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"The Global Campaign for Women's Empowerment."

Being a woman in a society dominated and lead by men is truly challenging. It has become the struggle of even the previous women in our lives, may it be our great grandmothers, grandmothers, and mother; what is more alarming, and saddening is that we are somehow having better treatments and better opportunities than all of them combined before. So imagine, if the opportunities we are now experiencing is the “better” of it all, I could not bear in mind the feeling of “worse”. Thus, the continuity of fighting for our rights and life, is a constant journey that will be experienced by every woman in every generation.

To not be able to express ourselves, in every aspect there is. Unfortunately, there are some women who are still afraid to wear clothes that express their feelings, or use words and phrases, because every eye is on a woman who is confident in her own skin. Women are being called names, whereas men are being recognized as brave. The same thing that could make a girl unworthy, is the same thing that would make a boy be idolized. With the existing contrasts and indirectly proportional aspects of how the world sees a man and a woman, our fight to equality and justice still has a long way to go.  

Having said these, the importance of having laws that mandates the safety and protects the welfare of women are truly important and crucial, to let them know that in every action, there is a consequence involved. The abuses and maltreatments towards a woman will not be kept in close doors anymore, it could be and should be addressed within proper settings in the presence of the authorities. The abuses that women are experiencing are so common that is sometimes shrugged off as “Ganyan naman kasi talaga ‘yan”, which in no way is ever  justifiable.

Now is the time to pursue an international mandate that will not be blinded by the powers of patriarchy, unjust society, and power play. Let us take care of every woman in our lives and cure the ignorance of many. Let’s influence every policy in the world and disturb the comfortable, let them know that women are suffering because of things which seemed trivial to some, but big deal to us. To fight for the rights of women, is to fight for gender equality and misinformation. Hoping that there will come a time that all genders are treated equally and without reservations.

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The State of a Woman: Constant Struggle of a Woman

Women have been advancing in many various areas, moreover, we are gaining our recognition and equality among men in the field of education, employment, suffrage, economics, and etc. However, despite these great achievements and movements led by women to ensure that everyone is entitled to their own right, own being, and own essence; abuses were still and are still rampant in the country. Despite the many battles of stereotyping that we have won, there will always be something that will still drag our feet and remind us that being a woman, is a hard work.

Not unless every living woman is entitled to the same privilege and respect as to the others, we have never really completely won against the abuses of patriarchy and misogyny. The norm should be where the rights of the few, becomes the reality of many (of all). It is just frustrating to see that sometimes, women are still seen less just because of the different reproductive functions. Isn’t it ironic that we, as women, could have the strength and the ability to nurture another human being inside our body, until they are ready to be born our body keeps them safe and nurtured, yet because of this wonder, women are deemed less?

Women are regarded less because of a function that no man could ever do. It’s alarming how the worth of people are only equated by how they can produce money for the family, when in fact women could also do when we are not constantly fighting discrimination and abuses in our daily lives. There are still people who are conditioned about gender roles, gender biases, stereotypes, and discrimination; that everything is binary, everything is between two choices, work is based on physicality and worth is based on what’s down there.

We are on a constant struggle of proving ourselves to the whole world, and no matter how much we try, we are still lagging two steps behind. The sharp contradictions that every Filipina is facing, are the same conditions that has unfortunately haunted their grandmothers and their future grandchildren. The root of the problem should be eradicated in order for its solution to be on a long-term basis and not just a band-aid, but the problem is deeply embedded in our culture, traditions, and beliefs, that educating those perpetrating such violence is a challenge woman constantly face.

May all women, experience the privilege and rights every other women are enjoying, and may they come a day that regardless of status, place, residency, and background, all are able to live freely and enjoy a good life, free from gender stereotypes and biases.

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The Way Women Are

It is no secret that women are being oppressed since way back in the long track of the history of time. However, it is just so trivial that because of the emergence and introduction of the culture of the colonizers in the country, that we also started to undermine the potentials and the being of a woman, most importantly their womanhood.

During pre-colonization era, the Philippines has a high regard over women. They are our Babaylan, whom are the ones who communicate with the spirits and guide the tribe’s warriors and leaders with their advices and wise thinking. However, due to the influence of foreign men who invaded the country, all practices, traditions, and cultures that we have, respecting and recognizing the greatness of a woman are now being eradicated and replaced with a misconception of how they should just remain behind the realms of the shadow of a man.

The forward thinking of the Filipinos during that era was substituted with a backward principle of how women are being less than a man. I think the emergence of the marginalization of women comes from the influence of outside powers and teachings. Since then, we have lived in a patriarchal society that hinders the growth of women, especially those who do not have the capacity and the privilege to stand up for themselves and protect themselves. Adding to the fact that even though such thinking spread years ago, but we could not deny its effects for we are still experiencing it until now. Given the present times, with the presence of media, women are now more equipped and are given the chance to express themselves in a manner they deemed confident to do so.

The shift of the way women is treated could be because of the Western perspective that men and women should fit into a role and that gender is binary. According to Talcott Parsons, gender is a role that is complimentary with each other, where men are referred as the strong one, in terms of physique and physical attributes and women bears the weight of childbearing therefore giving men the workload of being the breadwinner of the family and the women as caregivers.  

Men and women are taught to socialize in away that they complement one another to be deemed as worthy of a romantic relationship. Furthermore, men are taught instrumental qualities, confidence, and competitiveness, while women are taught expressive qualities of empathy and sensitivity. All of these traits prepare these young boys to be part of the labor workforce and the young girls to be family keepers.  

The way we are living today are products of different conditioning we have all went through. Thus, the way women are today, is the result of the gradual and consistent shaping of the minds of the young, to enforce them to fit into a role that will deem them desirable.

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How Can I Contribute?

Well, it is disheartening that even though how contemporary and modernized our society is today, we cannot still escape from misogynistic remarks, gender biases and stereotypes, catcalling, and many more – I, personally, am a witness and have experienced these types of injustices. I live in a world that being a woman that is outspoken and have a strong personality is a privilege rather than a right. Yes, there are conditions and circumstances that it is normalized, however outside the premises of my comfort and safe zone is a world full of judgment and patriarchal beliefs.  And what’s more alarming because here in the Philippines, we are considered to have one of those states that value a woman – if I am experiencing these kinds of inequalities, how much more for those who live in an area where women are treated less than men.

I know that gender inequality and bias do not only happen specifically towards women, but it is the most rampant and common one. Some women are not only vulnerable in roads, streets, or workplaces, but even in their own households. I can only imagine how far a young girl can only dreamt of, if only she was given the chance to do so. I personally know someone who is robbed of this chance because of patriarchal thinking and unfair treatment. Every time I see her, I think “What if she was able to break free?” and with this, I have always instilled in my mind that women must be taught of their rights in order for them to realize their potentials and be free from abusive practices and approach.

Campaigns are flooding in social media, but they could only do as much if the target audience, or those who needs them the most could not be able to see them. Frankly speaking, depending solely on algorithm is not so ideal. I propose, which I hope I would be able to do in the near future when I have resources at hand, to educate and engage with women, young girls, and mothers in the barangay level, teaching them and informing them about their rights as a woman. Because I think, abuses in the household are tolerated because of fear, fear of abandonment and judgment, but with my advocacy, I hope that someday I can reach those young girls and help them rebuild their hopes and dreams.

It may sound so idealistic, but a time will come that I will be able to pursue this with help of the right people, adequate resources, experience, and legal knowledge to assist them and be with them in this tough battle. As of now, I could study more and be a better person to prepare myself in the future. So for the meantime, I could engage using my social media platforms and reach out to friends and colleagues who may possibly need my help; step by step until I reach my goal.

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Critique to the Rape Law

Republic Act 8353: The Anti-Rape Law of 1997 which was approved on September 30, 1997 is a 24-year-old law that expanded the definition of the crime of rape and reclassified it as a crime against persons. However, as information is becoming more available at hand, so as the need to reevaluate if such provisions of the law are inline with its objectives, particularly in safeguarding young ones with this beastly act and crime.

In Article 266-A. Rape: When And How Committed. – Rape is committed: 1) By a man who shall have carnal knowledge of a woman under any of the following circumstances: d) When the offended party is under twelve (12) years of age or is demented, even though none of the circumstances mentioned above be present.

The above provision defines that a rape is committed upon carnal knowledge with a party that is under 12 years old. The Philippines has the lowest age of consent throughout the whole world, a 12-year-old kid cannot fully consent to sexual acts due to their naïve nature and tenderness as human being. Absolving a criminal from statutory rape because of a consenting twelve-year old is just wrong in so many levels. We must safeguard our youth with this illicit act, to protect them from any forms of abuses that may arise. Such act can and must be categorized as a child abuse for a mere child of that age is far from knowledgeable about the consequences of what was done unto them. Raising the age of consent from 12 to 16 years old will have a significant effect which can guarantee the safety of our children, whenever and wherever they may be.

The next provision is about the effect of forgiveness of a wife to her legal husband, which can absolve the abuser to any penalty they must face.

Article 266 – C. Effect of Pardon: The subsequent valid marriage between the offended party shall extinguish the criminal action or the penalty imposed. In case it is the legal husband who is the offender, the subsequent forgiveness by the wife as the offended party shall extinguish the criminal action or the penalty: Provided, That the crime shall not be extinguished or the penalty shall not be abated if the marriage is void ab initio.

The act of rape can be absolved by the forgiveness of the aggrieved party, which in my opinion, is a problematic stand. Being in a love affair or a relationship should not and will not justify the crime committed to their significant other; in which this can be a manifestation of abuse inside the household, inside the family because in the first place, why would a husband, a loving husband, force himself to their wife? Such perverted act should not be condoned for we do not know the amount of courage the wife had to gather just to report the incident – this humiliating and degrading incident. No one would put themselves on a shoe that will further damage their well-being.  

We must be thorough and consider every aspect in protecting the rights of women and the children. Revisions of such policy could answer the longing calls and tragedies that these poor people have been put into. I pray that the law would further enable and empower the aggrieved victims of this inhumane act.

[myroomisblue]

Lessons in Unionism 101

Upon interviewing a labor union leader, I was greeted with the injustices and sufferings that our labor workforce is subjected into every day of their lives. How unfortunate as to some of their rights as workers, and even as humans, were being neglected just because in the name of business and profit. How the moment they start to assert such rights, they will be threatened to lose something they cannot afford to be taken away from them – their livelihood.

Coined as forces of development and enablers of the productivity of the society; our labor sector is often marginalized and taken for granted and unfortunately this was because of how easily replaceable they are in the pool of high underemployment and unemployment rates in the country. They are celebrated every first of May yet other than that they are forgotten. It may seem like their fights were only being heard of once a year. The disparity of wages between national and local standards is another issue accompanied with the rising of prices of goods. It is a tedious process for labor unions to negotiate and bargain for additional compensation, yet the process is seemingly opposite for the rise of prices of basic necessities and needs.

This week’s topic showed me the reality of the growing divide between the rich and the poor – where the rich become richer, and the poor becomes poorer. And this divide affects millions of Filipinos who were hanging desperately on a thread trying to make a living and provide three meals a day for their family. The reality that life is unfair, and ordinary workers were more vulnerable to oppression, where assertion of their rights could lead to red tagging and various connected issues.

The poor is powerless compared to huge multi-national, international companies which decides on who to employ and not, which resulted to formation of labor unions which lobbies their concerns as individuals through the management. Such action proves there is strength in numbers and power in unity, when people come together, they become more powerful and acquire a united voice which presents their rights to the heads above. Yes, the imbalance is noticeable, but through labor unions lead and organized by the same people on the ground, I am praying for the betterment of the status of the forces that drives the development of our society.

I hope that through lobbying their sentiments and through organizations that aid these employees’ association, they can be granted with their rights, benefits, and entitlement they are long deprived of.

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Improvement of Health = Rise of Economy

COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the existing flaws, and inequities that have been entrenched in the industry of labor workforce in our country. Many of those with fewer resources and protections, such as those in informal employment or in a variety of work arrangements, have been the most vulnerable and during this time of crisis, low-paid, often low-skilled workers were heavily affected. Many of the so-called "frontline workers," who put their life in danger, by exposing themselves to the virus in order to keep vital services running during lockdowns, were also the ones who were working in low-wage industries. Aside from the medical personnel (discussion with relation to this is reserved for another day), those who are working blue-collar jobs are suffering twice as hard.

 In spite the efforts of the government and private companies, through changing the lockdowns (juggling between saving the economy of the health sector) and work from home set-up, millions of workers in the country still lost their jobs. Young people are the most affected because of the closure of institutions means that they are limited to online classes. That causes to be turned down by the companies for internship and apprenticeships for everybody is still adjusting. The future of the labor force is at risk when these youths have a hard time entering the labor market because of their background and lack of experiences.

 In the slow distribution of vaccine, or other effective treatments for the virus, the government should find ways to mitigate the impact of COVID - 19 to the labor force. First, they should fix the pandemic response in the country for you can’t uplift the struggling economy without uplifting the health sector. The administration quite forgot that an economy won’t strive if the people living within it is facing a more serious problem of combatting between life and death. We cannot go back as soon as possible to the “old” normal, nor impose the “new” normal, without having an adequate response to what is happening inside our turf. There are even rumors that our borders will open to some countries – which in my opinion is a neglect of the fact that we are categorized as one of the mostly infected states in the world. How can we uplift our economy with such poor reputation?

 Second, providing job search assistance and ensuring adequate income protection. They should target the workers who are in the vulnerable sector to make this more effective. Benefit eligibility restrictions should always be accompanied by assistance in finding employment for job seekers through training and job preparation. Third, adapting the job retention schemes. Job retention schemes will be a great help for workers in the minorities sector, such as workers having fixed term works, ethnic minorities, and low-paid workers.

 All in all, I call for the end of contractualization and job orders in the country. It is time to give the overdue benefits for our workers.  

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Marriage Contract: Consume or on Before...

Even the mere thought of contractualizing marriage is very unique and out of the box. It was said that the Congress attempted to pass a law that will legalize or contractualize the validity of marriage; a 5-year renewable contract. This will not be a sound law for the Philippines rather this is a weak attempt to counter the need of a Divorce law in the country. Instead of giving marriage an expiration date, why not grant others the freedom from abusive relationships and spouses through divorce, without inconveniencing those who are happily married? Isn’t it quite ironic when one of the reasons why divorce is not yet legalized in our country, is the reason of not disrupting the life of happily married couples and their family, yet now a bill is contested for them to renew it every five years? To think that the Philippine Passport has longer validity than marriage!

Implementing an expiration date on marriage certificates equates it to having driver’s license (there are even some instances where a person will forget that their license is about to expire), passport, and etc.— is love now given a measurable value and due date? Our country and its laws show much respect and a high worth of sanctity with regard to marriage and family, yet here we are having been informed that the Congress will put an end date to marriage. Besides, it will be an additional expense, not only in the financial aspects but in time as well. What if the couple decided to live in a place away from where they were married? That will cost money and time to fly back or drive back to the locality where they were registered. In addition, what would be the penalty once they were not able to renew their marriage contract?

This proposal may have its own sets of pros, but I am quite convinced that its cons outweigh whatever that may be. If they want to pass this so much, why not pass the Divorce laws instead and have a more meaningful and substantial policy that will aid distressed families, while not affecting and jeopardizing those who are living peacefully and happily.

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To Will or Not to Will?

Yes, it is for the best, of everyone concerned, to prepare a will.

I will give my answer right off the bat for I am strong believer that experience really is the best teacher. In my case, my grandparents own some properties and land, in which I have no idea how vast that may be, and to mention they are now deceased, and both died around ten years ago; leaving my father and the rest of their eleven children something to inherit.

In the best of my knowledge – they all inherited a portion of it, some of my uncles and aunties constructed their own homes in their respective lots, but here’s the catch: not every portion of the land was equally divided yet, and as far as the typical Filipino families were concerned, our family too had our fair share of an “Agawan sa Lupa” episode, and my words cannot stress enough how important, time-conserving, convenient, “relationship-saver”, a will is. I find it also confusing as to how blood relationships automatically turn sour whenever there is partition of lands involved – how soil becomes thicker than blood.

Writing a will, will also guarantee that every portion or piece of the inheritance will be shared as equally and as justifiable as the testator deemed may be. The privilege to be an heir will not be abused by people who asserts their “rights” with the expense of bullying others just because they can. An “Agawan sa Lupa” episode is a tedious and expensive experience to be honest because some people will go for an extra mile just to take advantage of others, a pretty ironic trait from our close-family-ties character.

It is also evident in some cases presented by this module, how there are people that think they are entitled for such rights even though they are not. What’s a more secure and an effective way to protect your properties (and your heirs) by preparing a will yourself, right? The pros always outweigh the cons in this matter, and up until now I am still saddened by the effects of a missing will to our family.  

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Submitted Late: Due 30 Years Ago

              One of the existing ironies in the Philippines is its lack of a law that strategizes the use of its land. With about 300,000 sq. km. of this natural resource, it is alarming that the Legislative branch of the State cannot deem the importance of having a provision that plans and focuses on the sustainability and social responsibility of having these land areas. The call to action of passing the Natural Land Use Act began since the 9th Congress, nearly approaching its third decade of being lobbied and mentioned in news channels, segments, and even on the State of the Nation Addresses of President Aquino and President Duterte.

               Well, maybe there’s a catch, because an almost thirty years of fighting for a supposed to be promising Act, does not really makes sense. Unfortunately, there isn’t any for it only plans and identifies the proper usage of our (then) abundant lands, because the National Land Use Act can be the answer (well thirty years ago) in minimizing the effects of climate change in our country.

               It is normal for the Philippines to experience a number of typhoons, with names starting all the way from A to Z throughout the year, given its geographical location. But what’s not normal is the aftermath of such typhoons, the flashfloods, quick rising of water that destroys the properties of Filipinos as well as the alarming number of casualties. I strongly believe that such consequences were not caused by nature, but rather it was caused by the unethical and abusive use of our lands. This natural resource is intended to be utilized, having in mind the propagation of common good and at the same time attaining social justice, but once again, Philippines’ reality differs from the papers.

               Due to the “unregulated” use of our land, our country is under threat of food scarcity, environmental degradation, and dangerous urban planning. If we will continue to chase personal motives and neglect social responsibility, then we are already signing ourselves up for generations of poverty, inequality, and severe effects of climate change. It is now time to pass this Act, maybe not for ourselves but for the future generations of Filipino youths.

               People have infinite scarcity sustained by finite resources. Through this Act, we can maximize our resources while preserving our environment, ancestral domains, and community. Not every piece of land is meant for human settlement, commerce, and infrastructure development; a huge part of it must be given to our agriculture sector, forestry, watershed reservation, and national parks. Overly done commercialization and civilization will not and cannot save our countrymen from the nature’s cry of help.

               I call for the immediate passing of the National Land Use Act. Let us all meet a collective goal of taking care of one another and ensuring that all of us could have the opportunity of having food on our tables and roofs above our heads without the threat of scarcity and adverse consequences of calamities.

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Are we behind times or are we the ones left holding to what is right?

There are only two countries who haven’t legalized divorce yet, one is a home to a thousand of people mostly compose of nuns and priests, and the other is a home of more than a hundred million of people and around four hundred thousand married couples. Hence, Vatican City do not really need to have a law about legalizing divorce in their jurisdiction, but can we say the same thing about the Philippines?

According to the Family Code, marriage is a permanent union between a man and a woman, the foundation of family and the society. House Bill No. 7303 is an act instituting absolute divorce and dissolution of marriage in the Philippines. It is filed to help protect the spouses who were abused and traumatized by their partners.

Annulment and Legal Separation is allowed in the country but is only available to an extent. Both are laborious and costly enough to not be afforded by ordinary people living in the Philippines. Annulment have its own specific grounds about psychological incapacity, lack of parental consent, undisclosed sexually transmitted disease, and etc. By proving this guilty beyond reasonable doubt, thus the marriage could be annulled, but before attaining that “freedom” is a road of expensive expenses, time consuming, and mental and emotional exhaustion. Legal Separation, on the other hand, allows for physical violence and abuse to be the ground of legally separating a marriage but both the contracted parties cannot marry again.

Thus, the issue of separation and freedom from marriages, that do not work out, are still a class issue.

“How would it affect the children if they knew their parents are getting divorced?” Peace? Because they would not witness their moms crying out of help every time their father is drunk. Following this argument, aren’t we just tolerating an abusive household filled with traumatic experiences? Is the sanctity of marriage still present even after the spouse is hit just because of a burnt meal? We are holding on with an idea that it is better to be intact and project a perfect marriage than speak out and be free from abusive chains.

Sometimes marriages do not work out, and it is not the burden of the innocent spouse and their children to carry. Adding on with the fact of unfair laws punishing adultery and concubinage.

Legality of divorce would not affect happy marriages, but rather save people from problematic ones. What is ironic is the fact that people who are advocating against this law are the ones who do not suffer the consequences of an abusive household, or the ones who could afford the expensive bill of annulment or legal separation.

The passing of this bill would not compel you to get a divorce and end your happy married life. But instead give people the chance to pick up their lives with a glimpse of hope that it can be better again. It is not about you. It is not always about you.

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New blogs soon! 

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Why do crimes and criminals exist?

Criminals are not born. Criminals are created. Factors such as biological, social, emotional, and psychological aspects can trigger the overall environment and mindset of a person.

In today’s setting, criminality is reduced as an act that is done by a barbaric person instead of someone that needs help. The environment where a person is born and raised can greatly affect their perception and outlook in life. We often forget that these people who engage in crimes also has a story behind them. A narrative that could explain the history of their actions and choices.

Studies have shown that there is no significant difference held by increased and stronger punishments to the downrate of the cases of criminality. Maybe we are approaching this issue in the wrong way. When we look at the persons whose crimes are punished, when we glance at those people who are behind bars, they all have a common denominator. They need help.

People are not born evil, but people are born in evil situations. Our neglect to view them worthy of help and assistance deepen the issue and worsens the case of criminality in our society. When we see that not all are privileged to be in a place of abundance and equality, when eating three times a day is a luxury, and the ability to attend school without any consequences, then we can also realize that indeed these societal ills are embedded deep down in our core and in the root of our society.

Due to psychological stress, upbringing, and lack of emotional support, some people tend to depend on substances that “makes their lives whole”. No one wants to live a life of constant escape, but no one wants to live in a life full of misery either. We are a product of the people around us, not all children are given the chance to experience a loving family, some are in a situation where they eat abuse and maltreatment for breakfast.

Adding the aspect of lack of education, these people are forced to engage in illegal acts just to put food in their table and provide for the family they support. The Internet offers a wide range of knowledge, both has good and negative impact. Dangerous materials are openly available online and we cannot expect some to use this rich information into good use. Easy access to the web can penetrate into the inner workings of a brain that’s experiencing inequality, abuse, and trauma.

Again, we keep on forgetting that the most effective way of solving a problem is to cut down its roots. Our society is miserable because we keep on chasing our own tails, we are trapped in a hamster wheel by just picking up the rotten fruit of a tree instead of cutting the tree itself. Criminals exist because of unequal opportunity, minimum “living” wage, lack of social programs, inaccessibility of education etc.

May we educate the community and the next generation that criminals are people who seek help. They are the people who are in dire need of treatment, rehabilitation and most especially, opportunity.

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Should death penalty be re-imposed in the Philippines?

No. My answer to this question will be a cold—hard—straight NO.

The reimposition of the abolished “capital punishment” does more harm than good in our already rotten system of Criminal Justice and Philippine societal environment. If we only care to revisit and study our nation’s historical relationship towards death penalty, then I assure you, your stance will be same as mine. A problem cannot be resolved by creating another problem.

Let’s face it. We all know that this capital punishment for “heinous crimes” is a hasty and lazy solution to the prevailing problem of increasing criminality in our country. Death penalty does not deal with the root cause, instead it focuses on the fruit of the tree. Inmates are put into death row solely based on the judgment of a human person. Yes, the specifically enumerated acts under heinous crimes are indeed inhumane and fearful, but the methods used in “identifying” these criminals equates to its level of inhumanity.

How can you expect a just trial conducted by a Criminal Justice System who cannot afford to give a defendant the right to fair trials and competent legal assistant? The end goal must be to propagate a peace that lasts among the society, not of revenge or any political agenda. Unfortunately, there are instances when lawyers fail to represent their clients because of prejudice, low chances of winning, and lack of compensation. How can a person be heard if his supposedly voice fails to speak for him?

Questionable acts are also done to extract the “correct” confession. A clear violation of the human rights of a person. These acts cannot be denied for the statements of those who allegedly experienced such are all the same. What’s more chilling is the group who conducts these acts to get the “correct” confession. Again, a more effective treatment for an increasing rate of criminality is to assure justice, not revenge.

We cannot deny that the trials leading to death penalty are fueled by emotion and subjective judgments. They want to please people by having a haphazard solution to a problem that is rapidly decaying our system. Blinding them that a cased closed must mean an expiration of a criminal even when studies show that there is no significant relationship between the imposition of death penalty and the lowering rate of criminality.  

The decision is easily influenced. If criminality is rising, not that they even went down anyway, our system is so quick-witted to fuel the anger of people and result to barbaric terms in “resolving” an issue. They awaken the fear and range of the society and suggest death penalty as if it is the only and the best plausible solution. Our lives aren’t movies. The higher-ups must need to see what is happening four or five steps under the hierarchy.

Those who received this capital punishment all belong to a common social stratification. Which made me think: If they have the same resources and if they were awarded with the same competent legal assistants

Will they still be one of those names queuing for death row?

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How to improve the criminal justice system in the Philippines

In today’s Philippine setting, the congestion of our jails is often overlooked by some, if not many. It seems like after a person’s arrest, the fight is over, and we can all move on in our lives. Not minding that an even greater challenge awaits, for the prisoner and the welfare of the Filipinos.

I remembered an excerpt from the song Tatsulok which features the rampant inequality of our system, “At ang hustisya ay para lang sa mayaman.”. Unfortunately, some convicts are detained due to their financial incapacity to bail. They are robbed years from their lives because of a fine that they cannot afford, which ideally, isn’t the only way and process in exchange of freedom, but according to the article, is the only way exercised in today’s practice.

The human rights problem happening inside the jails aren’t only faced by the convicts and the judicial system. There is a bigger picture that is involved with this battle. The Philippine Criminal Justice System is composed of five pillars: The Community, Law Enforcement, Prosecution, Court, and Correction. Our fellow Filipinos won’t suffer inhumane practices if we are all aware of our duties and responsibilities of our very own Criminal Justice System. The gap between the number of pending cases and the number of lawyers, judges, and legal assistants are overwhelmingly huge. We must take into consideration that this alarming rise of criminality are often rooted to the problems of society, such as societal ills. If we continue to keep a blind eye in addressing that a significant number of cases can be prevented if sufficient wage, accessibility to education, opportunity to land a decent job, and feasible projects to eradicate poverty are done.

We consider ourselves as developing yet we sometimes forget that not all of us are given equal privileges to live a life worth living. The purpose of our Criminal Justice System was never to condemn but instead to propagate peace that lasts. If we are able to show and teach our children that they can afford decent living, then I am confident that we too can eradicate a significant number of cases. The problem is deeply rooted not only on the grass roots of the Justice System but to the overall Philippine system, as well. A thief is not just born yesterday. A thief was born because of hunger and scarcity. If only all Filipinos can afford to bring food on their tables by doing legal acts, then I doubt that this congestion happening inside our jails will still be prevalent.

Let’s face it, this is a problem of social class. Most of those suffering an inhumane treatment inside these jails belong to the middle or lower classes of the society. I do not know whatever urged them to commit crimes, but I see a glimpse of hope that this can be prevented if only we took an action that cuts its roots.

[myroomisblue]

The State of Human Rights in the Philippines: Yay or Nay?

Mother and Son were shot dead by an off-duty policeman days before new year. Public market vendors were forced to compromise their vision and breathing to comply with the health protocol of the city. An old man was fined thousands of pesos for breaching quarantine protocols to provide food for his family, while a group of celebrities and influencers were only reprimanded for having a party amidst this pandemic. Thousands of Filipinos lost their jobs because of the declining economy yet government officials are forcing people to look at the “brighter side”. University students who express their freedom of expression and assembly were red tagged, dismissing critical thinking as an act of rebellion against the government. I can go on and on about the injustices of our country. Therefore, the State of Human Rights in the Philippines must be criticized.

Filipinos are living on the edge of their seats, especially during this unfortunate times of pandemic. This circumstance only revealed the rotting system that we already have. You’ll only be heard unless you’re rich, powerful, and has connections, otherwise your case will be filed as one of those “nanlaban” and collateral damage. The Philippines rely so much in the presence of social stratification. The basic right of food, water, and shelter costs much, it seems like it classifies as a want rather than a need. Some children in the far-flung areas are deprived of education and sufficient learning institutions and materials. Our system nowadays become so elitist that in order to be safe, you must work from home, with your gadgets and a strong internet connection. How about those people whose source of living is dependent on the streets? The very root cause of today’s injustices is stemmed in effective governance. Without equal opportunity for all, our country cannot produce leaders whose intent are centered to the welfare of the community.

The students. A list of 38 universities was released, identified as breeding grounds of rebellion and recruitment. This is done without a backed-up study and no data was released to prove this claim. How easy it is for someone in power to compromise the safety of the young ones without due process? I don’t know and I am not sure of the reason behind this action, but are they really that afraid of educated voters to threaten the lives of the youth who practice critical thinking and analysis? We owe to the next generations a system that empowers and nurtures them to attain good life.  May the condition of our State be better in the years to come.

[myroomisblue]

A Chance for Everyone

With a vast number of islands in the Republic of the Philippines, it is no secret that the people living here have and experienced different cultures, traditions, and beliefs. Thus, the centralization of power in the government can be a problem, especially of organizing and governing the totality of diverse people. The practice of unitary system of the government, where everything focuses on the national government can be traced back in our history, During Spanish colonial period. We are so used in the fact that everything must come and directed to the central government, the capital city. Thus, the neglection of those in the farther grounds, those who live far from the center are not granted the same amount of attention from those who are nearer in terms of geographical locations.

Yes, the Philippines has made a progress which aims for the decentralization of powers in the government, through the Republic Act 5185 also known as Decentralization Act of 1967 and the 1987 Local Government Code. But let us admit that these laws still have a missing essential aspect in granting the autonomy towards the local governments. Up until today, local government units still have limitations that hinders them to achieve development because of the lack of confidence the national government is treating them. In fact, the writings of these law impliedly question the competence of the local government units in doing their designation tasks. For example, the Department of Finance and Department of Budget and Management are national agencies, who still need to review the budget of the local government. Second, the local government units are tied in collecting taxes that would fund their development. Even though granted with permission of revenue generation, the national government blocked most of the productive revenue and tax sources of these units, such as businesses involving publication and printing, franchise of broadcast stations, buying and selling of agricultural product, etc. Much as "effective partners in the pursuit of national development and social progress”, the local government units now rely heavily to the national government for their progress and growth. Third, Metro Manila obtained the third highest share of Gross Domestic Product during 1985. Marawi City paid more for the electricity than the people of Davao and Zamboanga, even though they have the lake which is the reason of the cheap hydro-electric power for Northern and Southern Mindanao. 75% of those living in the countryside experience poverty even though they are rich with natural and mineral resources that are used by the entire country. The unfair treatment and allocation of these resources just signifies the exploitation of resources and absence of natural ecology respect.

It is now time to rebuild the nation of its centuries long fight for self-recognition. Let us bear in mind that what is effective in other cities and towns might not be effective towards the national minority. Let the locals experience the benefits of their natural resources and be able to be recognized by their diversity without divide and prejudice.