Anne Marxze D. Umil was Bulatlat’s first intern turned into its investigative reporter. She takes most things seriously, except praises about her. Sometimes, she cracks jokes that make everyone in the newsroom giggly.
Anne Marxze D. Umil was Bulatlat’s first intern turned into its investigative reporter. She takes most things seriously, except praises about her. Sometimes, she cracks jokes that make everyone in the newsroom giggly.
Four Agusanon Lumad, including two minors, were on their way to the local Comelec to register as first-time voters for the upcoming Sangguniang Kabataan (Youth Council) and barangay elections when they were arrested, tortured and detained by members of paramilitary group Bagani forces.
“All in all, Aquino’s SONA contained rehashed rhetoric and empty promises. The president remained silent on many fundamental issues that the people have long clamored for. I’m sorry Mr. President but your spinmeisters have failed you. We are far from impressed. We are indignant.” – Kabataan Rep. Terry Ridon
“Unlike the traditional fiesta, where hospitality, generosity, and goodwill are encouraged among the whole community, Aquino’s banquet is depicted [in the effigy] as a lavishly sumptuous feast for a small circle of guests as the people wait for crumbs falling from the table.”
Despite government claims that it has been increasing the budget for education, still the public school system is hardly coping with the shortages, and state universities and colleges have been raising tuition, thereby making tertiary education inaccessible for the poor.
Parents of UP student Kristel Tejada, who committed suicide after failing to pay her tuition, refuse to simply move on with their lives; they want to make sure other families would not have to go through the tragedy they experienced.
“The Filipino workers and people are fed up and are protesting against the rising prices and intensifying demolitions. The context is rock-bottom wages and chronic unemployment. That is the real state of the nation.” – Kilusang Mayo Uno
“When I finally saw a doctor, I was told that I only have four to five years to live. Some PLHIVs who I knew back then have died because of the disease. But I am still alive because of the support and love of my children and my family.”
Read Also: Church people call for understanding, love, support for people living with HIV
How is HIV transmitted?
While HIV prevalence in the country is low at 0.04 percent, there is a notable increase in new cases since 2007.
“People living with HIV should be loved as God has loved us. Being infected with the virus doesn’t make one a bad person.” – Rev. Phumizille Mabizela of South Africa
Repatriate undocumented migrant workers from Saudi Arabia now – Gabriela
Connie Ledesma of the NDFP urged the UN SRCAC to advice its Philippine Country Task Force for Monitoring and Reporting (CTFMR) “to be more discerning and circumspect in the performance of its functions by exercising basic due diligence and not relying solely on reports by agencies of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) such as the AFP, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Commission on Human Rights (CHR).”
“The growing dependence of the DOH on the role of PhilHealth for healthcare delivery manifests a very myopic approach to decades-old problems besetting the Philippine healthcare system.” – Network Opposed to Privatization
As the awarding of the modernization project of the Philippine Orthopedic Center to a private firm is fast approaching, health workers, patients, the urban poor, and church people are exploring different options to stop its implementation.
“They [children] are harassed, threatened, forced as guides, displaced, maimed, raped or killed and later on branded as child soldiers as an excuse of the AFP for the violations they have done.
“Healthcare is non-negotiable. The POC has been servicing the poor during its 68 years in existence. The POC should remain for the poor.”
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL Bulatlat.com MANILA – As in previous years, reports reveal that there is, again, an exodus of students from private schools to public schools this school year 2013-2014. Exodus, according to the dictionary, means mass departure of people. But...
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers once again picketed in front of the Commission of Elections (Comelec) last Thursday as thousands of teachers and support staff who served last elections have still not received their honoraria. The teachers’ group denounced the commission’s failure to act on the delayed compensation of teachers who served as board of election inspectors (BEI) and support staff last May 13.
“Rape is among the worse (if not the worst) form of violence against women. It should not be trivialized nor should it be a subject of jokes. Rape is a subject that should be treated with utmost sensitivity. The trauma that victims and their families undergo is immeasurable.”
“We have pointed out even before that the government should address the shortages first before they throw money into the implementation of the K to 12 curriculum. It is like wasting money while nothing is being solved.” – France Castro, Master Teacher in Mathematics and ACT Teachers’ Party second nominee.
"Twenty six years after our Constitution mandated free high school education, the government has not been able to make high school accessible to a substantial number of Filipino children." – ACT Teachers’ Party Rep. Antonio Tinio
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