upon. For more than a decade, they were the indefatigables of the Mentoring the Mentors Program (MMP), a brainchild of Inquirer founding chair Eugenia Apostol through her Education Revolution, and Chinit Rufino of the Marie Eugenie Institute of Assumption College. The two women had merged their respective visions to form MMP and snared in veterans from the teaching field.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I was often invited to MMP’s yearend gatherings as if I were part of the program. I think it was because I was present at its conception and I fired the first salvo in media when MMP was off and running. I wrote about MMP’s feats. Alas, after more than 15 years of mentoring teachers, MMP ceased operations because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But note that on their own, MMP’s tried and tested mentors are still at it when the need arises.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The highlight of our lunch meeting was Leticia Martin’s presentation of her three “Learn to Write” and “Learn to Read 1 and 2” ring-bound guide books (illustrated by Germinia Vecino) for the primary grades. These were initially printed by a foundation for the use of their adopted schools. Martin owns the copyright, but these can be available to interested publishers. Martin disclosed that one interested party wanted to buy the copyright. “No!” I interjected, “your opus might lie there and die there.”</p><div class="ztoop" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-pixel1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div id="anyclip_2021" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Martin has done some pilot testing of her work, one with school teachers in Southern Luzon where MMP had often been invited by a corporation (with CSR or corporate social responsibility in its DNA) that helps schools in surrounding communities. I had heard stories about how MMP mentors had been treated generously and how teachers responded so well in that part of the woods.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Martin showed the result of her recent mentoring foray in that area—a well-collated output of teaching materials done by the seminar attendees themselves, with colored illustrations, graphics and all, downloaded from the internet. Whoa! Awesome is the word for what the teachers could do! The teachers only had to have their laptops. Internet, paper, and printers were provided for their use at the seminar. Talk of CSR at work, indeed.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“See how the teachers can produce their own teaching materials!” Martin exclaimed. The teachers had Martin’s “Writing and Reading Readiness Program Handbook” for their use and to tap into their creative juices.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The downside to all these, the mentors bewailed, is that public school teachers are so overloaded with work, they have so many papers to submit to their superiors, so many extra tasks awaiting them, not to mention the poor teaching environments that they find themselves in.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It is always, if not often, the schoolchildren that are placed at the center stage of education programs and research. Their learning skills are tested, computed, and judged. Statistics establish their level of proficiency in reading, writing, and comprehension. What about their teachers? How to increase their level of competency and their zeal? How do we reward them for their backbreaking work?</p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-family: mallory; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">ADVERTISEMENT</span><div id="bb_box2" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec2" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It was during our lunch meeting that I learned from these grizzled teaching veterans that teaching reading and writing to first graders do not necessarily begin with the first letters of the alphabet A, B, and C, but with letters M, S, A, E, I, and O. It is called the Marungko approach that originated in the University of the Philippines.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">At our meetings’ end, we all agreed that Martin’s groundbreaking effort should be named, if it has to be named: “Alternative Approaches for Teaching Reading and Writing in the Early Grades.” (If interested in the books and seminar, call 0905-2605391 or 02-799-6681.)</p><div class="lfform-inquirer lfform-inquirer-horizontal form_inline norelated" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hail, teachers! I think teaching is the oldest profession.</p></div></div></div><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Read more: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/156819/reinventing-teaching-of-reading-and-writing#ixzz7s2u7mXHs" style="border: 0px; color: #003399; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">https://opinion.inquirer.net/156819/reinventing-teaching-of-reading-and-writing#ixzz7s2u7mXHs</a><br />Follow us: <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@inquirerdotnet on Twitter</a> | <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">inquirerdotnet on Facebook</a></span>Ma. Ceres P. Doyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511411019105686412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998471397294429049.post-39145346739276597412022-09-02T14:51:00.001+08:002023-02-01T14:52:18.813+08:00<p> <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/category/columnists" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.04em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">COLUMNISTS</a></p><div id="art-head-group" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(224, 228, 230); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 20px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 892.75px;"><hgroup style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 892.75px;"><div id="bc-share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 892.75px;"><div id="sm_share" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 2px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div class="vuukle-powerbar" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="0" id="h-sharebar-0" name="h-sharebar-0" scrolling="no" src="https://cdn.vuukle.com/widgets/sharebar.html?version=2.17.9" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; font: inherit; height: 47px; margin: 0px; min-height: 45px; min-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;" title="Vuukle Sharebar Widget"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="art_kicker" style="border: 0px; color: #686868; font-family: mallory; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">HUMAN FACE</div><h1 class="entry-title" style="border: 0px; font-family: mallory; font-size: 52px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.1em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Salt in our tears and other thoughts</h1></hgroup><div id="byline_share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 892.75px;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div data-byline-strips="Ma. Ceres P. Doyo" id="art_author" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/byline/ma-ceres-p-doyo" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ma. Ceres P. Doyo</a></span> - <a class="art_twt" href="https://www.twitter.com/@inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">@inquirerdotnet</a></div><div id="art_plat" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; float: left; font-family: mallory; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 14px; margin: 3px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/source/philippine-daily-inquirer" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Philippine Daily Inquirer</a> / 05:11 AM September 02, 2022</div></div></div></div></div><div id="art_body_wrap" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: 892.75px;"><div class="article_align" id="article_content" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: "lnum"; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 640px; zoom: 1;"><div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/viber_image_2022-09-02_01-34-29-191.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #004985; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title=""><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-156650 size-large" decoding="async" height="620" sizes="(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px" src="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/viber_image_2022-09-02_01-34-29-191-620x620.jpg" srcset="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/viber_image_2022-09-02_01-34-29-191-620x620.jpg 620w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/viber_image_2022-09-02_01-34-29-191-300x300.jpg 300w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/viber_image_2022-09-02_01-34-29-191-768x768.jpg 768w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/viber_image_2022-09-02_01-34-29-191-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/viber_image_2022-09-02_01-34-29-191-50x50.jpg 50w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/viber_image_2022-09-02_01-34-29-191-342x342.jpg 342w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/viber_image_2022-09-02_01-34-29-191-70x70.jpg 70w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/viber_image_2022-09-02_01-34-29-191-55x55.jpg 55w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/09/viber_image_2022-09-02_01-34-29-191.jpg 1600w" style="border: 0px; clear: both; display: block; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 5px auto 40px; max-width: 620px !important; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 620px;" width="620" /></a></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pan de sal, the Filipino breakfast and merienda staple—with palaman or without—was the first to pop up in my mind. (Sal is Spanish for salt.) Next was the biblical saying on becoming “the salt of the earth” and what that entailed. Then the saying “back to the salt mines.”</p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-family: mallory; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">ADVERTISEMENT</span><div id="bb_box" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Troubled by recent reports that our archipelagic home floating between azure sky and azure sea, the so-called Pearl of the Orient, could soon be short of salt (sodium chloride or NaCl), I posted on a chat group that I was writing this column titled the above—salt in our tears. I was just heaving a sigh of disbelief.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A friend of gentle spirit sent a swift reply aimed at the solar plexus: “How do we extract salt from our tears? If we can do that, perhaps there will be sufficient salt because of the amount of tears that have flowed from the poor, the needy, the oppressed, the Red-tagged, and from those who’ve had untimely deaths among them. We have so much sea water around us and we’re running out of salt? Totoo ’yan, yung iba nga naubos na ang luha (It is true that some have no more tears.)”</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Indeed, it is the irony of ironies. Some years back, it was garlic, then rice and galunggong fish, and recently, white onions, then sugar, and now salt that will be hard to come by if not more expensive. Often, the knee-jerk reaction is to import. (Haven’t we learned from imported cheap rice and the tariffication move that would drive farmers to penury?)</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But sadly, the Philippines has been importing staples for our tables, rice specifically, which had been this country’s main produce in centuries past. Decades ago, so many Thais were studying here to become top-notch agriculturists in their home country. Now, Thailand is one of our sources of imported rice, while Vietnam, whose countryside had been practically rendered infertile with napalm bombs and Agent Orange by US forces, has risen from the ashes of war to become a rice-exporting country.</p><div class="ztoop" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-pixel1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div id="anyclip_2021" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Our agricultural country now imports food that we ourselves could grow or produce. Why? While salt is not food per se, it is a food additive and preservative, an ingredient for many purposes, among them culinary, industrial, agricultural, even medical and pharmaceutical. It is even used for cloud seeding to make rain.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">On the culinary side, less salt could mean healthier eating for the hypertensive, which is the same in the case of sugar for the diabetics. But that is another story.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">So while the Senate was investigating whether or not the importation order for sugar was official and legit, and whether or not there is a real sugar shortage, salt suddenly dashed from behind to call attention.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">If ours is indeed a valley of tears, as my friend imagines our country to be, then we should figuratively be swimming in salt. Tears are salty because salt, in some form, is present in our tears. Any ophthalmologist will tell you that. That is as far as the metaphor goes. Not to forget that we are physically and literally right smack in the Pacific Ocean, where our tears from the valley blend with the wide blue expanse from which we can extract mountains of salt to flavor our lives without importing.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There are fancily named imported salt in select groceries. “Artisanal,” they are called—pink Himalayan, kosher, etc. While ours are simply labeled “Fidel-ized,” meaning iodized. Fidel stands for “fighting iodine deficiency law.” I am told that this was a setback for some small salt producers who did not have the iodizing know-how and gave up their backyard livelihood for something else.</p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-family: mallory; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">ADVERTISEMENT</span><div id="bb_box2" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec2" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">When I visited Pangasinan months ago, I went to the market (as I am wont to do when I go places) to buy takal salt, un-iodized. So did my friends. Most backyard salt making in Pangasinan are done by boiling sea water, which has natural iodine in it.</p><div class="lfform-inquirer lfform-inquirer-horizontal form_inline norelated" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By the way, the famous Salt Spring of Nueva Viscaya of Geography class is no more, the result of geological changes. I was a child when I saw for the first time a rock of mineral salt called tultul which, I was told, flavored the rice when food was scarce during the Japanese occupation. I remember seeing from the car window the wide expanse of white gleaming in the sun like snow, the small human figures with wooden rakes slowly disappearing from view. Those were the salt beds and salt makers of yesteryears.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">—————-</p></div></div></div><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Read more: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/156607/salt-in-our-tears-and-other-thoughts#ixzz7s2uZuA3u" style="border: 0px; color: #003399; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">https://opinion.inquirer.net/156607/salt-in-our-tears-and-other-thoughts#ixzz7s2uZuA3u</a><br />Follow us: <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@inquirerdotnet on Twitter</a> | <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">inquirerdotnet on Facebook</a></span>Ma. Ceres P. Doyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511411019105686412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998471397294429049.post-1372253532017184922022-08-26T14:53:00.001+08:002023-02-01T14:54:10.996+08:00<p> <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/category/columnists" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.04em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">COLUMNISTS</a></p><div id="art-head-group" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(224, 228, 230); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 20px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 904.281px;"><hgroup style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 904.281px;"><div id="bc-share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 904.281px;"><div id="sm_share" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 2px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div class="vuukle-powerbar" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="0" id="h-sharebar-0" name="h-sharebar-0" scrolling="no" src="https://cdn.vuukle.com/widgets/sharebar.html?version=2.17.9" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; font: inherit; height: 47px; margin: 0px; min-height: 45px; min-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;" title="Vuukle Sharebar Widget"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="art_kicker" style="border: 0px; color: #686868; font-family: mallory; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">HUMAN FACE</div><h1 class="entry-title" style="border: 0px; font-family: mallory; font-size: 52px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.1em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Overbearing cops at the school gate</h1></hgroup><div id="byline_share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 904.281px;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div data-byline-strips="Ma. Ceres P. Doyo" id="art_author" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/byline/ma-ceres-p-doyo" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ma. Ceres P. Doyo</a></span> - <a class="art_twt" href="https://www.twitter.com/@inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">@inquirerdotnet</a></div><div id="art_plat" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; float: left; font-family: mallory; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 14px; margin: 3px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/source/philippine-daily-inquirer" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Philippine Daily Inquirer</a> / 05:11 AM August 26, 2022</div></div></div></div></div><div id="art_body_wrap" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: 904.281px;"><div class="article_align" id="article_content" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: "lnum"; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 640px; zoom: 1;"><div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/08/viber_image_2022-08-26_01-35-16-693.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #004985; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title=""><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-156454 size-large" decoding="async" height="620" sizes="(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px" src="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/08/viber_image_2022-08-26_01-35-16-693-620x620.jpg" srcset="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/08/viber_image_2022-08-26_01-35-16-693-620x620.jpg 620w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/08/viber_image_2022-08-26_01-35-16-693-300x300.jpg 300w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/08/viber_image_2022-08-26_01-35-16-693-768x768.jpg 768w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/08/viber_image_2022-08-26_01-35-16-693-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/08/viber_image_2022-08-26_01-35-16-693-50x50.jpg 50w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/08/viber_image_2022-08-26_01-35-16-693-342x342.jpg 342w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/08/viber_image_2022-08-26_01-35-16-693-70x70.jpg 70w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/08/viber_image_2022-08-26_01-35-16-693-55x55.jpg 55w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/08/viber_image_2022-08-26_01-35-16-693.jpg 1600w" style="border: 0px; clear: both; display: block; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 5px auto 40px; max-width: 620px !important; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 620px;" width="620" /></a></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">If you were a kid on your first day of school for face-to-face classes and you experience a commotion at the school gate, see policemen exercising force and confiscating free health items and info materials that are being distributed by outsiders, how would you feel? Might you rather go back to online classes circa the pandemic years and bear missing friends your age? If you were a parent seeing off your child and you witness something like that, aren’t you going to imagine the worst?</p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-family: mallory; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">ADVERTISEMENT</span><div id="bb_box" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">God forbid that mass shootings like those in the US schools should happen here. Anything that suggests force or violence in what is supposed to be a safe place for children should be avoided by all means. The city streets (rivers and mountains for those in remote places) are dangerous enough, and exposing the schoolchildren to what looks like danger dampens their desire to learn.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">On Facebook (via @inquirerdotnet) last Monday, Aug. 22, the first day of face-to-face classes, was a video footage of policemen confiscating face masks, alcohol, and food items being distributed by Salinlahi, a nongovernment organization, and the Children’s Rehabilitation Center to the students of President Corazon Aquino Elementary School in Barangay Batasan Hills in Quezon City. (Just asking: Why was the so-named school chosen?) The FB caption read: “Placards calling for the safe return to in-person classes were also confiscated.”</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The commotion that resulted from the police’s strong-arm tactics was in full of view of pupils and parents. In the video clip, a voice could be heard saying: “Pati ba naman ang para sa bata, bakit ninyo kinukuha? Ano ang kasalanan?” (Even those for the kids, you are confiscating? What wrong was committed?)</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I went to the Salinlahi (Salinlahi Alliance for Children’s Concerns) Facebook page to find out what it was all about. Salinlahi belied police claims that they caused fear to students and parents when they distributed the health items.</p><div class="ztoop" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-pixel1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div id="anyclip_2021" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Salinlahi’s statement: “It was a peaceful gathering that aimed to help, not cause chaos or bring fear to children and their parents. We positioned the booth at the side of the school and it was clear that parents and schoolchildren were approaching our booth on their own to get fruits, face masks, and alcohol.” The children’s rights advocacy group said schoolchildren have the right to know the issues affecting them. “Children are intelligent, creative, and have a capacity to understand.”</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The dispersal and confiscation were not what a child should experience on the first day at school. Did the police see something provocative? A Salinlahi streamer that looked like a blackboard had the words: “Ligtas na balik-eskwela, ipaglaban.” (Fight for a safe return to school.) If you ask me, ipaglaban (fight) might be a strong and loaded word for a grade schooler. That probably sounded rally-like and the police’s knee-jerk reaction was to use force. Talk about fine-tuning an advocacy call to suit an occasion.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Gabriela, a national alliance of women, condemned the “violent intimidation, harassment, and physical assault perpetrated by the Philippine National Police from Batasan Police Station 6 against” the groups that distributed hygiene kits and food packs…</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Said Gabriela secretary-general Clarice Palce: “What the police did was extremely inhumane! Since when did helping children become a crime? The relief distribution was meant to assist kids and parents who were sent back to school today without clear assurances and plans from the national government for ensuring safe school reopening.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Instead of assisting the distribution, the police chose to scare, physically assault, and then tried to illegally arrest children rights advocates who only intended to provide aid to children.”</p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-family: mallory; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">ADVERTISEMENT</span><div id="bb_box2" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec2" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Questions: How should school officials deal with activities—especially if unannounced—around their campuses, such as the one organized by Salinlahi? How should advocacy groups, no matter how well-meaning, conduct their activities so that students, parents, and school officials are not unnecessarily alarmed? How should law enforcers and local government officials deal with such activities that may be well-intentioned but which they might find provocative or antigovernment?</p><div class="lfform-inquirer lfform-inquirer-horizontal form_inline norelated" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The children, think of the children.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">—————-</p></div></div></div><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Read more: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/156407/overbearing-cops-at-the-school-gate#ixzz7s2vBt4K8" style="border: 0px; color: #003399; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">https://opinion.inquirer.net/156407/overbearing-cops-at-the-school-gate#ixzz7s2vBt4K8</a><br />Follow us: <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@inquirerdotnet on Twitter</a> | <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">inquirerdotnet on Facebook</a></span>Ma. Ceres P. Doyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511411019105686412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998471397294429049.post-15988025331510130972022-08-19T14:55:00.001+08:002023-02-01T14:56:46.434+08:00<p> <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/category/columnists" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.04em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">COLUMNISTS</a></p><div id="art-head-group" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(224, 228, 230); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 20px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"><hgroup style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"><div id="bc-share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"><div id="sm_share" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 2px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div class="vuukle-powerbar" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="0" id="h-sharebar-0" name="h-sharebar-0" scrolling="no" src="https://cdn.vuukle.com/widgets/sharebar.html?version=2.17.9" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; font: inherit; height: 47px; margin: 0px; min-height: 45px; min-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;" title="Vuukle Sharebar Widget"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="art_kicker" style="border: 0px; color: #686868; font-family: mallory; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">HUMAN FACE</div><h1 class="entry-title" style="border: 0px; font-family: mallory; font-size: 52px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.1em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Nuns in the crosshairs</h1></hgroup><div id="byline_share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div data-byline-strips="Ma. Ceres P. Doyo" id="art_author" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/byline/ma-ceres-p-doyo" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ma. Ceres P. Doyo</a></span> - <a class="art_twt" href="https://www.twitter.com/@inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">@inquirerdotnet</a></div><div id="art_plat" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; float: left; font-family: mallory; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 14px; margin: 3px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/source/philippine-daily-inquirer" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Philippine Daily Inquirer</a> / 05:16 AM August 19, 2022</div></div></div></div></div><div id="art_body_wrap" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"><div class="article_align" id="article_content" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: "lnum"; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 640px; zoom: 1;"><div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/08/human-face-081922.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #004985; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title=""><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-156204 size-large" decoding="async" height="620" sizes="(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px" src="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/08/human-face-081922-620x620.jpg" srcset="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/08/human-face-081922-620x620.jpg 620w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/08/human-face-081922-300x300.jpg 300w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/08/human-face-081922-768x768.jpg 768w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/08/human-face-081922-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/08/human-face-081922-50x50.jpg 50w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/08/human-face-081922-342x342.jpg 342w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/08/human-face-081922-70x70.jpg 70w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/08/human-face-081922-55x55.jpg 55w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/08/human-face-081922.jpg 1600w" style="border: 0px; clear: both; display: block; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 5px auto 40px; max-width: 620px !important; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 620px;" width="620" /></a></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Calling himself “a bit feminist,” Pope Francis has pictured what the church would be like without the consecrated women religious: “It would be missing maternity, affection, tenderness, and a mother’s intuition.”</p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-family: mallory; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">ADVERTISEMENT</span><div id="bb_box" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hereabouts, some nuns who are ministering to needy, neglected communities in remote places feel they are being surveilled, if not persecuted, by government forces. I say forces because they are a fearsome lot, their words alone can translate into making life difficult for these women who have vowed to serve.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sometime back, I did write a piece (“Catholic women religious in the trenches,” 7/12/2018) describing the difficult but liberating work nuns are doing here and all over the world.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">They are in the news again. Inquirer news headline on Aug. 16, 2022: “Four nuns, 12 others charged with channeling funds to Reds.” The report said: “The Department of Justice (DOJ) has found probable cause to indict 16 individuals, including four nuns, for allegedly channeling funds to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), which were tagged as terrorist organizations by the government and other countries.”</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The bank accounts of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines-Northern Mindanao Region (RMP-NMR), to which the accused belong, have been frozen since 2019 for allegedly violating Section 8 of Republic Act No. 10168 or the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012. I had interviewed the former RMP head Good Shepherd Sister Elenita Belardo who said that RMP’s funding came from the European Union, so how could it have been used for something illegal?</p><div class="ztoop" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-pixel1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div id="anyclip_2021" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yesterday, Belardo told me that sometime back, RMP head Sister Emma Cupin (one of the recently accused) went to the EU office in Makati City to submit all documents and books, with the EU office hiring auditors to examine them. “Nothing irregular was found,” Belardo said.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Of the 16 charged, four are nuns: Sisters Emma Teresita Cupin, Susan Dejolde, Augustina Juntilla, and Maryjane Caspillo, who are working with RMP.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">RMP is not a religious congregation but is one of the mission partners of the Conference of Major Superiors in the Philippines (CMSP), a voice in the wilderness during the dark years of the Marcos dictatorship. RMP was founded 53 years ago.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yesterday, RMP released a strong statement denying the allegations and questioning the credibility of the DOJ witnesses and their accusers’ motives. RMP’s opening salvo: “Why is the government—especially from Duterte to Marcos II—hell-bent in using all resources at its disposal to shut down the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines for good? … The DOJ’s charges are based on the testimonies of two so-called surrenderees. Based on information obtained by RMP, one of the two has been presented as a former NPA member after authorities arrested her mother. In exchange for her mother’s release, she executed a spurious statement accusing RMP members of channeling funds to the CPP-NPA…”</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The July 14, 2022 CMSP convention statement already pointed out the plight of its workers on the ground: “Some among our ranks were red-tagged; irresponsible labels and name-calling will not cow us. To serve the people of God is never wrong…” I was told that a CMSP statement on the RMP case is forthcoming.</p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-family: mallory; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">ADVERTISEMENT</span><div id="bb_box2" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec2" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The DOJ accusation is serious. Channeling funds to a terrorist group violates the terrorism financing prevention law, which is being invoked against the 16 who are now facing 55 cases filed against them at the Iligan City Regional Trial Court. The 16 have yet to file their counter-affidavits. A perjury case against former RMP head Belardo filed way back in 2019 has not been dropped.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">At a big 2015 papal audience, where participants of the World Meeting for Young Consecrated Men and Women were present, the Pope wondered aloud about the women religi<a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/category/columnists" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.04em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">COLUMNISTS</a></p><div id="art-head-group" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(224, 228, 230); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 20px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"><hgroup style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"><div id="bc-share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"><div id="sm_share" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 2px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div class="vuukle-powerbar" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="0" id="h-sharebar-0" name="h-sharebar-0" scrolling="no" src="https://cdn.vuukle.com/widgets/sharebar.html?version=2.17.9" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; font: inherit; height: 47px; margin: 0px; min-height: 45px; min-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;" title="Vuukle Sharebar Widget"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="art_kicker" style="border: 0px; color: #686868; font-family: mallory; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">HUMAN FACE</div><h1 class="entry-title" style="border: 0px; font-family: mallory; font-size: 52px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.1em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Nuns in the crosshairs</h1></hgroup><div id="byline_share" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div id="byline" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><div data-byline-strips="Ma. Ceres P. Doyo" id="art_author" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/byline/ma-ceres-p-doyo" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ma. Ceres P. Doyo</a></span> - <a class="art_twt" href="https://www.twitter.com/@inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; color: #0b72b5; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">@inquirerdotnet</a></div><div id="art_plat" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; float: left; font-family: mallory; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 14px; margin: 3px 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/source/philippine-daily-inquirer" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Philippine Daily Inquirer</a> / 05:16 AM August 19, 2022</div></div></div></div></div><div id="art_body_wrap" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"><div class="article_align" id="article_content" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: "lnum"; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 640px; zoom: 1;"><div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/08/human-face-081922.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #004985; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title=""><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-156204 size-large" decoding="async" height="620" sizes="(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px" src="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/08/human-face-081922-620x620.jpg" srcset="https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/08/human-face-081922-620x620.jpg 620w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/08/human-face-081922-300x300.jpg 300w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/08/human-face-081922-768x768.jpg 768w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/08/human-face-081922-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/08/human-face-081922-50x50.jpg 50w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/08/human-face-081922-342x342.jpg 342w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/08/human-face-081922-70x70.jpg 70w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/08/human-face-081922-55x55.jpg 55w, https://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2022/08/human-face-081922.jpg 1600w" style="border: 0px; clear: both; display: block; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 5px auto 40px; max-width: 620px !important; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 620px;" width="620" /></a></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Calling himself “a bit feminist,” Pope Francis has pictured what the church would be like without the consecrated women religious: “It would be missing maternity, affection, tenderness, and a mother’s intuition.”</p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-family: mallory; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">ADVERTISEMENT</span><div id="bb_box" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hereabouts, some nuns who are ministering to needy, neglected communities in remote places feel they are being surveilled, if not persecuted, by government forces. I say forces because they are a fearsome lot, their words alone can translate into making life difficult for these women who have vowed to serve.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sometime back, I did write a piece (“Catholic women religious in the trenches,” 7/12/2018) describing the difficult but liberating work nuns are doing here and all over the world.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">They are in the news again. Inquirer news headline on Aug. 16, 2022: “Four nuns, 12 others charged with channeling funds to Reds.” The report said: “The Department of Justice (DOJ) has found probable cause to indict 16 individuals, including four nuns, for allegedly channeling funds to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), which were tagged as terrorist organizations by the government and other countries.”</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The bank accounts of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines-Northern Mindanao Region (RMP-NMR), to which the accused belong, have been frozen since 2019 for allegedly violating Section 8 of Republic Act No. 10168 or the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012. I had interviewed the former RMP head Good Shepherd Sister Elenita Belardo who said that RMP’s funding came from the European Union, so how could it have been used for something illegal?</p><div class="ztoop" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-pixel1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div id="anyclip_2021" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yesterday, Belardo told me that sometime back, RMP head Sister Emma Cupin (one of the recently accused) went to the EU office in Makati City to submit all documents and books, with the EU office hiring auditors to examine them. “Nothing irregular was found,” Belardo said.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Of the 16 charged, four are nuns: Sisters Emma Teresita Cupin, Susan Dejolde, Augustina Juntilla, and Maryjane Caspillo, who are working with RMP.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">RMP is not a religious congregation but is one of the mission partners of the Conference of Major Superiors in the Philippines (CMSP), a voice in the wilderness during the dark years of the Marcos dictatorship. RMP was founded 53 years ago.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Yesterday, RMP released a strong statement denying the allegations and questioning the credibility of the DOJ witnesses and their accusers’ motives. RMP’s opening salvo: “Why is the government—especially from Duterte to Marcos II—hell-bent in using all resources at its disposal to shut down the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines for good? … The DOJ’s charges are based on the testimonies of two so-called surrenderees. Based on information obtained by RMP, one of the two has been presented as a former NPA member after authorities arrested her mother. In exchange for her mother’s release, she executed a spurious statement accusing RMP members of channeling funds to the CPP-NPA…”</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The July 14, 2022 CMSP convention statement already pointed out the plight of its workers on the ground: “Some among our ranks were red-tagged; irresponsible labels and name-calling will not cow us. To serve the people of God is never wrong…” I was told that a CMSP statement on the RMP case is forthcoming.</p><div id="billboard_article" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #989898; display: block; font-family: mallory; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">ADVERTISEMENT</span><div id="bb_box2" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="div-gpt-ad-mrec2" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The DOJ accusation is serious. Channeling funds to a terrorist group violates the terrorism financing prevention law, which is being invoked against the 16 who are now facing 55 cases filed against them at the Iligan City Regional Trial Court. The 16 have yet to file their counter-affidavits. A perjury case against former RMP head Belardo filed way back in 2019 has not been dropped.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">At a big 2015 papal audience, where participants of the World Meeting for Young Consecrated Men and Women were present, the Pope wondered aloud about the women religious’ “desire to always go to the front lines.” His answer: “Because you are mothers, you have the maternal instinct of the church, which makes you be near” those who are in need.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“You truly have this function in the church, to be the icon of the church, the icon of Mary, icon of the church’s tenderness, the church’s love, the motherhood of the church, and the motherhood of Our Lady. Do not forget it. Always on the fron tlines…”</p><div class="lfform-inquirer lfform-inquirer-horizontal form_inline norelated" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">On the frontlines but also in the crosshairs of those who do not appreciate what these daring women do, who think of these women as subversives, as an affront, and a threat to the powers that be.</p></div></div></div><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Read more: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/156216/nuns-in-the-crosshairs#ixzz7s2vfyuJs" style="border: 0px; color: #003399; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">https://opinion.inquirer.net/156216/nuns-in-the-crosshairs#ixzz7s2vfyuJs</a><br /></span><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Follow us:</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span><a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@inquirerdotnet on Twitter</a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">|</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span><a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">inquirerdotnet on Facebook</a>ous’ “desire to always go to the front lines.” His answer: “Because you are mothers, you have the maternal instinct of the church, which makes you be near” those who are in need.</p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“You truly have this function in the church, to be the icon of the church, the icon of Mary, icon of the church’s tenderness, the church’s love, the motherhood of the church, and the motherhood of Our Lady. Do not forget it. Always on the fron tlines…”</p><div class="lfform-inquirer lfform-inquirer-horizontal form_inline norelated" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: "noto serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">On the frontlines but also in the crosshairs of those who do not appreciate what these daring women do, who think of these women as subversives, as an affront, and a threat to the powers that be.</p></div></div></div><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Read more: <a href="https://opinion.inquirer.net/156216/nuns-in-the-crosshairs#ixzz7s2vfyuJs" style="border: 0px; color: #003399; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">https://opinion.inquirer.net/156216/nuns-in-the-crosshairs#ixzz7s2vfyuJs</a><br />Follow us: <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@inquirerdotnet on Twitter</a> | <a href="https://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">inquirerdotnet on Facebook</a></span>Ma. Ceres P. Doyohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511411019105686412noreply@blogger.com