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the hills have eyes | extra art

artwork: folklore  medium: photo manipulation art and words: e1 section: a51

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on feminist social movements | extra art

artwork: political playground  medium: ink on paper  art and words: e1 section: a51

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the view from my balcony

artwork: the view from my balcony medium: photography   art and words: e1 section: a51

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synthesis

If there is anything that I learned in the blogs and artworks that I have created, it is that democracy is flawed. No democracy is perfect because one way or another, there will always be actors and agencies that will play a role to change it. As an ideology, I suppose that democracy is ideal. A sound relationship between the people and its governments seems so perfect and to be honest, I think that the idealism of democracy is what pushes states to govern under its principle.

However, whenever I reflect upon it, I realise that a perfect democracy cannot happen. There are too many dimensions in the world to even realise it. One way or another, perhaps without meaning things to happen, inequalities and injustices will exist. It is the hard pill that I had to swallow. That does not weaken my spirits, though.

Even with my belief that a perfect democracy will never truly exist, I am still fueled by my ideals that I adhere to everywhere. Even with the inevitable changes and inequalities, things that I believe in motivates me to pursue what is right. Just because I am feeling hopeless, does not mean that I do not have an ounce of hope. I am fighting for feminism, gay rights, and justice every day because even though I know that I will only make a small impact in the world we are living in, it still takes courage and a prayer for a better tomorrow to call out the faults of the people around me.

Trouble surrounds us, that is true. However, I still believe that if people (no matter how big or small) forms a coalition of support, they have the power to influence change. We have seen it happen. The current wave of feminism has succeeded in fighting against ridiculous dress codes. The happenings at the Stonewall Inn became the benchmark for gay rights. Black Lives Matter, which is a current global phenomenon, has succeeded in gaining support to stop racism in worldwide.

The world is scary and more terrible things happen every day. There is nothing else to do but to act on the matters that matter to us. Choosing to close our eyes once we are awakened is a sin and staying silent and idle is oppressive.

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himig ng taong galit

artwork: peekaboo  medium: digital collage    art and words: e1 section: a51

When people question the government, and when people are enlightened, they learn about the inequalities of the world. Wars, corruption, pluralism, and injustice are put into question. When people disagree, they get angry—and sometimes their anger turns into violence. They are not to be solely blamed, however. We must understand that their anger stems from the corrupt system that they have been living in. Being unheard and constant oppression are second nature to these people. The demise of the power-hungry are themselves but are conditioned to believe the opposite.

Huntington describes revolutions as a rapid, fundamental, and violent domestic change in the dominant values and myths of a society. People who believe in revolutions usually find faults in political institution, social structures, policies, and leadership. An example would be the violence demonstrated by the third estate of the French Revolution. They beheaded the elites in hopes of change. When Maximilien Robespierre beheaded the king and the queen to establish his power and to demonstrate ‘justice’, the people were at a loss. Who was going to lead them now that the king was dead? What were the course of action needed to take care of France with no political figure? Robespierre took place and established terror in France. He was once seen a political strongman but ended up in the guillotine because of his greed for power and influence.

In the Philippines, people revolted to impeach the tyranny. Ferdinand Marcos, who was smart and promising, ended up in impending doom because of his dictatorship and the onslaught of those who dared to go against him.

           It is heartbreaking that people have to fight for their rights. The trust that they placed on the government and these politicians are thrown in the garbage can full of concerns and sentiments coming from others. It is saddening that our political figures are ignore the plea of the people for greed. They continue to exploit the unprivileged who are mistaken for not knowing better. The world is changing and now, I can see the people getting angrier and angrier by the minute.

           Through the internet, education, and hear-say, people are no more enlightened with ideas of revolution and overthrowing the corrupt government. The government cannot deny it. Why else would they use their power to silence the masses? People all over the world are starting to realise the injustices and the buffoonery done by the government. The power of the people is a real thing and they should be scared because I know, in the future, people are going to demand more. Everyday, I read about riots, protests, movements that worked in gaining the attention of the elites. People are not going to stop until they got what they want and the government should be careful. After centuries of exploitation, people are starting to fight back and they must acknowledge that before the world ends up in flames.

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the view from my balcony

artwork: view from my balcony  medium: photography with editing art and words: e1 section: a51

Looking outside, under the pinkish-blue skies of my hometown, I felt one thing, fear. It’s a stark contrast to the joy of the children playing in the grass fields, right beside the cows. My feeling of fear gnaws at me as I look at the picturesque Mt. Arayat that can be seen from my balcony. Fear runs through my veins, paralyzes me, until my breathing strains. My heart beats fast, my fingers are shaky, and the comforting sound of the birds chirping made me anxious instead.

I’m looking up on the sky, incessant anxiety clawing my insides, and wonder, how can such tragedy happen under the same sky? It bothers me that I cannot see what is after the horizon. It bothers me that the world is too big, leaving space for death, violence, and hopelessness. It bothers me that the rain that I’m feeling on my legs, as I write this reflection in my balcony, has given me nothing but chills running down my spine. I used to find great comfort in the loud ringing of the thunder but I’m afraid that people less privileged that I am find nothing else but crisis in the loud sounds of bombs. Suddenly, all my fears and insecurities in life seem shallow compared to those who are unsure if they get to live one more day seeing chaos win.

The sweat on my back feels sticky to my yellow cotton shirt. I discard it from my body and wear another one. I feel that to be a privilege when children are out shooting and fighting for their rights. It feels heavy in my heart to think about all the hues of black and white in the world. It feels heavy that there is no one “principle” ideology. It feels heavy to think of the enemies as wrong if they have been persecuted for the longest time but it feels heavier to know that we have caused their pain because of our intolerance for opposition.

When the man said, “we will invade you as you invaded us, we will capture your women as you have captured our women, and we will orphan your children as you have orphaned ours,”, I didn’t know how to feel. As I am writing this piece now, in the 11th of September at 6:29 PM, I think about the tears of the children, women, and men who have experienced terror in their lives. I think about the never-ending inequalities happening right now while I live unbothered because my life is comfortable.

I am scared that my comfort might be taken away from me.

It is scary and if there is anything that I could offer and reflect from the videos from class, I can only offer nothing. As I am writing this piece, 20 minutes after I finished the documentary ‘The Islamic State’, I fail to comprehend everything else. Everything comes crashing down on me all at once. All at once, I remember the struggles of little children being married off to older men, the children of Syria suffering the consequences of the actions of the elderly, the joy of the young boys in the Euphrates River as their preacher talks about the wonders of the Islamic State. If they are defeated, will the children die too? It is bothering how these children probably did not know better. How men would control and feed them ideologies. How these children cannot be blamed for these ideologies because we all have different realities. What can these children do if the president couldn’t even do anything?

As I review my notes on the documentaries, nothing registers inside my head except for questions in morality. Who is right? What is right? Up to what extent are things right until intervention is needed? I am rendered hopeless and yet still hoping. It bothers me that tonight, in my sleep, as I lay awake in guilt and empathy, I know that tomorrow, it will be forgotten and once again, I will feel comforts of my life. I will see the beauty of the view from my balcony and smile as the feeling of anxiety and hopelessness for peace is shelved, and tucked away until I remember them again.

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is war coming?

artwork: doomsday  medium: speed painting  art and words: e1 section: a51

When the question, ‘Is there a high chance that the Philippines will have a civil war?’ was asked at the end of the discussion, I immediately thought of the president’s drug war. Perhaps it has something to do with the appearance of the word ‘war’ between two concepts but one thing is for sure, the war on drugs put a gap between the Filipino people.

When the president first announced his war on drugs the initial reaction of the people was to support him. People are denouncing drugs and they believed that the implementation was effective. Extra judicial killings, gun violence, and police brutality were all excused all in the name of ‘justice’. The ‘success’ seemed so surreal until more and more people realized the dangers of Duterte’s promise.

Civil war is defined as wars between groups belonging in the same state or country. They are executed to gain power within a region or change certain policies that the government implemented. Civil war is quite complex as it requires necessary conditions for war (i.e, the belligerent status) as well as enabling factors that require a deeper analysis.

For years, the Philippines has witnessed the staggering growth of police brutality. As years come, the armed forces become more entitled and more self-righteous. What they consider as justice may not be justice for many. Extrajudicial killings are rampant, and the new heights of human right violations are dangerous. Still, some people still believe that it is justice.

What worse is that the president announced impunity to those who kill suspected drug addicts. The government is abusive and those who believe in them are just as worse. Heated exchanges and arguments turn into threats. What we are going through right now is very unsafe. In fact, I think that the divide between people might result into a civil war. An abusive government and an abusive following leaves no room for different opinions. People against them may be called terrorists or belligerents. For me, there is a small chance of a declaration of a civil war between the people. However, a chance is still a chance. No matter how small the percentage is, it still has the power to dominate. Underlying factors and causes to do so are there but because of the privileges that many get to enjoy, I doubt people would actually engage in such violence.

For example, there is the opportunity cost of rebellion which believes that men who are getting an education are less likely to join the insurgency. The privileges that they experience such as a stable income and an education can assume that the future will be better. It’s what’s happening now in my family, for example. My siblings and I have privileges and a future that will ensure our success built by our parents. In turn, we do not have to worry about anything else as long as we focus on our education. Many children in the Philippines have this too—trust funds, inheritance, and what not. If their success is guaranteed, then they are less likely to revolt.

The Philippines are at a loss right now. The government is oppressive and does not care about the people. Its inactivity in urgent matters are worrying and one would think hopelessly about the country. The possibility of a civil war to ensue in the future is worrying. I can already imagine the grotesque picture of bloodshed, violence, and fear. It’s tinted in red and shaded in all black. Until when do we have to suffer? When can we have change?

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the rohingya crisis: ethnic cleansing or genocide?

artwork: human rights (????) medium: digital collage art and words: e1 section: a51

During the discussion of genocide, I remembered a paper that I wrote about the Rohingya crisis happening in Myanmar. In this blog, I will be posting my writing and will be editing it to offer my insights on the crisis. I will also be posting my references from the paper to give way for more in-depth study if the reader chooses to do so. 

Genocide has many definitions but I have found one that I think encapsulates what genocide is. Quoting Koffi Annan in 2001, “A genocide begins with the killing of one [woman or] man—not for what [she or] he has done, but because of who [she or] he is.” Genocide is the intent to wipe out a religious congregation, a race, a portion of a population with malicious intent. More or less, this is done in order to further an ideological endeavour, belief, or agenda. Dubbed as the worst crime against humanity and the crime of all crimes, what’s saddening about it is that there is a meticulous process done by several individuals with the intent to wipe out a portion of the population.

 According to the United Nations, there are five characteristics of genocide and they are as follows: killing members of the group, causing serious bodily or mental harm to the members of group, deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part, imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group, and forcibly transferring children of group to another group. Most importantly, genocide is intentionally targeted to the group of people and a part of a group of people.

In 2017, hundreds of thousands Rohingya Muslims fled to Bangladesh in order to find refuge. The Rohingya is also known as one of the most discriminated groups if not the most. According to BBC in 2020, the Rohingya who are more than a million was denied of citizenship in Myanmar where Buddhism is predominant. According to a video by Vox in 2017, since the 1970’s, the Rohingya have been fleeing to Bangladesh in order to avoid violent military forces. The discrimination in Rohingya started in in 1962, when military forces were strong in Myanmar. During these times, a military junta was formed and like any totalitarian leadership, they had to create a common enemy in order to instil fierce nationalism. In addition to this, Myanmar was struggling against the aftermaths of the British occupation. Myanmar sided with the Japanese in order to fully cleanse the country of British influences while the Rohingya sided with the British. In 1978, Operation Dragon King commenced, driving out Rohingya Muslims out of Myanmar with the use of rape and violence. In 1982, the Citizenship act was passed, recognising 135 ethnic groups as citizens of Myanmar, leaving out Rohingya with over 1 million people stateless. In 1991, Operation Clean and Beautiful Nation took place with 250,000 Rohingya Muslims fleeing to nearby countries like Thailand, Bangladesh, and Malaysia. In 2012, they displaced thousands of Rohingya again, and in 2016, Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army did a small scale attack that left 12 Burmese police dead. The 2016 ARSA attack sparked the current Rohingya crisis with the brutal exodus of 400,000 Rohingya Muslims. The attack was considered as the fastest growing humanitarian crisis in recent years and land mines in the Bangladesh border were planted in order to prevent the Rohingya from ever coming back. With all of these at hand, I personally consider that the brutal murders against the stateless Rohingya is genocide.

Looking at the official characteristic of genocide from United Nations, the decades long attacks were enough to be considered as genocide. They have been driving out the Rohingya with brutality with the intent to wipe them out of Myanmar. I’m not saying that the ARSA attack was okay but the counter attack of killing 6700 Rohingya including more than 700 children, the rapes of young girls and women, the tortures, forced displacement, and other human rights violations are unchanged—even though Myanmar claimed that there have been cleansing operations in September 5, 2017.  However, there have been evidences that violence still continue after that according to BBC. Myanmar lacked accountability and failed to fully investigate allegations, hence, should be charged with genocide.

De facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi defends that there has been misinformation regarding the matter, criticising the impatient international actors (Simons and Beech, 2019).  She says that genocidal intent cannot be the only hypothesis. In addition to this, she also said that the Rohingya Muslims and the ARSA attack was from the insurgence of terrorism—pointing out that the leader of ARSA , Atta Ullah was born in Pakistan and was raised in Saudi Arabia. However, a spokesman said that ARSA had no links to jihadist groups but was only composed of Rohingya people angered by the violence brought to them by the government. (BBC, 2017). What’s more that, the leader says that 50% of the Muslims are still in Myanmar but failed to mention what happened to the other 50%.

It is ironic how Aung San Suu Kyi, once the icon for democracy, is now the perpetrator for Muslim violence in Myanmar.  The military forces who once oppressed her rights are the ones that she’s siding with now. Is it true that democracy could only be afforded by the people who is in favour of the persons in power? What Aung San Suu Kyi committed was genocide. People are individuals and they are not to be treated as people in a group. Re-quoting Koffi Annan in 2001, “A genocide begins with the killing of one [woman or] man—not for what [she or] he has done, but because of who [she or] he is.”

REFERENCES:

BBC News. 2020. Myanmar Rohingya: What you need to know about the crisis. Retrieved from: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-41566561 BBC News. 2017. Myanmar: What sparked the latest violence in Rakhine? Retrieved from: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-41082689

Simons, M. & Beech, H. 2019. Aung San Suu Kyi Defends Myanmar Against Rohingya Genocide Accusations. The New York Times. Retrieved from: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/11/world/asia/aung-san-suu-kyi-rohingya-myanmar-genocide-hague.html

United Nations. n.d. United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect. Retrieved from: https://www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/genocide.shtml

Vox. 2017. The “ethnic cleansing” of Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslims, explained. Retrieved from:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04axDDRVy_o

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on feminist social movements

artwork: women by woman medium: traditional collage + digital glitter lettering art and words: e1 section: a51

Social movements are loosely organized effort by a large group to attain a political goal—that is true. In recent years, we’ve been able to witness different social movements. We have the Black Lives Matter movement, HeForShe movement, #MeToo movement, and such. With these examples presented, one can note that these movements are geared towards the attainment of justice and equality among all. In my second critical commentary, I explained the Hukbalahap Rebellion and how they were fighting to achieve a social change. These peasants have experienced constant injustices and were fighting back. In this blog, I will be talking about what is interesting to me, more recent movements that I personally support—the #MeToo movement and the Free the Nipple Movement.

 Looking over at the movements that I presented, one would notice that these movements are products of feminism—something that I strongly believe in. The feminism that we have now incorporates intersectionality—an ideology which understands that women who belong in the different parts of society may experience more discrimination. For example, a straight, white woman experiences more privileges in life than an African-American trans-woman. There are different facets of discrimination. It is not one-dimensional and intersectionality explains that.

The #MeToo movement is a social movement in which victims of sexual harassment publicize their experiences. This movement encourages victims of sexual abuse to speak up as it offers an arena in which people could express their struggles. It is a movement powered by courage and understanding. The movement rose to popularity when Harvey Weinstein was accused of sexual harassment by multiple women. The movement further rose to prominence when Kevin Spacey was accused of the same thing by multiple men.

The movement seemed to be effective because powerful men like Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey are being called out for their actions. In addition to this, states in America have adapted policies that concern sexual abuse. The movement has also inspired people from the Philippines to speak out against their abusers. Women are having more courage to move forward and to be in solidarity with others. To be quite honest, I think that the Philippines, too need a #MeToo movement. The office of the vice president, along with other organisations, launched #RespetoNaman, a movement that aims to empower survivors.

 In the Philippines, sexual harassment cases and rape unreported go prolific. The huge number which goes unreported are concerning, hence the need for it. Up until now, there is still a stigma around the survivors of sexual harassment and rape. Survivors are usually blamed for their demise while their attackers go scot-free. Usually, women are blamed based on the way they dress, if they were alone, and other centuries-old tactics for victim blaming. Men are usually told that they should’ve fought back too. The #MeToo movement and its local counterpart, #RespetoNaman are necessary to empower and encourage people to speak out. By doing so, the society becomes more accepting and empathetic towards their struggles. The movement is close to my heart being a survivor myself and if there is anything that I could offer or say, it’s never our fault. Sexual offenders are to be blamed for their actions. I am lucky enough to have a family that supports and believes in me whenever I talk about my encounter but at the same time, I am reminded of my privilege. Others can’t even tell their own loved ones of their encounter because of the deep-rooted shame instilled to them. It is so important to have a platform or to have a support system. This movement is all about that—empowerment, courage, and camaraderie.

Another social movement that I support is the #FreeTheNipple movement. If one looks it up online, they will be met by the support of celebrities claiming that they have never really cared if their boobs were out in public. However, that information is misleading. When I first heard about the movement, it sort of made sense because men are allowed to go topless so why can’t we do that too? On the surface, it seems as though it is all about that but the more I read into it the more I realized that it was never about the female breast. It’s about the sexualization that comes with it.

For centuries, women’s bodies were always sexualized. There are little to no art that does not sexualize the female body. In literature and in film, the male gaze is always present. Pornography has set unnatural standards for the female body too. Women’s bodies are never showed in their true and natural form. It has always been perceived as sexual objects for men’s pleasure. Mainstream media has been no help. It has always objectified the female anatomy. Women are more than just bodies for men’s gratification. Women must be allowed to do whatever they please to their bodies. If boys are allowed to go to school in tank tops then girls should too. Women should take charge of their bodies without any external voices telling them no. The movement supports that. There is so 

These movements all started small. People have their own variation of these movements, but they are all geared toward one goal—gender equality. Movements like these have helped me educate myself on issues and inequalities faced not only by women but by other people as well. Slowly, I have seen social movements influence change on the society and it is inspiring.

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blog masterpost

index of my blogs.  section a51

“self-portrait”

week 1: the d in bdsm stands for demagoguery | extra art week 2: let them eat cake: how the oligarchs roused the third estate | extra art week 3: the hills have eyes | extra art week 4: force feeding the philippines | extra art week 5: kakainternet mo yan!: a recollection of the things i’ve learned from the internet | extra art week 6: on feminist social movements | extra art week 7: the rohingya crisis: ethnic cleansing or genocide? |  week 8: is war coming? | extra art week 9: the view from my balcony | extra art  week 10: himig ng taong galit | 

+ synthesis

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kakainternet mo yan! : a recollection of the things i’ve learned from the internet

artwork: because the internet medium: digital collage art and words: e1 section: a51

As the internet becomes a necessity, it opens new avenues for communication. Recently, because of its popularity, it has become an arena for political discourse and expression. Youth and adults alike use it to express their government dissent or their acceptance. In fact, it’s seen everywhere on all social media platforms—Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and even YouTube if you look closely. The internet has provided us new developments on democracy and allows us to engage in the exchange of political ideas. Because of its accessibility, people are being awakened of the issues in the world. People now realise that the world is a hell hole compared to the early 2000’s but it’s actually because information is within our reach and our phones has become an extension of our hands, we are more educated on issues ; and turning a blind eye on it is simply a sin. 

My stance on political and societal issues such as feminism, sexism, racism, and others isms has been because of the political exchange that I witness on the internet. As a young adult, the internet has been my primary source of information. I obtain references for my research papers there and even know the current news because of it. In fact, I probably have too much of the internet that I know what’s currently happening with the Kardashians and trust me, I hate knowing about the Kardashians but it just can’t be helped. Hell, I’m not surprised that I know the latest memes either. Still, even with the overload of useless information and stock knowledge, the internet has provided me education that I actually use in my classes. 

One of the advantages of the internet and radical democracy is that it gives a voice for minorities and I agree. Growing up in a conservative family with rules taken from the Bible, homosexuality has been viewed as wrong on the outset. Even the belief that women are equal to men aren’t taught to me. In fact, when I asked the older kids from the Sunday school about it before, they thought I was being silly. I’m not discrediting the Christian church, no but there are just some values that do not sit with me, hence my agnosticism.

When I was younger, I thought that being gay and being a woman was a sin. It came to the point when I started to secretly make fun of the gay men in my neighbourhood. I also started to believe that being a “woman” meant that I had to act accordingly. However, those beliefs stopped because of the internet.

  In 2014 when I was 15 years old, I learned about feminism when Emma Watson made a speech and became an advocate for the HeForShe movement by the United Nations. From then on, I started to look more into it. I understood that women are oppressed daily and that we are silenced by the patriarchal government. In addition to it, I learned about the Female Genitalia Mutilation and the child marriages happening in third world countries. I have also learned about the rape cases being shutdown because of the belief that women deserved it. Since then, I realised that boys should be accountable for their actions. I learned that women are blamed for everything that boys commit because of their fragile and toxic masculinity. I also learned about the concept of intersectionality months after Emma Watson gave her speech. I also learned that some girls use feminism only when it benefits them. 

In the same year, because of my outspokenness about feminism towards my classmates and my teachers, I was asked to give an impromptu speech for my peers. In the same year, I was voted as the Student Council President and became the first female student president of the school. Before that, I became the first female student editor of our newspaper.

In 2015, I learned about the Stonewall Inn—its tragedies and its victories. I learned about the spectrum of gender and the discrimination that comes from it. I learned about queer-baiting and how people use queer characteristics to gain more followers. I have also learned that the words that I used to use was offensive to the queer community. I was already an ally in 2013 but I wasn’t able to apply it to my daily life because of the underlying notes of the church about queer community. That same year, I learned that I was being racist by using the ’n-word’ to my darker coloured classmates. 

In 2016, I became the best of friends with a bisexual woman who made me realise that I didn’t have to be straight to become an ally—a contrast to what was taught when I was in junior high school. Together, Kyla and I learned about the intricacies of politics. We learned about different political theories from out HUMSS classes. 

It wasn’t taken very well at first but they soon accepted it. They still try to convert me to Christianity every once in a while but I understand that it’s from a place of love.  These are just some of the things that I have learned from the World Wide Web. A huge chunk of my realisations came from the internet because information like that can be accessed from it. Without the internet, it would probably take me a little longer to understand some concepts not taught when I was younger. I suppose that’s just the way it is from now on. My parents usually ask me where I got things and how I can form a stance on these complicated issues and every time, my reply is, “the internet.” 

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force feeding the philippines | extra art

artwork: ad hominem

art: e1

medium: digital

section: a51

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force feeding the philippines

& how hatred and intolerance is drilled into us at a young age. 

artwork: force feeding medium: ink on paper  art and words: e1 section: a51 During the lecture, amidst words and words and words, I was able to create a mini comic that depicts how hatred and intolerance towards the opposition is insinuated among the Filipino people. I used the term “force feeding” as a political action rather than a medical one.  Force feeding is the act in which an animal or a person is fed against their will. In this blog, I reflect on the political force feeding that happens in the sphere of social media and how people resort to the ad hominem policy to silence the masses.  Just like most 20-somethings, I make use of my time scrolling mindlessly on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, and Facebook. I see people interacting--likes, shares, comments, and  everything else that may be considered as such. I interact with others on it and was able to establish friendships with people from different parts of the country. Through the use of the internet, people are able to express more freely. Whether their opinions are expressed through memes, blogs, and mere likes, the internet respects that an opinion is an opinion. However, while freedom extends to the fingertips of someone, so does hate. 

Through the years, people have been using social media for their political interests. Its idea of being an extended arena for freedom has left people with no filter. They are more straightforward, cutthroat, and sometimes irrational. They spew intolerance for those who do not agree with them. An example of this would be the start of Kakie Pangilinan’s #HijaAko. While she defended that men are supposed be taught not to rape, people immediately flooded against her. Perverted and malicious tweets came onto her and while some were attacks for her physical looks, some were harmful as old men threatened to rape her. 

Acts like these and the tolerance that comes with it forces people to be silent. This is where force feeding comes in. People are forced to be silent on things that they believe in with the fear that irrational hatred will come onto them. Fear motivates people to be silent. Fear oppresses their truth and so they gulp, gulp, swallow, swallow, swallow, until their bellies are full.

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the hills have eyes

the hills have eyes album art words + art: e1 section: a51

I have been listening to Taylor Swift’s new album--folklore. An artistic masterpiece that was already hailed as a ‘classic’ and Taylor’s best album to date, folklore is possible about Betty and James, the previous owner of her Rhode Island apartment. She discusses the affair that James had with another woman in august, cardigan, mirrorball, illicit affair, exile, and the 1. She then turns to introduce the arch of James with songs, this is me trying, peace, epiphany, my tears ricochet, and hoax. Then towards the aftermath when James died in the war, leaving Betty and the woman that he had an affair with. She then discusses the aftermath of the affair with mad woman, seven (where she introduces herself as a young girl from Pennsylvania), invisible string, and then the last great american dynasty where Betty dies and Taylor buys the Rhode Island home.

I have decided to make my own folklore with the current statement of the PRO-7 chief. It is divided into three acts, each depicting the failure, the solution, and the aftermath. 

ACT ONE:

The Failure features three different pieces about how the government failed to fight the virus.

stick in the mud: Stick In The Mud is an idiom which translates to a person unwilling to participate. During the first few weeks of quarantining, citizens were seen as the stick in the mud. Without acknowledging their needs and how to put food on their plates, people immediately saw the working class as a nuisance who are unwilling to participate. The elites always told them to be ‘positive’, disregarding the fact that of all the people who are struggling amidst the virus, they were one of the groups who have it the hardest.

This would then translate to the carelessness of the government. As time evolves, people are starting to see that perhaps the government is the problem. They have been focusing on other things such as renaming the airport, shutting down a major media company. Some have also used the pandemic for their political gain--politicising their assistance (when it was their job in the first place). Some also use the public funds to their personal use--they have been pocketing our taxes and try to appear transparent with their faux budget breakdown. Who pays almost (if not more than) 100,000 pesos for a few boxes of bottled water?

possible lyrics include: “I thought you were saving me but you left me in battle to fend for myself,” “I saw every version of yourself and I didn’t like any of them,”

collateral damage: Collateral Damage is a song where the government admits that people who have perished are just collateral damage. It is unintended for the most part but the government continuously believes that it is for the greater good. For the greeted good of what? We can’t consider the death of many as something that’s just there. They are not statistics. They have families and friends around them and no matter how much you put it--the carelessness of the government to the perish of the many is inhumane.

possible lyrics: “You tell me that it is what it is to make me feel better,” “I have lost myself and you’re still careless,” “It’s not collateral damage, it’s me,”

longest time Longest Time is a concept that I got from the official Instagram page of PAGASA. We are currently the country with the longest time in terms of lockdown and quarantine. We see no improvements whatsoever. We already have over 70,000 of COVID-19 cases in the country and the solution of the national government is to quarantine. It’s embarrassing, to be honest. This can also be translated into a different concept wherein a wave of old Duterte supporters and Marcos loyalists turn their backs and start to change their political ideology. They would then be more vocal about the oppressive state and would continuously educate themselves in order to know more about the truth that a lot of people believe in. To be honest, I consider education as a form of political participation because if they do so, then they have the capacity to criticise the government and ask for better plans, better solutions. In simple forms of voting and supporting a politician, they are able to make decisions that have the capacity to shape their lives.

possible lyrics: “I’ve been inside for the longest time and I’m losing my mind,” “Is it possible to change myself if I’ve been this way for the longest time?” “Am I too early or too late?”

ACT TWO: The section of this essay, The Solution, talks about the different problem proposals that the government and the public have.

word on the street Word on the Street is an idea that came to me while I read that the PRO-7 chief said that chismosas help in effective contact tracing. I don’t know why but this concept is so funny to me because even though it is possible that it could work, the idea is wild. It is a mockery of the worry of families. Contact tracing is an effective tool to contain the virus but it shouldn’t be dependent on hear-say alone. It is insulting to women as well because it posits a sexist stereotype that women are only good for gossip. There are smarter solutions to solve the problem we have. There are more scientific and precise ways and relying on gossip is laughable. Let us all quote Latrice Royal on the 4th Season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, “The level of unprofessionalism? Far too much.”

possible lyrics: “You can’t rely on the word on the street, full of lies and deceit,” “She poured her heart out to me but never poured me whiskey,”

gasoline: Inspired by the president’s insensitive ‘joke’ about those who cannot afford face masks, Gasoline interprets the insensitivity of the government and how his words ignite anger. Just this month, the president said that soaking face masks in gasoline is enough to disinfect them. He also recommended the use of bleach and alcohol as other alternatives. When people reacted to it, they said that it was just a joke. It is utter bullshit and it angers me. A lot of these people rely on the president to speak his truth and inform them and joking about that is disgusting. The thing is, I’m not sure if he said it in all seriousness to stop the hate towards him and just said that it was a joke as an excuse. It’s annoying and him continuously saying that doctors and medical practitioners are at fault for their incompetence is maddening to me. My mother and my sister are both doctors and him saying it was a personal attack to my loved ones who tirelessly work and attend webinars about the virus to inform their patients. My mother is a consultant in our provincial hospital and him saying that she was incompetent even though she has a high exposure angers me.

possible lyrics: “You came to me, fire meet gasoline, fire meet gasoline,” “You strike a match but have no fight within you,” “Gasoline, you’re suffocating me,”

ACT THREE: The Aftermath is a two-part section that focuses on the communication cycle between the government and the people.

muted Muted aims to paint a picture of a world with muted colours. It is a reflection of how the voice of the people make up the colours in the world and how muting them makes the world duller. It is also a concept about how freedom of speech is suffocating sometimes. It’s a song about how people are discouraged from political participation because of the reception that they receive from the polarising group. The approval of the Anti-Terror Bill disappointed me. It’s a limit to our freedom of speech. To be honest, I’m scared. I constantly disprove of the government through my social media and real-life interactions. I’m paranoid that someone might be wiretapping me right now. It’s a scary place to live in and nowadays, democracy is just a facade that masks the tyranny of the government. In this day and age, political participation can be unauthentic because we are forced to believe in one ideology. The concept that political participation should be feasible to all remains a concept.

possible lyrics: “I don’t like the bitter taste that wordlessness leaves on my tongue,” “It’s dull in my mind and dull in my eyes,” “Cloak and Dagger meets but I'm still muted,”

sign of the times

Sign of the Times is a song by Harry Styles where a mother dies in childbirth. It’s a sad story but it’s what I feel. With the oppression of the government, its procedures to limit public opinion, I feel as though democracy is dying. Styles didn’t really paint a picture on the topic of the song so I decided to make it more graphic. I will be using the terms “mother” to signify democracy and the Philippines. In this article, this will have the longest ‘possible lyrics’.

Tooth decay, water in your lungs Mother you are dying. You tell me that you wouldn’t be able to make it But I will.

Heart beating fast, thorns inside your body Mother, what’s gonna happen? Tears on your pillow from my eyes I am dying.

If we meet again somewhere, Will you remember me? You told me to be strong, and to be free But I don’t have the money

Smells like death, smells like dying Mother, I am sorry.

I’m wearing your cologne, I’m wearing your perfume

Mother, they're about to take me.

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let them eat cake: how the oligarchs roused the third estate

artwork: cake toppers collage and animation + words: e1 medium: digital collage  section: a51

When the French Revolution started in the 18th Century, questions such as ‘Where do rights come from?’ and ‘How do we organise society to meet people’s needs?’ were asked. These questions challenged an entire nation--causing a cataclysm across the French nation.

Frenchmen recognised inequality among social classes when artists and writers would give importance to human logic and reason rather than culture and religion. The rise of printed material allowed political discussion and awareness amongst men. France, one of the most powerful countries back then, was still governed by an ancient regime. It featured an elitist social class which divided France in three estates--the clergy, the nobility, and everyone else. The third class consisted of middle class merchants, craftsmen, and over twenty million peasants. King Louis XVI, who ruled by divine right, gave privileges to the clergy and the nobility, and only taxed the third estate. During those times, France was already full of debt as it financed the American Revolution and had its long-running war with England. He decided to call an Estates General--an assembly that hasn’t been used for over one hundred years. The Estates-General was composed of representatives from the three estates and even though the third estate made up 98% of the population, they were only granted one vote. Afraid of losing their privileges, the aristocrats and the oligarchs of France voted to keep their entitlement. This angered the crowd and decided to call themselves the National Assembly. They also vowed to draft a new constitution. They then decided to burn down the Bastille, a landmark that signified strength and authority to gather weapons. They also speared the head of Bernard René Jourdan--starting the French Revolution.

When fear is left unchecked, it dissolves into anger and when the people are angry, the government gets scared. What happened in the French Revolution was an outcry and a demand for equality among the people. What happened in the recent years in the context or Philippine politics is comparable to the hunger of the French for liberté, égalité, fraternité.

The Philippine Political system paved the way for oligarchs who bordered on political dynasties. Using their elitism, the power-hungry exploited the people to retain power. In theory, there’s always a recurring political dynasty in local government units. We have the Revillas of Cavite, the Arroyos of Pampanga, the Marcoses of the Ilocos Region, the Binays of Makati, and so on. Political dynasties have no space for liberalism and freedom thinkers. In fact, they have solidified their positions in the political sphere that it almost takes a miracle for a new breed of politician to break in.

Recently, Duterte claimed that he was able to dismantle the oligarchy without having to declare martial law. “Kaya ko mamatay, mahulog sa eroplano. I am very happy. Alam mo bakit? Without declaring martial law, I dismantled the oligarchy that controlled the economy of the Filipino people,” he said in front of the soldiers of Jolo, Sulu. He also added, “Itong mga mayayaman na ginagatasan ang gobyerno at mga tao. Without declaring martial law, sinira ko 'yung mga tao na humahawak sa ekonomiya at umiipit at hindi nagbabayad. They take advantage sa kanilang political power,”

Let’s also not forget that he recently put the ABS-CBN on shutdown, hurt that they didn’t air his political commercial during his campaign, while claiming that the Palace was neutral in the decision-making process about the ABS-CBN shutdown. He also signed the infamous Anti-Terror Bill into law where suspected terrorists are guilty until proven innocent. He also enabled oligarchs into the public office while claiming that he, an oligarch, dismantled the oligarchy.

When the French Revolution started, the third estate wanted a political reform. They wanted to make the king a representative of the state but also a parliament who would run the government. However, the monarchs are very adamant in keeping their power until the patience of people thinned out. They just guillotined their monarchs. The similarity between the French Revolution and the uproar of the Filipinos against the oligarchical rule is the prediction that there is another revolution coming. This can be supported by the continued political distress and instability, the pandemic, and the economy. The people are more or less bound to get really tired to the point of organizing into mass demonstration and overthrowing the ones in power.

The government is scared and it is starting to silence the masses--just like what Maximilien Robespierre did to those who criticised his power and his legitimacy. In a way, he and Robespierre’s approach to how they instilled fear amongst men are quite similar. Which was ironic because Maximilien Robespierre was a democrat. His upbringing to the political sphere was almost quite uncanny with Duterte. He was first seen as a “strong man” who would save the masses from tradition politics and when he thirsted for more blood, fear was once again instilled in the lives of many. Robespierre was the bringer of the Reign of Terror. He was hellbent on putting his ideals in fruition and any criticism against him and his ideas were seen as a crime against liberty. Any distaste for the administration resulted in execution and France had to be careful in everything they did--how they act and the way that they talked. Freedom of speech was taken away from them. Just like what we experience now in the Philippine context. Life ended for him when his own people put him under trial and under the guillotine and after his death, there was social anarchy and France was at a loss. 

The government--no matter how much they instilled fear among us--is scared of us. With their response to the pandemic, how Duterte enabled the oligarchs to benefit from the masses, people are getting tired. It’s been decades but the Marcoses are still in power. Cynthia Villar can still take lands away from the local farmers. Corruption is still at a high and political dynasties are still existing. It seems as though the country still has a long way to go to achieve true democracy The country is hopeless and even with the rise of new names in politics, the questions such as ‘Where do rights come from?’ and ‘How do we organise society to meet people’s needs?’ from the French Revolution are still being asked.

extra art: timezones

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extra art—blog 2

blog #2: let them eat cake: how the oligarchs roused the third estate

artwork: timezones

art + words: e1

medium: digital

section: a51

[politics-jpeg]

extra art--blog #1

artwork: common denominator artist + words: e1 medium: ink on drawing paper section: a51

artwork: pussy makes the bones stronger artist + words: e1 medium: ink + watercolour on drawing paper section: a51 

read: the d in bdsm stands for demagoguery