Author Archives: admin

What Is Bogging Down the Philippines’ COVID-19 Response?

By admin | April 1, 2021

Published by The Diplomat More than a month after imposing a lockdown in mainland Luzon, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said the order to stay at home will be extended for another two weeks to contain COVID-19. But as more cases of infection continue to be reported, the authorities have hinted at the possibility of a […]

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Pedagogy of the digitally oppressed

By admin | March 22, 2021

Published by Bulatlat Under the ‘new normal’ of internet-based learning, those at the margins of society could find themselves struggling against further exclusion. The concept of access needs further exploration beyond the popular understanding that it is mainly about the installation of broadband networks and distribution of gadgets to the community. More than the means […]

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IFEX April 2020 regional briefs

By admin | March 15, 2021

Pandemic exacerbates digital gap and media censorship in Asia-Pacific An important component in the global campaign against the COVID-19 pandemic is upholding and promoting access to information. Unfortunately, this is severely undermined across the Asia-Pacific region. How can people get reliable data if they are disconnected from communication networks? What happens to media credibility if […]

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Bayan Metro Manila decries intensifying police harassment of community relief campaigns and peaceful protests

By admin | February 28, 2021

Published by Bayan Metro Manila The police should immediately stop its trolling and terror tactics targeting activists and community leaders who are in charge of grassroots relief efforts. We condemn the rising cases of harassment by state troops in our communities. Officials identifying themselves as DILG and intelligence operatives have repeatedly harassed our members and […]

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What it means to be a lockdown protester in the Philippines

By admin | February 13, 2021

Published by Bulatlat Hint: It has nothing to do with far-right ‘covidiots’ and anti-vaxxers. Lockdown protests are derided in many parts of the world because of the threat they pose to public health. The deliberate disregard for social distancing rules provokes not just the spite of authorities but also the paranoia of quarantined residents. The […]

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A woman’s place is in the resistance: From the Aurat March to Shaheen Bagh

By admin | February 2, 2021

Written for IFEX Women challenging patriarchy in Pakistan, fighting for democracy in Hong Kong, defying the communications blockade in Kashmir, and leading the sit-in against the CAA in India’s Shaheen Bagh. Read more

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Love and life lessons from watching Korean TV dramas

By admin | January 15, 2021

Published by Bulatlat The best moments in ‘Hotel del Luna’ showed us why letting go may be difficult but more important in demonstrating what it means to love. It is not how long we attach ourselves to an ideal other that defines our commitment but also when we finally muster the courage to accept that […]

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Duterte Is Killing the Philippines’ Environment

By admin | January 2, 2021

Published by The Diplomat In addition, mining, logging, and reclamation activities are expected to intensify if the proposal to change the 1987 constitution is passed by Congress. There are various drafts submitted to Congress, but all of them include several provisions allowing foreign ownership of lands and the exploitation of the country’s resources. Critics have […]

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Delayed relief and slow testing abet domestic violence against women and children

By admin | December 27, 2020

Published by Bayan Metro Manila The government’s failure to provide adequate assistance and its delayed decision to conduct massive COVID-19 testing could worsen domestic violence in the country. Violence against women and children (VAWC) is a silent killer that is seldom reported or noticed. In many communities, women bear the brunt of household work and […]

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When the People Have a Voice: The Value of Free Social Media in Southeast Asia

By admin | December 4, 2020

Written for Global Asia. Published in June 2014 WHEN the Royal Thai Army launched a coup in Thailand on May 22, the generals announced it through social media accounts. This makes sense, considering that about a third of Thailand’s population of 67 million has access to the Internet. And after the army seized control of […]

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