Activism Archives

Batch 2024, angkinin ang mga posibilidad, piliin ang paglaban

Nakaangkla ang transpormasyon ng edukasyon sa buod ng namamayaning politika sa bansa. Paalala ito na hindi pwedeng ang tore ng kaalaman sa loob ng klasrum ay ihiwalay sa kalagayan ng lipunan. Hindi pwedeng malaya ang unibersidad pero nananatiling pyudal ang kaisipan sa bansa. Ang paniwalang ito ang nagtulak sa akin, sampu ng iba pa, na suungin ang isang landas na maaaring palabas ng paaralan subalit ang inspirasyon at motibo ay pagbutihin ang kagalingan ng lahat ng paaralan.

Mong Palatino | Sep 2, 2024

People’s Pushback in 2023

The year 2023 affirmed the significance of enjoining the people to voice out their demands and aspirations while battling the social evils that continue to plague the nation.

Mong Palatino | Apr 18, 2024

Haunted past and present

Activists as they are, Ilagan and Lamangan, could not allow the play to leave its audience depressed and hopeless. Their faith in the power of the mass movement seemed endless, ending the play with a positive note, uplifting its cast and audience alike.

Bulatlat Contributors | Mar 10, 2024

Torture survivor: Graffiti is a valid act of political expression

“The Operation Pinta and Operation Dikit are unique because the message it carries is serious; issues and appeals that reflect the real situation of the masses such as 'Land for the peasantry'; 'Fair employment for the workers'. For most Filipinos, this is not difficult to understand."

Anne Marxze Umil | Aug 7, 2021

Who is Dennise Velasco?

Prior to his arrest, Dennise was coordinating relief efforts in Marikina. He planned to use proceeds from his small coffee business to procure relief goods and offer livelihood opportunities in the neighborhood.

Mong Palatino | Dec 13, 2020

Activism as cure to information disorder

Activism is our fact-checking initiative against so-called "fake news." We cannot engage in politics without a proper social investigation. Mao Zedong has a succinct quote for it: “No investigation, no right to speak”. Our statements must be grounded on the reality that affects the masses. We articulate the social condition based on verifiable facts.

Mong Palatino | Nov 29, 2020

Opinion | Revolution is the path towards a more human existence

When you are “free” to choose between which business you give your money to so you can survive and work tomorrow for another one, you are not free. You are trapped in an endless hell for the benefit of these few businesses.

Justin Umali | Nov 14, 2020

In praise of the community organizer

Working tirelessly on the ground are community organizers who turned a particular issue into a political question and mobilized the people to discuss, decide, and determine the proper course of action. They are immersed in full-time political work even if this does not yield any pecuniary benefit.

Mong Palatino | Sep 1, 2020

Journalism and activism then and now

A journalist should be fair but he or she cannot be neutral. In the context of its role as the Fourth Estate, journalism is inherently critical and adversarial. A neutral observer cannot ask critical or hard questions, so in a sense the framing becomes "soft" if a...

Danilo Arao | Jul 19, 2020

What it means to be a lockdown protester in the Philippines

Our hope lies in how we will face the pandemic not as mask-wearing individuals but as a group promoting medical measures, social reforms, and democratic rights. The pandemic demands medical attention, the crisis requires collective political action.

Mong Palatino | May 19, 2020

Different shades of redbaiting

The occupant of Malacanang Palace is always the most rabid and notorious redbaiter-in-chief. Duterte has his own uncouth style but his ranting is no different from former presidents who used their privilege to attack critics and activists.

Mong Palatino | Feb 19, 2020

Activism and life-work balance

Activism can provide useful insight and practical guidance on how to better grasp the link between the personal and the broader set of social relationships. It can sharpen our understanding of the dynamics of changing the self in relation to social transformation.

Mong Palatino | Jan 27, 2020

Retorika ng “bandalismo”

Pero sa panahon ng panlipunang krisis na basta-basta na lang kinikitil ang buhay, at basta-basta na lang ibinebenta ng mismong Pangulo ang soberanya ng bansa, ano pa ang puwedeng gawin ng Panday Sining? Inaasahan ba itong tumalima sa burukrasya sa sitwasyong ang mismong burukrasya ang problema?

Danilo Arao | Nov 14, 2019

Will the political crackdown stop if the CPP-NPA is defeated?

With or without the CPP-NPA, there are just reasons for the people to resist and build a strong movement against authoritarian regimes. And paranoid governments would always clamp down on critics and dissenters whether the opposition is religious, the wealthy, foreign-backed, or communist.

Mong Palatino | Nov 13, 2019

Are we there yet, kasama?

The Left’s primary source of support and inspiration is the fighting masses. Their conditions reflect the failure of the current system to end poverty, hunger, landlessness, and inequality which vindicate the need for a revolutionary struggle.

Mong Palatino | Oct 28, 2019

Schooled

By DEE...

Dee Ayroso | Sep 19, 2019

Activism and brainwashing: Lessons from Paulo Freire

When individuals begin to realize their oppression, they are motivated to act. And when they begin to use the language that is relevant to their lives, it gives them the power to dare and act decisively.

Mong Palatino | Sep 5, 2019

Making activists of them all

Instead of the extrajudicial killings and human rights violations that have surged in unprecedented numbers during their troubling watch, the minions of the Duterte regime are condemning activism as if it were a heinous crime whose perpetrators deserve the death...

Bulatlat Contributors | Sep 1, 2019

Injustices breed activism, teachers tell Bato and Albayalde

“The two officials are not in the position to lecture us on our jobs. Their stances show that they have very little appreciation of the objectives of education."

Raymund Villanueva | Aug 16, 2019

How my parents ‘brainwashed’ me

I understood that no matter how difficult the situation then, like the makeshift toilet and the few hours of sleep due to conventions, educational discussions as well as integration in picketlines, our parents had the best intentions.

Anne Marxze Umil | Aug 10, 2019

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