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“Magbigay ayon sa kakayahan, kumuha batay sa pangangailangan.” This has been the slogan of the famous community pantry that relives the Bayanihan spirit among Filipinos. Starting along Maginhawa Street in Quezon City last April 2021, it spreads throughout barangays and communities hoping to aid empty stomachs brought by the pandemic. The concept of a community pantry is simple; anyone can donate any food they have- canned goods, noodles, vegetables, fruits, or rice placed in a ‘pantry’ area, and whoever needs something may get what they need in the pantry area, for free. Indeed, the epitome of the Bayanihan. Bayanihan, in Filipinos’ dictionary, means helping others without expecting anything in return. From the root word “Bayani” or hero, Bayanihan means “being a hero.” Being a hero is limited to fighting and dying for one’s country. It could also mean living to lend a helping hand to your people. Sharing a little of what you have will not hurt compared to the 2.5 million hungry Filipinos, according to the latest survey by Social Weather Stations (SWS) last December 2021. And asking for what you only need shows one cares for those in need. "Sana po hindi tayo magsawang tumulong sa kapwa natin, lalo na kung may extra tayo. Lawakan po ang pag-intindi, buksan ang puso at isipan dahil iba-iba ang struggle ng mga tao. Buksan ang isipan natin sa kalagayan ng kapwa at ng bansa natin,” said Patricia Non who initiated the community pantry in an interview with CNN Philippines. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Written by: Kharen Mamplata Layout and Design by: Gerald Reyes SOURCES: https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/4/19/Maginhawa-community-pantry.html https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/philippines-community-pantries-give-help-send-message https://friendspeaceteams.org/community-pantries-in-the-philippines-a-courageous-act-of-goodness/ https://jefmenguin.com/bayanihan/ https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1524673/sws-2-5m-filipino-families-endured-hunger-at-least-once-from-july-sept-2021

History tells us that women always rise whenever things go awry. History tells us that women play more of an integral role in building civilization than men (get some source). However, until time immemorial, the culture of toxic masculinity was prevalent in discrediting the women who did their part in improving the lives of the Filipinos. Although the Datu or Sultan has the highest authority in our civilization in the Philippines' pre-colonial era, they always take advice first from the Babaylans before they act since these priestesses can foretell the future. These shamans are also respected as healers and mediators in their respective tribes. In fact, male religious practitioners perform their rites wearing women's dresses. Men and women are equal in education, inheritance, or divorce occur during this era. To summarize, the pre-colonial women are free and dignified compared to the women in the Spanish period. The Spanish occupation destroyed the social order prevailing during the pre-colonial Philippines. The church has given new meaning to womanhood, which has disadvantages. Segregation and inequality of rights have risen between Filipino women and men. The church spread misogynistic ideas against women to promote patriarchy. They lost their power to hold high positions and participate in politics. Even though they lost their freedom and rights, Filipino women never fought. We had heard about the mighty Gabriela Silang when she continued the cause of her deceased husband and was the leader of the said Ilokano revolutionary army to fight against the oppression of the Catholic Church and the Spaniards. Many Filipino women played a pivotal role during the Spanish era, like Gregoria De Jesus, Teresa Magbanua, and Trinidad Tecson, but one woman who stood out the most during this era is the Grand Woman of the Revolution, Melchora Aquino. She played a significant role during the 1898 Philippine Revolution. She contributed to the Katipunan by using her home as the place for secret meetings of the said organization. She even cooked for them while having a private forum and nursed the katipuneros during the battle. Even the Father of the Philippine Revolution sought advice regarding decision-making in the Katipunan. During the American occupation here in the Philippines, Filipino women gained access to education again. Suffragist Movement in the Philippines, which was spearheaded by Filipina feminist and human rights activist Concepcion Felix Rodriguez of the Asociacion Feminista Filipina, along with Pura Villanueva Kalaw of the Asociacion Feminista Ilonga and other feminist groups helped this movement and other women's civil rights such as healthcare, labor reforms, and improving the education system. Many Filipino men and women are against this since they fear that the roles would change if women were given a right to suffrage. Although the Japanese occupation and World War II did not last that long, Filipina women experienced sexual abuse from the Japanese forces. According to Evelina Galang, a writer, and researcher, around a thousand or more are being used by the Japanese as their sex slave during their occupation in the country. Women are afraid to go out during these times. Nevertheless, during the second world war, Filipino women were still unstoppable in showing the world that they could help, such as Josefa Llanes Escoda, who aided and supported the Filipino and American soldiers during World War II in our country. By doing this, she was abducted by the Japanese forces and never seen again. Her last message to the war commander that time was: "If you happen to survive, and I fail, tell our people that the women of the Philippines did their part also in making the ember sparks of truth and liberty alive till the last moment." We also cannot forget how Pres. Corazon Aquino, the first woman head of state of Asia, fought against the atrocities and dictatorship of the strongman Ferdinand Marcos. During the Marcos Regime, many have experienced countless human rights violations. According to Amnesty International, 3,200 people were killed, 34,000 were tortured, and over 70,000 were imprisoned warrantless. Liliosa Hilao, a student activist from Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, was also one of the women who fought for the rights of people during this dark age in the Philippine era. She is the first detainee killed during Martial Law. Lorena Barros, who founded Malayang Kilusan ng Bagong Kababaihan (MAKIBAKA) was also one of the notable figures who fought against the dictatorship. She was one of the 63 student leaders charged with the case of subversion by the government. The country has elected twenty-three (23) female senators from the 1st to the 18th Congress of the Philippines and elected two (2) female presidents. The country has also appointed two female Chief Justices, one being a victim of political persecution. Moreover, they also elected two Vice Presidents, one being the president after. This is a small number considering that 85 years have passed after Governor-General Frank Murphy passed the women's right to suffrage. Right now, there is an increase in hatred regarding female leaders. President Duterte even said derogatory remarks to his Vice President, Leni Robredo, stating that she is weak and not fit to lead. He even declared that the presidency job was not for women because of the difference in emotion compared to men. President Duterte is known for his misogynistic and sexist remarks. Her daughter, Sara Duterte-Carpio, running for Vice President, inherits his crude behavior and tactless remarks. Marcos is running again, and there is a considerable possibility that our rights which those women fought during the darkest age in Philippine history, will come again if their family runs our country. Right now, we are choosing whether we will go back again to our darkest age or elect another woman for our presidency. This decision has been given to us so let us not waste our vote and know our candidates to see if they deserve it. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Written by: Marcus Lex Cajusay Layout and Desigm by: Dan Kurt Buenaventura References: https://www.centerforbabaylanstudies.org/history https://www.univie.ac.at/ksa/apsis/aufi/wstat/mujer.htm https://ejournals.ph/article.php?id=7122) https://www.vigan.ph/history/diego-silang-and-maria-josefa-gabriela-silang.html https://www.bayaniart.com/melchora-aquino-biography/ http://library.fes.de/fulltext/iez/01109004.htm https://www.nnc.gov.ph/regional-offices/mindanao/region-xi-davao-region/4929-women-s-month-2021-the-girl-scouts-founder-josefa-llanes-escoda https://www.reportr.world/news/who-is-josefa-llanes-escoda-in-p1-000-bill-a4713-20211215 https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/718061/liliosa-hilao-first-martial-law-detainee-killed https://www.bantayog.org/barros-maria-lorena-lorie-m/ https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/04/18/duterte-leni-is-weak https://www.reuters.com/article/us-philippines-duterte-idUSKBN29J21U.

Of the high profile cases preventing presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos from running in the May 9 polls, it was those handled by the Commission on Election's First Division that proved most prominent, as it was at this court that a judgment to disqualify the son of dictator was made—a sole dissenting opinion by then Election Commissioner Rowena Guanzon. And while her decision was eventually cast aside in the court ruling, her conviction sparked public interest in both the case and herself. Thus, who is Rowena Guanzon? Ma. Rowena Amelia V. Guanzon is a lawyer, writer, professor, and well-known expert in the field of gender equality and laws on violence against women. A highly-educated individual, she obtained her bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of the Philippines (UP) and subsequently a law degree from the UP College of Law, receiving a Dean’s Medal for graduating sixth in her class. She then pursued a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Harvard University, where she was an Edward Mason Fellow and Class Marshal. In 1986, the twenty-eight-year-old Guanzon was appointed as Officer in Charge of Cadiz City—the youngest at the time—by then-President Corazon Aquino upon the recommendation of Bacolod Bishop Antonio Fortich. She then ran and won as city mayor in 1988, serving as the local chief executive until 1992 when she was able to transform Cadiz from a third-class to a first-class city. After her mayoral stint, she returned to the practice of law and handled cases in the field of women's rights. In 2008, she began teaching at the UP College of Law and was later designated as Officer-in-Charge of the Institute for the Administration of Justice of the UP Law Center in 2011. Two years later, she was made commissioner in the then all-women-led Commission on Audit, where she vowed to prioritize the utilization of gender and development budget in the bureaucracy. In addition to her already eventful career, the former commissioner has been writing prolifically, authoring numerous law books and publications, the most prominent of which include "The Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004," "The Government Auditing Code of the Philippines Casebook," "The Anti-Sexual Harassment Act: Notes and Cases," and the "Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act." Moreover, she was also the lead author of "Engendering the Philippine Judiciary'' published by the United Nations Development Fund for Women and the UP Center for Women’s Studies Foundation, as well as "The Davide Court: Its Contributions to Gender and Women’s Rights," issued by The Asia Foundation and the UP Center for Women’s Studies Foundation. It was this distinguished career and stellar track record that got her appointed by President Benigno Aquino III as COMELEC commissioner in 2015—a seven-year term which we now know ended in a dramatic spectacle when she hinted at the possible political interference within the commission, which provoked the early disclosure of her vote to disqualify Marcos Jr. from the presidential race, citing the candidate's tax conviction as a crime of moral turpitude and thus should not be allowed to run for public office. Being the lone dissenter did not deter her from making an independent judgment, one that she knows is right and just. By making such a decision, she kept the standard of quality and distinction present in the rest of her outstanding career, or as she puts it: "I want to be remembered as a commissioner with honor and excellence." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Written by: Patrick Rabi Layout and Design by: Charles Ian Ramos References: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1547044/whos-this-poll-exec-in-fighting-mood-days-before-retirement/amp https://comelec.gov.ph/index.html?r=AboutCOMELEC/CommissionMembers/CommGuanzon https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/01/30/22/the-making-of-rowena-guanzon-comelec-commissioner https://lifestyleasia.onemega.com/hear-her-roar-rowena-guanzon-has-always-been-a-woman-of-fighting-words-way-before-twitter/

Simula noong ako’y bata pa, Hinubog ako sa pangaral nila Isa na riyan ang mga lilim ng kulay, Dapat daw angkop sa aking tinataglay Asul ang paborito kong kulay, Tila niyayakap ako nito at pinapahuway Magaan ito sa lente ng aking mga mata, Na animo’y kapayapaan ang dala. Minsan, paborito ko rin ang dilaw, Lalo na sa tingkad nito kapag natanaw Sinasalamin nito ang sikat ng araw, At ang pag-asang nakapupukaw Madalas, paborito ko naman ang pula, Kakulay kasi nito ang labi niya Hindi rin kasi ako takot sa dugo, O kahit ‘di mapasakin ang kanyang puso. Malapit din sa aking loob ang berde, Ang astig kasi at ang lakas maka-lalaki Ito rin ang kulay ng mga sundalo, Maging ang masustansyang mga gulay sa bahay kubo Marami pa akong nais at gusto, Na hindi angkop sa kasarian ko Ngunit ang tanging alam ko, Walang pinipili ang kulay para ito’y maging paborito. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Written by: Moises Caleon Layout and Design by: Simon Estanislao

Referring to a person has been confined to the norms, equating sex to gender. A perfectly fine-looking guy is automatically called he/his, and a gorgeous cool girl is referred to as she/her. It has been like this ever since and overlooked as simply a way of calling for someone, either a friend or stranger. However, to our fellow nonbinary, pronouns are beyond that, especially at the workplace. Building an inclusive environment for our fellow transgender, genderqueer, and nonbinary became a dream that is somehow starting to be fulfilled. Imagine if they can express themselves fully without judgment and acknowledge their identified pronouns in all places. Most significantly, in the workplace where their potential is being discovered, they will be motivated, happy and confident. SAP Insights published an article that revealed the trials of transgender employees in the United States. A survey in 2019 found that out of 105 transgender employees, 47% experienced discrimination. One of those discriminatory acts is "being pressured to act in traditionally gendered ways." This resulted in emotional exhaustion, which turned into low satisfaction at work and a greater willingness to quit. The job itself is stressful enough for an individual. It should not be intensified by the emotional weight of hiding their identity. As the article quoted, pronouns have become a focal matter, and a driving force for inclusion as the companies shift to gender-inclusive workplaces. The shift should begin with the learning and acknowledgment of employers to their employees' pronouns in the workplace. These steps target the inclusivity of all employees, especially the transgender and nonbinary, along with the business value and proving acceptance. A sense of psychological safety is established when employees can come to work knowing that they are valued for being themselves. That safety will boost productivity, creativity, innovation, excellent retention, employee satisfaction, and long-term success. Employers can get to know the employees' pronouns by personally asking them. They can also support the "designation of pronouns on email signatures" to create a more welcoming space. Different corporate initiatives are now emerging worldwide; the Philippines is also taking steps to ensure we are taking part in inclusivity. The Manila Republic featured Teleperformance Philippines' advocacy in fostering inclusive workplaces, which also recognize gender-neutral pronouns (such as they/them) as one of their agendas. Their Senior Director for Communication Marketing, Marilyn Romero-Ventenilla, emphasized that the awareness of the person's pronouns from different genders is essential to avoid invalidation and dismissal. On the other hand, the company TaskUs, according to CNN Philippines, allows their employees to voluntarily identify their sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression (SOGIE) and using of the names and pronouns of their choice in their communications (formal and informal), official ID, and corporate email address. These are only some of the initiatives towards inclusivity. Studies showed that opening a gender-sensitive workplace will allow all genders to express themselves freely, resulting in increased work productivity and outcome. This positive effect will transcend the economy and benefit the whole community. Let's stop judging each other based on gender norms. Instead, normalize asking and sharing for our personal gender pronouns at all places and times, which must be the essential gesture of respect. The world is harsh, and peace has become harder to reach; let's not make the world more challenging to live in. Opening our hearts and minds to these topics will not do us harm. To assess if we are contributing to inclusivity, ask ourselves these questions. Are we a safe space for our LGBTQIA+ community or the opposite as we are full of invalidation that adds to their emotional baggage? The choice is ours, but I hope you decide to be the former. And by the way, before I forget, can I ask for your pronouns? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Written by: Jessel Tuazon Layout and Design by: Dan Kurt Buenaventura Reference: Baluyot, J. (2021, April 13). What does a ‘safe workplace’ look like for LGBTQ+ employees? CNN Philippines Life. Retrieved March 15, 2022, from https://www.cnnphilippines.com/life/culture/2021/4/13/lgbtq-inclusive-workplace-philippines.html Brito, J. (2018, September 18). What Does It Mean to Misgender Someone? Healthline. Retrieved March 13, 2022, from https://www.healthline.com/health/transgender/misgendering G. (2021, September 26). Let’s talk about Gender: Teleperformance shares views on creating a gender-neutral workplace. Manila Republic. Retrieved March 15, 2022, from https://www.manilarepublic.com/lets-talk-about-gender-teleperformance-shares-views-on-creating-a-gender-neutral-workplace/23006/Gender & Pronouns 101 Creating a Gender-Affirming Wheaton: A Guide. (n.d.). Wheaton College Massachusetts. Retrieved March 9, 2022, from https://wheatoncollege.edu/campus-life/social-justice-community-impact/lgbtq/the-network/creating-a-gender-affirming-wheaton-a-guide/gender-pronouns-101/Gender Pronouns. (n.d.). University of Wisconsin Milwaukee LGBTQ+ Resource Center. Retrieved March 15, 2022, from https://uwm.edu/lgbtrc/support/gender-pronouns/ Lessley, K., Overby, S., Sendra, C. (n.d.). Respecting Pronouns: Why Recognizing Employees’ Gender Expression Is Important to the Workplace. SAP INSIGHTS. Retrieved March 15, 2022, from https://insights.sap.com/respecting-employees-pronouns-important/ Tobia, J. (2016, May 12). Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Gender-Neutral Pronouns. TIME. Retrieved March 15, 2022, from https://time.com/4327915/gender-neutral-pronouns/ Wamsley, L. (2021, June 2). A Guide To Gender Identity Terms. NPR. Retrieved March 9, 2022, from https://www.npr.org/2021/06/02/996319297/gender-identity-pronouns-expression-guide-lgbtq Zambon, V. (2021, February 11). What to know about gender pronouns. Medical News Today. Retrieved March 9, 2022, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/gender-pronouns “Ze” Pronouns. (n.d.). MYPRONOUNS.ORG. Retrieved March 15, 2022, from https://www.mypronouns.org/ze-hir

Vice President Leni Robredo maintained good governance despite the attacks of trolls and other oppositions through false information dissemination, mainly—threatened men. Her office received the highest rating a government agency could ever have. June 2021, when the Office of the Vice President (OVP) received the highest audit rating from the Commission of Audit (COA) for the fiscal year 2020: the highest rating the COA can give to a government agency. “In our opinion, the accompanying financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of OVP as of December 31, 2020, and its financial performance, statement of cash flows, statement of changes in net assets/equity, statement of comparison of budget and actual amounts for the year then ended, and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies in accordance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSASs),” said the report. For the fiscal year 2018 and 2019, OVP also received an “unqualified opinion” from the state auditors making the Office receive it for three consecutive years. Meanwhile, its recertification from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is obtained in February 2021. Robredo credited the consistent highest ratings from COA to her staff. “Mahalaga ang recognition na ito dahil patunay siya sa pagpapahalaga natin sa pagsasaayos ng ating mga sistema, lalo pagdating sa maayos na paggamit ng pera ng bayan,” she said in a statement. The Office is known for its Angat Buhay Program which benefited a lot of people, particularly those in the rural areas even before the Pandemic. VP’s Angat Buhay Program On her midterm, the fiscal year 2016 to 2019, it focused on deepening its anti-poverty program Angat Buhay and bringing Istorya ng Pag-Asa to more areas and later launched the Ahon Laylayan Koalisyon. It is a movement inspired by the People’s Council in Naga City, which aims to empower various sectors for priority determination and engage community leaders in collaborative problem-solving. It provides anti-poverty interventions from the conceptualization of partner organizations in implementation with consultations with local stakeholders. For three years of the term, the Office was able to mobilize a total of PHP 18.92 million worth of resources to conduct a nutrition program for 9, 703 individuals in nine areas with the help of Assisi Development Foundation, Nutrition Foundation of the Philippines, and Negrense Volunteers for Change, among others in response to her Food Security Nutrition advocacy. For Universal Health Care’s advocacy, 84 individuals or 70 families of indigent patients from 8 different areas have received assistive devices s wheelchairs, canes and hearing aids, care of Physicians for Peace Philippines. According to the report, In San Remigio, Cebu, the OVP has built a mental health facility furnished with the help of Solanaland Foundation Inc. and ANCOP Foundation USA, Inc. The ANCOP USA also provided 120 seats and carriers and 39 nebulizers to 84 156 individuals children with cerebral palsy. Several dental and medical missions have also been given free health services and consultations to communities in need throughout the Metro Laylayan. PHP 122.96 million worth of educational infrastructure has been built, including 81 classrooms, five dormitories, learning spaces, and utilities for students in remote areas to promote Public Education and provided PHP 4.49 million worth of scholarships and technical training to equip the youths with appropriate skills for future employment. Meanwhile, around PHP 8.27 million worth of school kits have also been provided for students in the OVP’s adopted communities. “Every year, the OVP also takes part in Brigada Eskwela to help public schools in their preparation for the beginning of classes. This was made possible with the help of partners like the American Chamber of Commerce-Philippines (AMCHAM), Bato Balani Foundation, and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce, Inc. (FICCI).” Stated in the midterm 2016-2019 report of OVP. A total of 72 families has now resided in OVP’s Angat Buhay Village, a transitory house catering to those who were affected by the Marawi siege located in Marawi, Lanao del Sur. More than PHP 12.89 million have been mobilized by partners such as Piso Para Sa Laban Ni Leni, Sigma Delta Phi – Southern California Alumnae Association, JS Unitrade, RAF International, Uratex, JVR Foundation, EMCOR, United Architects of the Philippines – Quezon City Elliptical Chapter, and Metro Stonerich Corporation for transitory shelters building in order to give stepping stone for the affected families. In terms of Rural Development, a total of 13.53 million worth of resources have been mobilized for livelihood opportunities to 6,214 farmers and fisherfolk and 1,445 indigent families. This includes giving access to credit, farm inputs, and livelihood assets. VP was also able to encourage 3,776 households in areas like Agutaya and Quinapondan, with the help of our partners Team Energy and Solanaland Foundation which gave way to families to become more efficient and productive, especially in the work they do at home. Robredo also launched the #RespetoNaman campaign focused on bringing an end to gender-based violence (GBV) together with the Embassy of Sweden, Spark Philippines, and Empower. The Office also caters to programs for women empowerment. VP and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) worked together for the Babaenihan campaign to raise teenage pregnancy awareness. The office also launched a program for women political leaders called Angat Bayi through the support of the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives. As of 2019, 18 women leaders in local governments have already graduated from the program. Meanwhile, the office, as of 2022, served PHP 71.06 million worth of disaster response and rehabilitation from Partners, PHP 48.96 million Worth of disaster response and rehabilitation from the Office of the Vice President, and helped 207,244 families in coordination with various local government and Angat Buhay Partners, 7, 606 families were helped during Metro Laylayan, 3, 907 youths has served, and PHP 6.25 million worth of projects and training in benefit of 1, 253 individuals have benefited. On the other hand, the OVP’s response to Covid-19 has ballooned to PHP 505.39 million. The Office was able to mobilize PHP 56,854,320.00 worth of COVID-19 test kits and equipment, PHP 64,070,321.80 of Locally-produced PPE Other medical supplies, PHP 7,992,500.00 of Food and care packages, PHP 2,128,660.00 of Free shuttle and ferry service, PHP 43,986,592.26 of Free dormitories, PHP 15,625,000.00 of OVP shelters and Transportation for LSIs, PHP 25,618,692.82 of Assistance to communities (Relief). There are also PHP 14,106,881.43 of hot meals, PHP 390,000.00 of Community kitchen, PHP20,593.00 of Online community markets, PHP 9,052,332.33 of Sustainable livelihood and training, PHP 17,285,250.00 of Locally-funded projects such as Bayanihan e-Skwela, PHP 20,430,231.12 of Gadget drive, PHP 2,553,947.00 of Community Learning Hubs, PHP 17,500,000.00 of Instructional videos, PHP 500,000.00 of Modular distance learning (DepEd), PHP 355,990.00 of Bayanihan Sugbuanon (Cebu), PHP 162,300.00 of Free haircut service, and PHP 206,760,523.51 of Medical assistance. According to the 2020 Annual Report, As of December 2020, the Office of the Vice President’s COVID-19 Response Operations has reached 2,388 communities and hospitals nationwide, mobilizing more than PHP 505.39 million worth of resources working with 381 development organizations and partners. Today, Robredo seeks the Presidential Office as she campaigns for the seat along with nine other men. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Written by: Maria Danica Esparrago Layout and Design by: Dan Kurt Buenaventura Sources: https://ovp.gov.ph/angat-buhay.html https://ovp.gov.ph/storage/app/uploads/public/613/9fc/21a/6139fc21a1774205892763.pdf https://ovp.gov.ph/storage/app/uploads/public/616/697/b91/616697b91aea0996685839.pdf https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1452941/ovp-gets-highest-coa-rating-for-third-straight-year

President Benigno S. Aquino III signed Republic Act 10354, also known as the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012, is a bill that guarantees and enables measures for the sexual and reproductive rights of women, men, young people, and families by providing comprehensive and accessible reproductive health care services, including family planning. Following the bill’s signing, it was immediately contested in court by numerous conservative parties, prompting the Supreme Court to issue a status quo ante injunction, preventing the Reproductive Health Law from taking effect. The Supreme Court swept down several clauses in the Reproductive Health Law in its judgment last 2014. In non-emergency cases, health care practitioners will be authorized to withhold reproductive health treatments to individuals based on their personal or religious convictions. Minors seeking medical treatment who are pregnant or have experienced a miscarriage will need prior consent from their parents. One Step Forward, One Step Back For the nation's consumers and providers of reproductive health care and activists for reproductive health and rights, the adopted health care reform law seems like a tug of war. Poverty is a multifaceted problem in the Philippines. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), as of the First Semester 2021, the proportion of impoverished Filipinos living below the poverty line was 23.7 percent, or 26.14 million Filipinos. Despite the church's strong arguments against the country's ever-growing population, the church criticizes the Reproductive Health law, pending in Congress for more than a decade. As time passed, logical debates about family planning or women's reproductive rights were repeatedly lowered to philosophical, moral, and even existential debates about life and conception. One step forward, artificial family planning methods such as condoms were endlessly persecuted as sinful and classified as abortifacients, despite many scientific studies refuting such claims. One step back, "pro-life" organizations actively urged to use natural means, which some saw as time-consuming, impractical, and ineffective. Rights and Lives According to the Guttmacher Institute, the Filipino government's lengthy resistance towards modern contraception resulted in approximately 610,000 illegal abortions in 2012, with 1,000 women dying due to complications from unsafe abortion. Furthermore, the DOH HIV/AIDS and ART Registry of the Philippines (HARP) has 81,169 HIV and AIDS cases documented from January 1984 to October 2020. The inadequate implementation of the Reproductive Health (RH) law is seen as more disruptive both economically and socially. For many Filipinos, this entails a higher poverty rate, more severe unemployment, and a frequent occurrence of hunger. Poverty reduction is difficult to achieve only through macroeconomic growth. Microeconomics must be prioritized as well since more children are born from poor families than rich ones which perpetuate a cycle of poverty. Investing in reproductive health will enable the government more leeway to address the needs of the poor in the long run. Having access to family planning services, there is less of a detrimental effect on both the children and their parents’ lives. Universal access to responsible parenthood services and reproductive health care are critical building stones for the Philippines' long-term growth and development. Its significance, particularly in assisting Filipino mothers to survive pregnancy and childbirth, providing partners and individuals with the tools to make informed family decisions, and contributing to the improvement of young people's sexual and reproductive health, the abolition of gender-based violence, and the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, make the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 a relevant piece of legislation. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Written by: Shaira Mapoy Layout and Design by: Dan Kurt Buenaventura REFERENCES: ALL ABOUT THE LAW - https://pcw.gov.ph/republic-act-10354/ RH LAW 2014 - https://www.rappler.com/nation/54974-rh-law-ruling-house-representatives-reactions/ POVERTY RATE 2021 - https://psa.gov.ph/content/proportion-poor-filipinos-registered-237-percent-first-semester-2021 CHURCH VIEW - https://www.dandc.eu/en/article/catholic-church-opposes-reproductive-health-bill-philippines HOSTILITY RATE - https://www.guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/unintended-pregnancy-and-unsafe-abortion-philippines HIV AND AIDS CASES - https://doh.gov.ph/press-release/PNAC-observes-World-AIDS-Day-Philippines-2020#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20DOH%20HIV,704

It’s not that I do not like my family to sing me a ‘Happy Birthday’ song whenever my birthday comes. I just wanted to see someone sing it to me, not “when the right time comes,” but now. Behind the cheers and applause or laughter and surprise, the cake on my birthday just sours. It’s not that it’s too bad to eat in the first place. No one just wants to eat my cake—the real cake that I want for that someone to eat. Cake sours not just on my birthdays. It sours when no one likes the clothes I picked that I wanted much more than I currently have. It also sours when I venture out into the world with open arms to what is to come. It sours when I tell my family I’m gay. I don’t want my cake sour. It’s not what cakes are. Cakes are supposed to be sweet, fruity, chocolatey, exciting, exhilarating, or just cakey. Life, just like cake, turns sour when we don’t do the doing that it’s meant for. No, it’s not boredom—no, not even weariness. Self-expression is not a matter of how I want to improve myself. It’s how I want to stop pretending to be someone else—how I long to engage with the world without holding back. Liberation, for what it’s worth, awaits outside the closet. But it’s just too hard to come out of it. There are too many what-ifs just there—not even ifs but whens. Because I see how it’s too easy to drown me in a tub or knock me down to toughen me up, I keep my fragility and peace down to where it belongs. We are mermaids in a rap song, barbie doll enthusiasts in some, but we’re never doctors or scientists. “There’s no point in keeping the cake sweet” because they think the only way up is to be stiff. “No point in coming out” because they believe there is no reward. So when push comes to shove, a shovel is dug up for us. We do not think about the cake at this point. We just want to have another birthday to come. For some who do it earlier in their lives, maybe a punch would not hurt to take. But for those who are too late to realize what they want, everything becomes shaky. Some want to file annulment; some opt for banishment. Our cake is not even sweet at this point, but they choose to decorate it for us. Life becomes sourer when we are not in control of it. So those who have it mildly sour decide to hide it behind doors. Those who are unaware of the plethora of cake choices choose the cake that tastes faux-sweet. We turn a closet into a world of our own. We expand it. Sooner, our pursuit of happiness, which we thought to have been solved, becomes an empty success. We do not do it in vain—the resentment is natural. The world does not want us yet, and it is too hard to see how we can love ourselves. Grumpiness must be the response, but gay is a synonym for happiness. When are we ever right? When are we even appreciated? When are we even incentivized to live? There’s no point that I can answer these things, but the sooner we get a bill passed, the sooner we can make the cake sweeter than it is now. A sweet cake awaits us. We do not have to run, hide, destroy everything and anything, hurt or tortured. At least wait for the sweet cake to come and greet you with a new happy birthday. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Written by: Jantzen Eros Layout and Design by: Cris Cudal and Charles Ian Ramos

Lipstick sales are down, while skin-care products are on the rise. When the pandemic hit, the beauty and personal care industry experienced a lot of swings in demand. Retail businesses were shut down, and employees were forced to work from home. Date evenings were a thing of the past, and while cosmetic and fragrance industries suffered, skincare remained resilient. When a consumer is at home, their beauty habits shift. According to Baird (2020), 90% of women say they apply little or no makeup while working from home since they prefer to focus on self-care rather than cosmetic glam. Since there are lockdowns, many people see little or no need to wear cosmetics, which is often linked with socializing and going out. Instead, consumers prioritized cleanliness and hygiene. L’Oréal Philippines Country Managing Director Supriya Singh said the pandemic had induced the shift in the beauty industry. “In the past, our business has always been make-up heavy, but this new normal has driven some changes,” she noted, citing a boom in skincare, which has extended regimen. Because of the work-from-home set-up, women are less likely to wear make-up. Make-up accounted for 80% of L'Oréal's overall sales locally two years ago, but hair and skincare products have increased quicker to around 50 percent with the pandemic. With Zoom and other video conferencing platforms, people's perceptions about the importance of looking good began to shift. According to Lycored's research, 54% of respondents claimed that the rise in video calls has made them think about their appearance more. During the pandemic, most people were facing social isolation, and there was a lot of talk about mental health. Suddenly people wanted products that could give them that positive and emotional boost. Then sensory beauty products that provide mental and emotional comfort became popular among customers, and there were thousands of skincare posts on Instagram dedicated to alleviating stress during the pandemic. Since people are spending more time online, resulting in a more diversified consumer market that is more educated about skincare, more concerned with the ingredients used in formulations, and more connected to influencers they trust and listen to, which affects the demand for skincare products. The popularity of k-beauty is another factor that influences the demand for skincare. The Hyun Bin-Son Ye-jin hit series Crash Landing On You influenced Filipinos to explore serums, essences, tone-up creams, and water gels to achieve the almost glass-like skin of K-drama leading ladies. However, today's most crucial beauty trend is that women are becoming more relaxed in their approach to beauty and open to embracing flaws, especially on stressful days brought by the pandemic. Some call it letting go, but we like to think of it as self-love and accepting our imperfections. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Written by: Pamela Peñalver Layout and Design by: Simon Estanislao References: https://www.cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/Article/2021/10/14/Quick-beauty-Filipino-beauty-consumers-prioritising-efficiency-in-make-up-post-COVID https://www.cosmeticsdesign.com/Article/2021/09/27/Beauty-as-self-care-increased-during-lockdown-research-shows https://mb.com.ph/2020/09/06/the-changing-beauty-industry-landscape-in-the-time-of-pandemic/ https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/08/23/beauty-trends-we-have-seen-in-quarantine/ https://www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/Article/2020/12/22/Beauty-trends-during-COVID-19-changed-including-hygiene-safety-and-digital-focus-says-CosmeticsDesign-Europe https://www.accupac.com/articles/the-skin-care-boom/ https://content.rwbaird.com/RWB/sectors/PDF/consumer/Impact-of-Covid-19-on-Beauty-Wellness.pdf

Feminism has become increasingly prevalent in recent years. Women emphasized that they are more than just women—they are strong, capable leaders who can break down barriers. However, we should keep in mind that feminism should not be limited to liberal feminism; it should be intersectional. Some advocates delved deeper into intersectional feminism through viewing vlogs, buying books, and listening to podcasts by well-known feminists. Women who had been silent for far too long, especially those who had lost their voices while enduring gender disparities in salary, politics, domestic, and work responsibilities. Mustered the strength to take a stand and fight for their rights. Here's a list of books written by award-winning feminist authors that can be viewed online. If you want to learn more about intersectional feminism without spending a lot of money on books: 1. Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body by Roxane Gay Trigger Warning: Rape “This is what most girls are taught—that we should be slender and small. We should not take up space. We should be seen and not heard, and if we are seen, we should be pleasing to men, acceptable to society. And most women know this—that we are supposed to disappear—but it’s something that needs to be said, loudly, repeatedly, so that we can resist surrendering to what is expected of us.” In her immensely compelling memoir, Hunger, Roxane Gay, an outspoken feminist, and essayist, details her experiences and trauma and her connection with food and her weight. When she was 12 years old, she was gang-raped by the boy she had a crush on and his friends. As a result, she turned to overeat as a solution, believing that she could use it as a fortress to protect herself if she became large enough. Gay's vulnerability and struggles as a feminist and an obese woman were bravely revealed in this book. She also discussed rape culture, body shaming, racism, obese women, and the fat acceptance movement. If you’re struggling with weight but still want to take up your space, this is the book! 2. Women, Race, and Class (1981) by Angela Davis Women, Race, and Class focused on the intersections of gender, race, and class in the lives of Black women from slavery to the abolitionist and women's suffrage movements. Angela Davis also demonstrated how whiteness and elitism's social and political domination in feminism led to the abandonment of solidarity with the working class and Black people. She also demonstrated how inequalities between Black and white women have influenced contemporary concerns, including rape, reproductive freedom, housekeeping, and childcare. She asserted that even though Black women were legally freed from slavery. They were still oppressed and subjected to the worst working conditions such as domestic labor, where they were often exposed to violence at the hands of male employers. She argued that the feminism mentioned above movement failed to address the underlying issue of economic inequality caused by capitalism. This book explains why everyone, should be intersectional feminists and not just liberal feminists. 3. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969) by Maya Angelou Trigger Warning: Rape “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” Maya Angelou deftly covers topics of molestation, rape, and racism in her autobiography, which spans her early years from the age of four to sixteen. She bravely shared her trauma of being raped by her mother’s boyfriend when she was eight years old. The man threatened to kill her brother when her mother and brother discovered the horrific molestation. Broken up to the trial and death of her rapist, which caused her to stop speaking for several years. After some time, Angelou understands that she may be accessible by learning to love herself, cultivating a strong spirit, and loving literature. If you're looking for something painful yet uplifting and powerful, this one's for you! 4. Sister Citizen: Shame, Stereotypes, and Black Women in America (2011) by Melissa Harris-Perry Sister Citizen focused on Black women's lived experiences, particularly their challenges with being stereotyped as Jezebel (the overly sexual woman), Mammy (the devoted employee to her white masters), and Sapphire (the angry Black woman). Harris-Perry emphasized how prevailing prejudices influenced the way Americans perceive Black women, hindering the latter’s ability to engage as American citizens, particularly in terms of political opinions. If you enjoy reading books with concepts backed up by peer-reviewed sources, empirical data, and political analysis, this book is for you. 5. Feminism Is for Everybody (2000) by bell hooks Feminism Is for Everybody is a straightforward and concise introduction to intersectional feminism, with concepts and theories stated simply and plainly to demonstrate that feminism is for everyone. The author, bell hooks, addressed several common misconceptions about the feminist movement. Emphasizing that it is fighting “to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression,” contrary to popular belief that it is anti-male. She also addressed some of the challenges that feminists face, including reproductive rights, violence, race, class, and work. If you are interested in learning more about feminism without understanding all the jargon, you must read this book. 6. Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race (2017) by Reni Eddo-Lodge “Discussing racism is not the same thing as discussing ‘Black identity.’ Discussing racism is about discussing white identity. It’s about white anxiety.” In multiple chapters, I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race examines class, race, gender, and privilege issues. The history of slavery and racism in the United Kingdom; also looked at white privileged, white-washed feminism. Reni Eddo-Lodge authored this book to close the gap in the race discourse and emphasize that feminism should be a movement that looks to emancipate. Individuals, particularly disabled, non-binary, LGBTQIA+, and working-class people. She pointed out that feminism can only be said to have succeeded when poverty is eradicated. By default, women are no longer compelled to work “two jobs (the care and emotional labor for their families and their day jobs).” If you’re searching for a book standing for the difficulties of overcoming structural racism, this is a must-read. 7. Hood Feminism (2020) by Mikki Kendall “For a movement that is meant to represent all women, it often centers on those who already have most of their needs met.” Hood Feminism is a compelling collection of writings that delves into societal issues. Such as hunger, poverty, violence, homelessness, health disparities, homophobia, and socioeconomic inequities that have impacted women of color. In this book, Mikki Kendall takes aim at liberal feminism. Claiming that it has consistently failed to meet the needs of all women. Regularly focusing on increasing privilege rather than survival or discussing major feminist issues. This book aims to encourage everyone to examine their privilege and act. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Written by: Daisy Mae Concepcion Layout and Design by: Dan Kurt Buenaventura

In celebrating Pride Month, what is the best way to commemorate the occasion by learning about queer athletes who achieved heights of success in sports and advocating for the LGBTQ+ community? Since sports have become more diverse, queer athletes are steadily gaining respect and recognition in sports. First, in acquiring knowledge of the definition of queer, a “person whose sexual orientation or gender identity falls outside the heterosexual mainstream or the gender binary.” All the lesbians, gay, bisexual, and transgender people are about this because their sexual orientation and gender identity cater outside the traditional male-female binary and different-sex attractions. Further, if you are leaning towards gender-neutral, non-binary, agender, genderfluid, pansexual, asexual, solo sexual, and the like, the Q in LGBTQ caters to it. In terms of sports and the game that bonds people, the LGBTQIA+ still struggles in the field of sports through progress in many avenues of the area has been made. Some of the notable figures of the LGBTQIA+ community in 2020 helped spearhead better treatment and standards within the sporting community for the LGBTQIA+ community. First among these figures is Megan Rapinoe, the captain of the US Women Women Women’s National Soccer team, achieving many awards such as an Olympic gold medalist and 2-time World Cup winner. She publicly came out in the year 2012 identifying herself as gay. She is outspoken in advocating the LGBTQIA+ plus the gender and racial inequalities in sports. Second among these people is Billie Jean King, one of the greatest tennis players to touch the sport. Aside from the fame, she outed as a lesbian in 1981; she worked for well-known gender equality and LGBTQIA+ rights activists. In the 2017 NBC news, she tells an unbelievable story on how her team wanted her to hide her sexuality, but she refused since it was vital for her to tell the truth. Third is Sue Bird, a four-time Olympic gold medal winner who won multiple WNBA, NCAA, and Euroleague championships. Sue Bird told how she and Megan Rapinoe were dating in 2016 and that in 2017 she publicly came out about her sexuality in an ESPNW feature. Considering this in 2018 during the Seattle Times in 2018, she stresses the importance of coming out publicly or in general, making it a norm in the contemporary setting. Fourth is Orlando Cruz, that came out in 2012, making him the first openly gay professional boxer in history. In his interview with the Associated Press, he outed he states how he wanted to be true to himself. He wants to become the best role model for kids who might be interested in boxing as a sport and a professional career. Last but not least is Tom Daley, a British diver who won a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympics, the year after he outed and told the world that he was dating a man. In speaking to The Times in 2015 on the topic of labels on sexuality, he said that his generation should not be labeled and that sexuality is a more fluid thing, plus identifying him as a queer as mentioned above. Also, he is vocal with the anti-LGBTQIA+ laws that oppress and criminalizes LGBT+ causing inequality and how that one day every athlete can compete in the commonwealth no matter what sexuality or gender orientation. In the context of the Philippine setting, we have our queer queen in sports, the recent Olympic Athlete Margielyn Didal, who competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She is a Filipina Skateboarder who was publicly outed as a member of the LGBTQ+. Margielyn Didal is exceptionally outspoken about her sexuality and how her friends and family support her for who she is and respects her goals and dreams in the fields she chooses. This kind of healthy upbringing and understanding makes athletes the caliber of who they are in expressing their talents. These figures who are not afraid to speak for who they are makes queer people in sports changers of the playing field, fighting for equality and battling themselves for who they are. Still, progress is to be made, but talks and people pushing and fighting to make a dream come true of extracting the hate and turning it into support is healthy for all the sporting community and the children who are viewers and future of each sport. In general, it is humanely, and equal to give rights to other people since the inequality and oppression is there, full acceptance for the cause, so if the SOGIE Bill in our country could become a law, it would help not only the people in sports or the LGBTQ+ community but all the Filipinos in totality. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Written by: Leo Llanita Layout and Design by: Dan Kurt Buenaventura Reference: 'About time': Margielyn Didal one with LGBTQ+ Olympic athletes unleashing a rainbow wave. (2021, July 29). Spin.ph. https://www.spin.ph/life/people/margielyn-didal-one-with-lgbtq-olympic-athletes-a1404-a2442-20210729-lfrm Ilina Singh: "I knew I wanted to study science but realised I Couldn’t name a single scientist who looked like me". (2022, March 10). MissMalini | Latest Bollywood, Fashion, Beauty & Lifestyle News. https://www.missmalini.com/2022/03/10/ilina-singh-i-knew-i-wanted-to-study-science-but-realised-i-couldnt-name-a-single-scientist-who-looked-like-me/ Just a moment... (2019, June 19). Just a moment... https://www.philstar.com/sports/2019/06/19/1927790/pride-month-queer-people-sports Villarreal, D. (2019, September 20). What does queer mean? Well, there’s no one definition. LGBTQ Nation. https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2019/09/queer-mean-well-theres-no-one-definition/

Madalas mong paghinalaan ang sarili mo. Sabagay, sa dami ba naman ng bumabatikos sayo imposibleng hindi ka tamaan ng ligaw na bato. Ang sabi mo, walang dating ang iyong pagdating, walang awtoridad ang iyong tinig. Madalas na biro mo’y ikaw ang maykatha ng linya sa kantang “kung nag-aatubili” ni Syd Hartha, "di mapapangakong masasalo baka ika'y aking mabigo ako'y 'di pa buo" Ang sabi mo, kulang ka tulad ng dikta nila. Pero mali ka, mali ka babae. Isa kang regalo, na hindi na dapat ibalot ng wrapper noong unang panahon Propesyonal, na hindi na dapat dinidiktahan. Walang kahina-hinala sa iyong kakayahan: Modernong bahay, Pinapangarap ng karamihan Pinaghahandaan, Pinag-iipunan, Dapat na ingatan. Pinupuno, Ng mga bagay na kung tawagin ng karamiha’y; Kaartehan Na aking wari kahuluga’y, ‘Kagandaha’y pinananatili’. Isa kang tubig, na walang hugis Ngunit saan man dalhin Ika'y nakikibagay, bumabagay, Nagiging isa. Kailanma’y, hindi mapapanis, hindi malalaos, sapagkat presensya mo'y labis. Ibang klase ka. Sa industriyang tatahakin, Nama'y matutunan mong magalak sa ngalang, babae, Hindi mainsulto, Malawak ang lugar mo rito, May lugar ka rito. Pilit nilang itatanim, Ambisyosa ka, Makonsumo ka, Masyado nang mataas ang presyo, Ng kalidad at atensyon mo. Igagalang kita, sa kung paano mo ikokonsumo ang buhay mo sa lipunang ito. Mula sa pagnais abutin ang posisyon sa korporasyon, o sa kahit ano mang aspekto, hindi salita nila ang magpapababa sayo. Upang mapasilong ang singkwenta porsyentong lakas ng babaeng ipinagkaitan ng trabaho. Halina’t sabay nating haplusin ang likod ng isa’t isa habang isinusuka ang pamantayang binuo nila. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Written by: Lyka Tan Layout and Design by: Charles Ian Ramos