#Tatay digong

[alfredmasonicstorm]

TATAY DIGONG BINISITA NG MGA KAIBIGAN? SINO SILA?😱😱😱

[richiebigjoe]

Mama Leni where are you?

I saw Tatay Digong in my dream last night.

He said I am not handsome. 💔😭😭😢

Is it true? 💔😭😢

I will not go to the West Philippines sea with him anymore. I will buy my own Jetski. 💔😢

[gandaever]

All of a sudden, I miss Tatay Digong. (at General Santos City) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjSZxkEOM9f/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[rj100789]

Watch "Tama ang sinabi ni Tatay Digong @Marcos❤️ #Duterte #Marcos #Shorts" on YouTube

[lablycious]

Haist! 😭😭😭, umwi kana po ng Davao tatay Digong, total naman kahit anong gawin mo para sa ating bansa, e kulang na kulang pa para sa ibang mamamayan ng pilipinas. Nagpatupad ka ng 'Community Quarantine' madaming pumalag, kasi kesyo yun ang paraan mo para sa gusto mong Martial Law. Ultimo ibang mayayaman na may kayang tumulong sa pagsugpo ng epidemiya,eh sila pa yung nangungunang bumatikos sa mga paraan mong makakatulong sa ating bansa. Matanda kana Tay Digong, may pamilya ka rin po na naghihintay sayo, nag-aalala nang kalagayan at kalusogan mo. Please po Tay, umwi kana ng Mindanao. Ayaw kong nag-e-scroll sa Facebook kasi puro nalang pambabatikos nababasa ko tungkol sayo. Hindi ako nanunuod masyado nang balita, lalo na sa ABSCBN, kasi puro fake news lang pinapalabas nila tungkol sayo. Ang swerti nga naming mga mamamayang Pilipino, kasi meron kaming mapagmahal sa bayan na presedente. Kaso kami po talaga yung may problima. Di namain naaapreciate mga magandang nagawa mo, na di pa namin naranasan sa mga nakaraang admininstrasyon. Patawad po tatay Digong, kasi pilipino kami eh, mga walang eksaktong utak. 😭😭😭😭. Naiiyak na po ako tay Digong,please po ingatan mo sarili mo. Pag di na kaya tay, please please, bumalik kana ng Davao. Kung may mga ayaw sayo tay, mas madami kaming nagmamahal sayo. Godbless TATAY DIGONG. 💜💜💜

[jibarichan]

To Marcos loyalists/apologists

DISCLAIMER: Mahaba 'tong post, 10-15 mins. read more or less (kung di kasama yung mga articles and links sa baba). And this is politically charged (saka may mga corny jokes, sarcasm, at ilang pilit na pop-culture references). Kung di kayo nandito para sa ganon, then that's alright, naiintindihan ko nang lubos. May choice kayo para lampasan 'to. Feel free to scroll away po. O kaya, skip to the TLDR at the end, although you'll miss some of the points I stated, saka yung mga shared online articles. If you do intend to read, then thank you very much. I'll also accept criticisms. Di tayo ipokrito. And I know, and understand, na magkakaiba ang political views natin. Pero we can disagree na po when it comes to the ethics and morals attached to our political views.

Ako, ayoko rin magmukhang keyboard warrior kasi bihira lang ako magpost, pero eto na nga. Nakakapanlumo lang kasi na marami akong kakilala na bilib sa Marcos apologists and loyalists. This post won't sway hearts and minds, I know. Di ko pati to sinulat in an academic or formal manner (this is very informal, rambly, at puro rhetoric hahaha), but if the following arguments and counter-arguments will make you pause and think, pwede na rin yun.

So let's address some of the common arguments, posts, and comments being thrown around:

"DI NYO NA KAMI MAUUTO" o "FAKE NEWS YANG GMA/ABSCBN/OTHER NEWS OUTLETS"

Sure ba kayo na di rin kayo nauuto o nagpapadala sa sabi-sabi ng Marcos loyalists and apologists? Aba, dapat eh napakasipag nyo din mag fact check at research. Aba, dapat reliable din sources nyo. Certified at official. Kung maduda kayo, then pakiusap, double check nyo rin mga sinasabi nila.  Saka nung nag research ka ba, yung mga articles na pabor lang kay Marcos binasa mo? Articles na pinapaganda pangalan nya? Eh baka naman yun lang gusto mong basahin, kasi gusto mo tama ka (confirmation bias po tawag don). Basahin mo rin yung mga masasamang nangyari nun, para patas. Kasi patas po ang totoong research. Both sides, tinitignan. May cross-referencing at pag double-triple check ng sources; at sources ng sources. Yes ganun kalalim dapat. At oo, because of such principles sa research, alam din namin mga magagandang projects nun. Alam namin yung potensyal ng Pilipinas to rise as an economic tiger sa Asya, at the time. But at what cost? Tambak na utang? Makapal na missing persons lists? Mga nakaw na salapi? Mga sipsip at balimbing na cronies? Pano na? Pride na lang labanan, kahit parang tanga na?

"DI KA PA NAMAN BUHAY NON" o "DI MO NAMAN INABUTAN PANAHON NI MARCOS"

Really? Don't let that be your best reasoning hahahaha. Di ka rin naman buhay nung panahon ng mga Kastila, pero alam natin na binaril si Rizal sa Bagumbayan. Ano, ang pilosopo ko ba? Ikaw rin naman, pag ganyan arguments mo. And what's next? Fake news na rin ang Spanish occupation dati?

"SABI NG LOLO/LOLA KO" o "SABI NG MAGULANG KO"

I'm sure na naging mapayapa buhay nila. Kasi yan din sabi ng mga mas matatanda sakin. Surprise! Hindi naman kasi nila binatikos dalawang dekadang pamumuno na hindi na demokratiko eh. Saka baka yung iba sa kanila, wala sa urban centers, wala sa sentro ng gulo. At kung hindi man sa kanila nangyari yung gulo, it doesn't mean it didn't happen somewhere else. Eh pano yung mga murang bilihin kamo? The gov't that time was well-funded, and the economy was booming on the surface. Dahil sa ano? Sa utang. Towards the end (ibig sabihin po DURING Marcos' term pa rin) nagsimula nang mag crash ang ekonomiya. Na-expose na rin mga kinuha nilang pera.

"HISTORY IS WRITTEN BY THE VICTORS"

Okay, easy sa quotes Lt. General Shepherd (MW2 reference wink wink). Tama na pa-astig natin, okay? Half-truth lang yan. More aptly siguro, history is written DESPITE the victors. Marami pong unbiased saka objective na pagaaral sa usaping yan. Kaya nga alam natin na di rin naman malinis ang mga Aquino. Kaya alam natin na involved din pangalan nila sa massacres. Gusto mo ng sources no? Wow look at you, you fact-checking golden child. Keep it up, dapat ganyan lagi. Sana binasa o tinignan mo rin sources ng apologists. Sana dinobol check mo rin mga sinasabi ng may first hand at second hand accounts. And friends, never magiging victors yung mga biktima ng torture, rape, at extra-judicial killings. Oh, hindi sila biktima kasi nanggugulo sila?-- I hear you say. Dear, yung pagbatikos lang sa gobyerno kinoconsider na nilang panggugulo. Maraming inosenteng nabiktima. And if you think na walang inosenteng nabibiktima-- Are you serious? Naive ka ba?

"PAST IS PAST" o "MOVE ON NA"

Don't use these words lightly. Wala sa iisang playing field ang feelings mo saka feelings ng isang collective. Magkaibang pahina yan. Hindi po parehas ang history ng isang taong broken hearted o na friendship over ang history ng mga biktima ng human rights violations saka political injustice (at marami po sila ah). Wag basta basta magbitaw ng past is past kapag may mga taong di na natagpuan ng pamilya nila, mula noong past, hanggang present. Unfair. Unfair sobra. Para bang okay lang na maraming namatay saka natorture, o kaya naman missing, kasi mayaman naman Pilipinas, maraming infrastructure projects, saka mura bilihin. Bad yun.

"HINDI NAMAN YUNG MISMONG PRESIDENTE ANG GUMAWA" 

Oh so ganyan tayo? No accountability for the head of state? Commander-in-chief of the military? Sino ba nag empower sa mga high ranking officials? Officials, who in turn, nag execute ng directives? Suddenly, nakalimutan ba natin ang chain of command? Or naniniwala ba tayo na covert lahat ng yun, at di alam ng presidente? If so, pano naging magaling yun at effective ang pamumuno? Ganon ba ang best president? Nganga tayo sa ganyan mga kapatid.

"HINDI KASALANAN NG ANAK ANG KASALANAN NG TATAY" / "SINS OF THE FATHERS" argument 

Totoo. Totoong totoo. Kaya dapat ina-acknowledge ng anak ang ginawa ng mga magulang nya to establish separation of beliefs, at di sana pinagtatanggol. Oh mga amigo amiga, double-triple check nyo yan ah. Mahusay naman kayo sa ganyan di ba? Smart kayo. Di kayo mahilig magpautot. *uto. Teka pati, running mate nya si Digong. Okay lang sayo yun? Ay baka okay lang sayo yun, kasi okay din si Digong para sayo. Figures. Paalala lang: Unfair sobra, para sa mga casualties ng current regime. At kung sasabihin mo na 'ganun talaga eh mga adik mga yun eh', aba. Okay din pala talaga sayo na may namamatay outside the boundaries of law. Tanggap mo rin talaga nangyari during Martial Law-- which is ironic, dahil hindi lawful kahit kailan ang rape, torture, at suppression. Wala kang pake eh (past is past). At pag wala kang pake, wag kang magpanggap na makatao. Lalong wag magpanggap na maka-Diyos.

"KAYA NGA NAG MARTIAL LAW DAHIL SA MGA TERORISTA EH"

Yes. Except hindi lang yung mga terorista ang naapektuhan. Kahit yung mga critics lang saka nagboses ng opinyon, nadali din. The collateral damage was too much FROM BOTH SIDES. Where to draw the line?-- I hear you ask again. It's one thing po na makita ang realidad ng law enforcement at war on terror/crime/drugs/beliefs etc. It's another to look away from too many casualties. Not fighting or voicing or even THINKING against collateral damage IS too much.

"EH BAKIT DI INALIS ANG MARTIAL LAW SA BATAS?"

Dahil kaya po yang i-implement na hindi naaapakan ang human rights at judicial system. For example, despite the criticisms towards the current admin, yung implementation ng martial law during the attacks in Marawi, was arguably justified. Oh ayan ah patas tayo.

"EH FAKE NEWS NGA KASI MARAMI SA NANGYARI NUNG MARTIAL LAW NI MARCOS" 

Luh eto na naman? Sabi nang dapat sure din kayo na di kayo napepeke ng mga binabasa saka pinapakinggan nyo eh. Dapat double check nyo rin 'real news' nyo.

"EH PANO SABI NG LOLO/LOLA KO?" 

Eh ano bang sabi ko kanina tungkol jan? Sige basahin mo ulit sa taas. Makinig ka pa rin sa ikukuwento nila, kasi we respect our elders. But we shouldn't be beholden to everything they say (luh English na naman). May sarili po tayong isip at kakayanang magaral.

"DILAWAN KA"

Nakakakilabot ah. Ayoko rin sa kanila. Whew pareparehas lang silang may ginawang masama. I'm sure na gustong gusto mo rin na kastiguhin mga Dilawan. Tara sabay tayo. Kaya nga di umunlad bansa eh, lalo pang nalugmok. Involved nga din sila sa killings ng mga magsasaka saka protesters. And duh, as if wala ding namamatay o nawawala na union members and leaders sa current regime. Pero di yan excuse para pagbigyan mo na lang mga Marcos loyalists.

"AKTIBISTA KA" 

My school mates and friends at the time can attest na hindi ako nagparticipate. Naniniwala din marami samin sa diversity ng ETHICAL methods and ETHICAL political views. Still, I must admit that my stance only changed drastically by the time na umupo si Duterte. Nagsisisi ako na tinamad ako so many times, and I wasn't informed or mature enough to make a choice, to make a vote. Di ba nga, you can stay neutral until you're not.

"EH ANONG GAGAWIN KO?"

Pagbanggain po ang mga nabasa o napanood na ebidensya at accounts from both sides (and 3rd party/international sources din), hanapin ang mga overlaps, then form an informed opinion. If somehow napaisip ka at nakaramdam ng konting hesitasyon sa pagboto kay BBM, wag ka munang magpanic at pagdudahan lahat ng bagay. Maghintay ka muna ng iba pang tatakbo. Wag yung bilib na bilib ka rin kaagad kay BBM. Maghihintay ako, at sana, maghintay ka rin. Wow romantic no hahahaha. De, sana may additional confirmed candidates pa.

"DI NA LANG AKO BOBOTO" o "WALA NA KONG PAKE" 

Kasi evil is evil, lesser, greater, middling? Hindi ka si Geralt (wink wink sa mga nakakuha ng reference). Bumoto ka pa rin if you can, please, and if it's safe (taking into account this pandemic). It matters. Evidently, nag matter yung mga boto towards Digong. Nanalo sya nun eh. So by the same token, may halaga yung boto mo, even if it's counted against sa boto ng iba. It will be one less vote laban sa ayaw mong maupo. It may seem like there's only few against many, pero pag mas maraming taong informed, mas dumadami yung.. yung few.. so magiging many sila. And of course, mas maraming may informed votes saka educated na desisyon, more chances of winning.

"NADADAYA ANG BOTOHAN" 

True. Very true. Pero mas mahirap dayain pag mas maraming legit na boto. Pahirapan nyo man lang sila, kahit pano. At pag nahirapan sila, mas madali silang papalpak. Mas madali silang magiging subjects to scrutiny.

I'm sure na meron pang mga arguments na di kasama sa mga nabanggit, pero pwede nyong kunin yung sagot sa ibang points na na-raise ko. If you've ever used any of those arguments above before, and somehow, medyo napaisip kayo after reading the counter-arguments (which is the best I could hope for), then take some time to rethink your decision. 

Hindi kailangang maging matalino para magkaron ng informed opinion. Dapat masipag lang manaliksik. Otherwise, madali ka ring mapaniwala, which is the very thing that you accuse others of. At kung sa tingin mo, napagisipan mo na nang maigi, then sige. Buo na desisyon mo eh. Baka well-informed ka na. Pero kung medyo napatigil o napaisip ka sa mga counter-arguments kanina, then walang masamang magisip pa ng konti. 

-----Additional articles po, past this point-----

For infinitely less rambly, more reliable, data-driven works, eto po mga pwede nyong basahin. Remember, don't judge too hastily na fake yang mga yan. A lot of the articles have been around for years, for people to read. Also, remember that these are from people with experience, expertise, and credibility, more so than a lot of us, including our own lolos and lolas (bless them, still). 

Galing po itong mga to sa internet-- for goodness' sake. Mag search lang tayo with intent to look for proper journalism and academic studies. From Brittanica yung unang dalawa, no less-- which is highly accessible, very digestible, concise, and still manages to present the good and bad (non-biased representation po). Easy to read na po yang mga yan ah:

The Marcos and early post-Marcos era (scroll down po kung gusto nyo magsimula agad sa Marcos era)

Martial law

And hindi mawawala ang mga nagsasabi na golden age ang Marcos regime. They saw those times with rose-colored glasses (idiomatic expression yern). Pero you'll notice something. Very anecdotal. Very similar sa mga nagkukwento sating matatanda. Medyo tricky maghanap ng ganito, sa totoo lang, from an online article na galing sa news outlet.

30 Years After Revolution, Some Filipinos Yearn for ‘Golden Age’ of Marcos

But this. This is easy to find. An apologist fb page. Non-academic and very fanatical, no surprise there, pero isisingit ko so you can check.

WE Love Ferdinand Marcos

Whew there are some interesting videos and posts here, primarily dahil sa mga footage and photos na meron sila. Watch or check those footages and photos ah, then ibangga nyo po sa mga alam natin from history. See how eloquent and compelling Ferdinand Marcos was, and you'll see kung ano ang isa sa mga kinabibiliban ng loyalists and apologists. There's value there, para makita mo kung anong hook nya sa mga tagasunod nya. 

You want more? Okay sige. Search mo sa Google yung Department of National Defense's web page for Ferdinand Marcos' biography, for some more heroic representation. You'll notice na nalimitahan sa iilang sentences yung Martial Law saka change of legislation. 

But it gets more bloody and not so heroic, with the other pages and articles ahead. It's true, mahirap nang maging non-biased when confronted with cruelty and injustice, but KEEP IN MIND, the numbers and statements na mababasa nyo from these links came from the security forces na appointed dati. Official numbers and statements po ang raw data nila. So there. 

Let's start off with a view on the economy. Opposite to the fanatical page earlier, here's an academic fb page post, para po alam nating numbers ang tinitignan nila, at hindi nostalgia at conspiracy lang. You can check the primary source na meron din sila for the compilation.

Econcepts: The Economy under the Marcos Era

For a slightly more detailed breakdown of the declaration of Martial law, with links or hypertexts in each section of the article:

Declaration of Martial Law

For the more sinister side na hindi kailanman bibigyan ng transparency ng mga security forces at the time-- here are some more readings:

‘San Juanico Bridge,’ other tortures detailed

3,257: Fact checking the Marcos killings, 1975-1985

Pano kamo mga massacres during the Aquino admin? Di po makacancel out nyan nangyari nung Martial Law, pero sige, para makita na rin natin na hindi natigil ang gulo. And ohoho, they're just as bad.

The Mendiola Massacre: Decades on, Philippine Land Reform Movement Remains Mired in Blood

Hacienda Luisita Timeline

Ayan online na po yang mga yan ah. No need to download anything as well. Kulang na kulang pa yan though, dahil this post is waaaay too long na po para mag accommodate ng ibang in-depth articles, let alone studies and published PDFs, and books! Physical and digital books! Pero di ba, may internet na pipol. There are loads of historical fiction as well, if you want to look at it from a literary angle, and even music and movies! Meron at meron po pag naghanap. Conspiracy theories nga nahahanap eh. But for my friends or colleagues na marami pong additional articles, readings, downloadables, books and media suggestions-- please po, do share if you're inclined to comment. Malaking tulong po yun. Maraming salamat! 

------------------------------------------------

TLDR; Ang bottomline po, wag basta basta susuporta sa political dynasties ah? Yung bagay lang na umuulit sila, nagpapasa-pasa ng posisyon sa angkan, dapat mapaisip na po tayo, oki? Di po dapat family business yan. If you have to make a decision to support someone from said families, make sure lang po na at least, nagresearch po tayo. Lesser evil and all that.

[israelmekaniko]

GAANO KA KA-TOXIC SA SOCIAL MEDIA?

Friend’s IG story: *posted home-made Dalgona Coffee* Day-off feels!

You: “At times like this mas inuna mo pa talaga yan? Palibhasa kasi privileged ka wala kang pake sa mga mahihirap!”

Also you: ( nakisiksik sa pila ng Starbucks while on quarantine )

---

Friend: “HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!”

You: “At nakuha mo pa talagang maging happy ngayong birthday mo. Maging sensitive ka naman sa nangyayari sa mundo! Birthday lang walang Happy!”

----

Yung humingi ka ng advice sa FB friends tungkol sa sugat mo sa tuhod.

FB Friend: “Pahidan mo lang ng Betadine gagaling din yan.”

You: “Wow! Just WOW. “GAGALING DIN YAN?” Seriously? Enough of this toxic positivity! Andali lang sabihin sa’yo yan kasi hindi ikaw ang nasugatan. Napakainsensitive mo!

Friend:

Sugat:

Betadine:

---

Tiktokerist: “Hey guys please watch my latest tiktok video for #LaplapinKoJowaKoHabangNangungulangotChallenge”

You: “This is #cringey. So ano to single-shaming para sa mga katulad naming walang jowa? This is so offending! WE DESERVE A 30-MINUTE PUBLIC APOLOGY (WITHOUT ADS) OR YOU’RE CANCELLEDT.

----

You: “"Be the woman who fixes another woman's crown without telling the world it was crooked."

15,786 Followers: “This is so inspiring. God bless your pure heart lodi.”

Also You: “Brendalyn Bayagbag scandal sino may gusto?! Like and retweet for the link.”

Also his 15,786 followers: OMG. DM please!

----

You: *slips in the bathroom* sabay tweet.

Twitter follower: “Aww. Ingat na lang po next time.”

You: “Seriously?! So you mean hindi ako nag-iingat? Kasalanan ko ganon ba? Victim-Blaming at it’s finest! Kasalanan ng sabon nakahara sa daan!”

----

IG travel account: *throwback travel photo in Maldives*

You: “Alam na ngang nakaquarantine and #StayHome yung mga tao then nakuha pang mag-post ng ganyan. Ma-ttrigger lang silang lumabas ng bahay! Delete this insensitivity! I will report this account now.”

—-

“I am proud Filipino and Duterte is my president!” — Naruto

“Tatay Digong is the best! Duterte forever!”— Pikachu

You: “Buti pa iBa naAaprecIAte Ang MAhAl nAminG PaNgUlo. MgA oLol!! TaTay DIg0ng nambaWan!”

—-

FB friend: “MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!”

You: “Everyone talaga? This is very inappropriate! So paano naman ang mga Non-christians? Paano mga Muslim at Buddhist? Be sensitive naman next time!”

FB Friend: “MERRY CHRISTMAS TO CHRISTIANS ONLY!”

You, again: “So paano naman ang mga gustong mag-celebrate ng Christmas kahit hindi Christians? How inconsiderate!”

---

Celebrity: “Katamad magluto gosh. Mag-sardinas na lang ako guys.”

You: “How dare you say “LANG” sa sardinas? Minamaliit mo ang sardinas ganon? Hindi mo ba naisip yung mararamdaman ng mga manggagawang nagsalpak ng sardinas sa loob ng lata kapag nakita nila itong post mo? Palibhasa kasi sanay ka sa Salmon Steak kaya ni-LaLang mo lang ang sardinas. Pinapanood ko pa naman teleserye mo pero ngayon ayoko na. #Unfollowed.

---

“As he read, I fell in love the way you fall asleep; slowly, and then all at once.” – John Green, The Fault in our Stars

You: “Stop romanticizing katamaran. Magtrabaho hindi puro tulog at lande!”

John Green:

---

Vlogger: “Dahil po sa sama-sama nating pagtutulungan nakalikom po tayo ng pondo para makapagbigay ng groceries sa 400 pamilya biktima ng sakuna.”

You: “Anlaki ng kinikita mo bilang vlogger ba’t di mo gawin mag-isa? Ang selfish lang.”

Also you: “Ang pagtulong dapat di na pinopost sa social media. Pasikat!”

Also you, as usual: “Bakit ngayon ka lang tumulong samantalang nung Bagyong Yolanda busy ka sa Mukbang Vlog mo.”

---

Someone: “Emeged nagreply si crush! I CAN’T BREATHE!!!”

You: “THIS IS SO INSULTING PARA SA MGA MAY ASTHMA!”

(54,000 LIKES 187,000 Retweets )

[tangian]

May feelings ba si Bong Go kay Tatay Digong-kun?

[dinosaurtsukki]

hi dino (omg is it ok if i call u that baka ang fc ko) !!! i kinda got scared by the gif i saw sa blog mo before scrolling down to write this ask AHASHAHA N E WAYY congratulations sa 2k!!! im pretty sure you'll have more milestones to celebrate bc ang wiwitty at ang gaganda ng mga fics + hcs mo (also your love for the country?? we stan even harder) 🥺 keep on slaying bhie !!! 💖

HIIIII !! yes i love being called dino hahhaa so go ahead! ALSOO AHH THANK YOU!! sjkjalkjskldga wahhh talaga ba minsan napapatingin ako tapos parang ‘shet ang weird’ PERO YAY I’M GLAD U LIKE THEM !! yes po i love my country lalo na yung white sands sa manila bay na pinalagay ni tatay digong sgksjdjksh. AHH YOU TOO I WOULD LOVE TO INTERACT WITH YOU MORE !!

[urtotga]

Pota anong content nibblog ng mga dds? Kung gaano kaincompetent yung tatay Digong nila????

[ashmiruuuh]

Galit na nga ako sa gobyerno. Galit pa ako sa sarili ko. Galit din ako sa mga comments ng mga dds pati sa mga sinasabi ng tatay kong tatay si digong. Tas nagrereview pa ko. Ok lang talaga. Sabay-sabayin nyo na po lahat sakin.

[alfredmasonicstorm]

TATAY DIGONG AT DOJ SEC BOYING REMULLA NAGKITA SA DAVAO!

[gandaever]

TATAY DIGONG HAS SPOKEN! TERORISTA ANG CPP-NPA-NDF! (at General Santos City) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjF_VQiuchR/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[ae-diaries]

THE STRONGEST BATCH I KNOW

To the Graduating Class of 2020, our highest hopes are with you as you celebrate this milestone (without celebration). 😣

It's a bitter pill to swallow. This isn't the kind of senior year ending that you had imagined. You missed out on being able to enjoy the remaining months and graduation rites. And it's normal that you may be feeling upset about it.

DepEd Sec. Leonor Briones said, "Life may constantly offer you challenges, but you have to forge on."

Surely you are no strangers to uncertainty. You thrived more than simply surviving earthquakes, typhoon, volcanic eruption, and pandemic. With what you experienced and have been experiencing, we've seen how much of a fighter and a strong batch you really are!

And just like everyone else you've made sacrifices, too. But believe what Tatay Digong said, "May tagumpay sa PAGSASAKRIPISYO."

Let's just look at the bright side of this crisis. It may now hurt to wait, but I know God's plan for you is BIGGER than any of these if you remain patient. KAPIT lang. Trust His TIMING. This is just a lean season for us to realize what matters most, what is our 'gold' in life. That in spite of all the prestige this modern world has to offer, nothing is more important than our HEALTH and FAITH in Him.

Stay safe and sound. Keep calm and collected. Pray selflessly and relentlessly. We will rise above this!

Until we meet again. May you continue to radiate the image of a true TSHS student wherever you go! Congratulations, Batch 2019-2020! I'm cheering for y'all! 👏❤️

Note: If I could go an extra mile to give you hugs I would gladly take the chance to do so, but for now, all I can give is an elbow bump here! 😂

#WeHealasOne #prayingforthegraduates #StudesForKeeps #since2018 #gagraduateperohindimakakalimot

[poindexterjames]

It is easy to say “stay at home” when you have a comfortable shelter to stay at. But have you ever thought of the homeless and street dwellers who do not have permanent places to retreat to?

It is easy to say “Netflix and chill” when you have money to spare for your subscription. But have you ever thought of those who can’t afford to sit on their couch all day watching movies, let alone chill when their families have nothing to eat?

It is easy to say “just follow the rules” when you have all the resources you need in the comfort of your homes. But have you ever thought of the people that still need to go to work, especially those whose profits come from their day-to-day jobs, despite the lockdown to fend for their families?

It is easy to say “be positive and don’t panic” when you already drained and hoarded all the commodities from the supermarkets and grocery stores without concerning yourself if there will be enough left for those who really need them.

These are the things that we cannot understand when we are born into a privileged life.

The problem is not about the Filipinos’ inability to follow certain rules, the problem is that this lockdown is anti-poor. Not everyone can work from home. PUV drivers, market vendors, street sellers are examples of that. If they don’t work, they will starve. They simply cannot afford to “chill” because their life depends on their livelihood. Staying at home is not an option for the majority of us.

However, instead of giving a concrete plan to address the matter, the government’s solution is to arrest people who ‘disobey’ protocols, and warrantless at that. But these people are not delinquents nor criminals; these are the people who were relegated at the seams of society that the government fails to attend to time and time again. The very same people whose vulnerability and poor state our government officials took advantage of during the elections. And now they were left to suffer again.

The virus does not recognize social strata for anyone can be infected, but not everyone can afford to seek medical aid. The disparity and gap in terms of the social safety nets, such as universal healthcare, and social class between the rich and the poor are so wide and unequal that it just, somehow, became the status quo. That difference is very evident and glaring to what is happening now. Take for instance, government officials and their families, though asymptomatic, are being tested for COVID, despite the Department of Health repeatedly saying that the testing kits are limited. Some were even tested twice. Meanwhile, poor and sick people who show symptoms do not receive the same treatment. So, are the rich exempted from protocols? With this administration, perhaps. If the virus doesn’t kill the poor, the government’s incompetence will.

Being born into privilege and comfort is not a bad thing. What’s bad is the failure of the privileged to understand the plight of the poor, especially during these times. Them throwing insults and tone deaf remarks to the working class and poor Filipinos is a clear manifestation that they are an out-of-touch and unsympathetic bunch of “influencers” and “celebrities”. It is easy for them to post false and toxic positivity online because they don’t experience oppression on a daily basis. But surprise, ‘sunshines’ and ‘daisies’ cannot rid the corona away. What Filipinos need more than ever are equal right to healthcare and a competent government that genuinely cares for the welfare of all its citizens.

Now, before some trolls see this and come up with lame comebacks, I would like to tell you that I follow the quarantine. But abiding by the rules and criticizing the government are not mutually exclusive. I can adhere to the protocols but I can call-out what I see are wrong or lacking. And right now, there are many.

The people are scared and worrisome, and they have the right to be so, especially if there are uniformed personnel commandeering firearms that monger fear among people at every checkpoint there is.

This lockdown can help prevent the spread of the virus, yes, but it will not work if all the government does is lay vague protocols that seem to always favor the rich, and not concrete and specific groundwork and sound management. Besides, this could not have happened in the first place if only tAtAY DiGOng just imposed the international travel ban at the onset of this outbreak. We could have avoided this situation if he prioritized the good of its citizens than the feelings and emotions of his Chinese boss. But here we are, faced with a danger greater and graver than what we expected and that we are completely unprepared to deal with.

The least anyone can do now is show empathy to those who are most affected by this; the people at the margins of our community. Let’s not be desensitized by the struggles of the poor and marginalized. Let’s help anyone and in any way we can.

Finally, to all the frontliners out there, particularly our health workers, who work tirelessly to serve the general public to the best of their abilities, we salute you, our heroes!

[kilapsaww]

Confessions of an armchair journalist

MY THIRD article for the day involves a scuffle between President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo. The chief executive is insisting to have the latter take charge of his anti-drug campaign. The veep, backed by her vocal supporters, takes time to accept the random offer. If her retaliation was quicker and had read something like, “Bring it on,” there would be less room for the DDS to call her “duwag,” “tamad,” “Leni lugaw,” et cetera. I weave together the statements of the two highest officials of the land while munching on some stale pan de sal at my office in Mandaluyong.

I could call it a day except I am running late to a story conference for my other job. I prepared more than five story proposals just in case my executive producer comes in late again: Brexit delays, Trump’s looming impeachment, the Hong Kong turmoil, the simultaneous unrests in Chile, Lebanon, and Bolivia, and the deadly earthquakes that jolted parts of the Philippines just so I could squeeze in my corner of the world to the weekly global newscast I produce for.

I should be going home after securing my story assignments for the show, but I have so far pleased only three out of four bosses. That’s how my Wednesdays go: I cry a river of digital content while producing a morning talk show, scour for raw news clips from the Associated Press’s video bank, and then play a virtual tug-of-war on Viber with my anchor for a radio show that airs on Saturdays. Sometimes I wonder how I get things done and still manage to sleep, and then I remember I am just in the comforts of a dim-lit, airconditioned, rumored-to-be-close-to-bankruptcy office.

The jobs I juggle as a fresh graduate are a stark contrast from what I envisioned. While close to a thousand students belted the university hymn on our graduation day, I was busy daydreaming of seeing my byline on any of the three major dailies in the country. I have always wanted to become a print journalist. It was probably an inherited interest from my father, who unfortunately died too early to stop me from walking the same dangerous path he did. But I had constantly convinced myself that the mole on my right foot meant the Lord had pre-assigned me to scrape the field for exclusive stories, except my mother would say it only symbolized my being “layas.”

I left the office just before the sun flirted with the gigantic “M” that points to McDonald’s. My condo unit is just roughly 100 steps from the fast food chain. I got myself some burger and fries before proceeding to the dilapidated building I call home.

“Wahaha di mo kc kaya LENI LUGAW.. BBM is real vp..”

“Kapag hindi effective ang war on drugs ibig sabihin di ito umepekto XD di b Leni Lugaw?”

“Tatay digong we love u here from Saudi.. ”

My article this morning has so far lured some two hundred comments, most of them written by seemingly the same person. I would educate all of them about ad hominem, or at least how to type like a human being, but that would be beyond my pay grade. I devoured my evil combination of a meal and then browsed further into the deepest parts of my company’s Facebook page. By deepest I mean the troll department, or the comment section, or the wrestling ring where Duterte devotees, the dilawans, and those neither make the most of their internet connections defending their political patron saints. I scanned the whole thing, made faces, then decided to call it a day.

***

I came unusually early for the feature talk show I write for the next day. It was one of the few episodes we tackled something newsy, hence close to my heart. We had a former Agriculture secretary clashing with the department’s current spokesman. I have been writing about rice farmers’ plight under the heavily-criticized rice liberalization law for months now. After the hour-long banter, my anchor proceeded to pooling his staff together to talk about the story outlook for the week. No praise, or at least mention, of this morning’s newsy episode. I do not think my anchor is journalist enough.

But neither am I.

Early into college, I encountered the term “armchair journalism” from my news writing professor, who was probably the most grumpy and aggressive person to introduce the term to aspiring newsmen like me. He passionately bashed the practice, saying journalists should not be labeled one sans direct interaction with sources, or the scorching heat in the field, or the slim chance of exhausting an exclusive off pressers in this era of pack journalism. It was among the few lectures that stuck to me after graduation, precisely because I had vowed to dodge it the best way I could. Except here I am now—writing hundreds of stories without meeting my sources in flesh.

Do not get me wrong, I am all for the upgraded accessibility and convenience courtesy of the fast-changing media landscape. Plus, my current job definitely puts food on the table. But although I am always just a bold decision away from taking on a fieldwork, I dread the lack of financial safety net that everyone—literally everyone in the print industry I am friends with right now—has been warning me about. After all, journalism is public service. What matters most is how it drives a society into acting on pressing issues.

I dressed up the last few paragraphs of my article on the Duterte-initiated drug war’s new czar, pacified my radio anchor who kept insisting his Tokyo car show tour was newsy, updated my LinkedIn profile, then took the last sip of my Starbucks staple.