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Snooptective, Baguio City (2024)

05/05/2022

THE FUTURE OF THE NATION
The Philippines has been noted to have the most persistent undemocratic democracy in Asia – albeit being the oldest democracy in Southeast Asia. Since the reign of the late Dictator Ferdinand Marcos, prominent families have managed to dominate politics and kept economic benefits to themselves, only allowing what Analysts call the “Elite” into the Philippine politics. The Democracy the Philippines have is classified to be “flawed” due to the practice of holding free and fair elections despite problems including infringements, weak governance, and underdeveloped political culture and participation – granting almost anyone the right to ascend the highest position without any restrictions.

The Democracy in the country is undeniably biased towards the aforementioned “Elites” – that I agree on but an article by Mr. Ryan Patrick Garcia – Evangelista proposes a remedy that to strengthen the democracy, it is noted that there must be a more strategic, long term, inclusive approach that caters to the people’s demand for strong democratic institution that values democratic practices, values, norm, and would propel democratic engagement. It is also good to note that what the matters the most is the real institutional reform that starts within the citizens, not just the adults, the working class, or the OFWs but every single Filipino.

Sources:
https://www.tni.org/es/node/7396

https://www.cipe.org/blog/2022/04/21/the-2022-elections-whats-at-stake-for-philippine-democracy/

03/05/2022

According to a recent research issued by the World Bank, the Philippines needs to spend more in programs addressing children undernutrition to end what has long been deemed a "hidden pandemic" impacting many of the country's poor and vulnerable people.

Childhood stunting, defined as persistent nutritional inadequacy in newborns and young children, is one of the world's most important yet least-addressed diseases, and it is an even more critical concern in the Philippines.

Around 30% of children under the age of five in the Philippines are stunted, which is high for its level of wealth and higher than most of its neighbors. Stunting affects roughly 20% of children under the age of five in other countries with similar levels of poverty.

The Philippines ranks sixth among the nations in the East Asia and Pacific area with the greatest rate of stunting, and among the top 10 countries in the world with the most stunted children.

Better and greater levels of nutrition investments, as well as appropriate domestic finance for nutrition-related initiatives for vulnerable people, are critical to combating undernutrition at scale, according to the research. Increased direct government financing to and from local government units (LGUs) is a priority for delivering on multisectoral local nutrition action plans.

According to the research, such a comprehensive endeavor would need high-level government ownership and leadership at all levels, facilitating a whole-of-government approach to attaining nutrition objectives.

source: https://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/undernutrition-philippines-scale-scope-and-opportunities-nutrition-policy-and

https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/philippines/publication/-key-findings-undernutrition-in-the-philippines

01/05/2022

Voting as a Human Right

Voting is one of the most powerful methods for citizens to impact policymaking. As it is a formal declaration of one's support for a candidate or preference for a suggested solution to a problem.
Human rights are at the heart of every election. From local school board elections to presidential elections, people must choose politicians who will fight for, rather than destroy, all human rights.
The human right to vote is embodied in three instruments: Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR); the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; and in the 1987 Philippine Constitution. The Philippines is governed by these three documents which similarly mandate universality of the right; equality in access to public service; and secrecy of votes.
The United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly approved the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, recognizing the critical role of fair and free elections in ensuring basic rights to participatory democracy. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights declares in Article 21:
Everyone has the right to participate directly or through freely elected representatives in their own government.
Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.
The people's will shall be the foundation of government authority; this will shall be expressed in periodic and real elections, held by secret ballot or analogous free voting methods, and held by universal and equal suffrage.
Although voting rights are widely recognized as a fundamental human right, millions of people around the world do not have access to voting rights. Non-citizens, young people, minorities, criminals, homeless people, people with disabilities, and many others are constantly being deprived of their rights for a variety of reasons, including poverty, literacy, intimidation, and fraudulent election processes.
That is why we must vote for politicians that want the government to pass and implement human rights legislation. That means candidates that support policies that protect individuals from oppressive systems, advocate equal legal protection, and allow everyone to seek basic rights equally.

Source:
https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/rights-and-freedoms/right-take-part-public-affairs-voting-rights-and-access-public-service

https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/11/20/voting-human-rights-guide-2020

01/05/2022

The pursuit of truth and the development of individual self-realization and self-determination necessitates freedom of expression. It is protected as a constitutional right in the Philippines. No law abridging the freedom of speech, expression, or the press may be passed, according to Article 3 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution. The right to freely communicate one's beliefs and opinions is at the heart of democracy, and efforts to curtail this right constitute a severe threat to society.

People forced into quarantine during the Covid-19 outbreak rely significantly on traditional and internet social media for information on the country's predicament. More importantly, these venues are necessary for expressing critical criticism on remarks and policies concerning the health situation.

The Philippine government's militarized response to the health crisis has resulted in the suspension of several fundamental rights and freedoms, particularly the freedom to express oneself. As a result, many people have been summoned and arrested for disseminating information.

The state's constitutional duty to respect, promote, and preserve the right to freedom of expression should be emphasized. When democracy is under assault, and human rights are routinely violated, calls to repeal this terrible statute make perfect sense. If the government continues to persecute dissident voices, the ability to seek the truth will be harmed. The chances for a free, well-informed, prosperous, and peaceful society will be gloomy if we have few opportunities and venues to speak about our lived experiences and truths.

01/05/2022

BENEFITS VS PROFESSIONALISM

Is it always advisable to opt for personal benefits over progress, especially when it comes to major sectors of a nation?
The clear answer is, NO! But it is the undeniable norm in the Philippines.

Ranked fourth globally in Crony Capitalism, only behind Russia, Malaysia, and Singapore, the Philippines’ government has great partiality towards specific businesses – stunting the growth of other enterprises that can be deemed as a competition. At the same time, allocating friends into strong positions or fields of benefits has also been a long-standing practice, most notably during the Marcos reign.

Albeit the global ranking did go down by a spot, it is still relatively high compared to its 5th ranking back in 2014. Only climbing the ranks during the reign of Outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte whose systemic transformation turned into what seems to be a personal vendetta as the years went on – paving the way for new businesses to take the reins.

It is undeniable that the Philippines is plagued with “rent-seeking” businesses that practice corruption, bribery, and extortion. Weakening the morale of the government and leaving the economy dry. But the people are still hopeful that the next elected president would right what’s wrong and lead the country back on track.

References:
https://business.inquirer.net/344745/ph-ranked-fourth-globally-in-crony-capitalism
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/The-Big-Story/Crony-capital-How-Duterte-embraced-the-oligarchs
https://www.philstar.com/business/2022/02/14/2160575/crony-capitalism

30/04/2022

Human Rights During the Covid-19

In the second year of the pandemic, there were fewer major Covid-19-related human rights abuses in the Philippines than in the first, when law enforcement was harsh on quarantine violators. Children and the elderly could not leave their homes due to age-based limitations on movement for those under 18 and above 65. However, the government removed this restriction last October 2021. However, schools remained closed nationwide, disrupting the education of 28.5 million kids.

In the first years of the pandemic, we can recall how authorities established severe quarantine restrictions across the country and arrested tens of thousands of people for quarantine infractions. While some were detained, the majority received warns, were fined, or were ordered to perform community service. The administration only relaxed these limitations last November 2021. In the Philippines, detention facilities have historically been overcrowded, providing significant immunization problems, with authorities reporting success in some pretrial or holding institutions but not in others.

Critics charged the government for mishandling the pandemic response, including an insufficient initial vaccination roll-out. The general populace began receiving vaccinations only last November. Additionally, there have been complaints about inadequate financial support for communities impacted by lockdowns and a failure to pay frontline health workers correctly and on time, which has prompted some to resign. In September 2021, a Senate committee unearthed allegations of potential corruption in the government's procurement of medical equipment, with the government allegedly favoring persons associated with the administration.

27/04/2022

If Vice President Leni Robredo is elected president, her first executive order will be a full disclosure policy to promote more openness in government.

Robredo declared her first executive order will mandate all government departments and instrumentalities to make public all their transactions and contracts "even without the necessity for a request from anybody" during the second episode of the Commission on Elections' PiliPinas Debates 2022.

She stated that openness is one of the most important components in combating corruption, which she claims is caused by both institutional and human flaws. Accountability and human empowerment are the other components.

She also mentioned additional transparency tools, such as the creation of a citizen's charter and the digitization of government services and procedures to improve public service delivery.

In terms of citizen empowerment, she emphasized the need of involving the public in decision-making through establishing people's councils in local governments and reviving the bottom-up budgeting plan.

26/04/2022

Philippines ranks 94 in the list of debt to GDP

As of March 2022, the Philippines' overall government debt stood at 12.03 trillion yen ($232,255,149,900), making it the largest debt in the country. Furthermore, the country's ranking, relative to the rest of the world, drops in 2021, increasing by 39.6 million. Of the total outstanding loans, 30.4% came from abroad while 69.6% came from domestic loans.
Debt burden amounted P8.37 trillion, up 2.4 percent or P197.38 billion from the end of December. This is due, in particular, to the P300-billion interim loans obtained by means of the authorities from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
Meanwhile, economists and market analysts have previously indicated that expenditure or where the money went is the bigger concern.
Over the last six years, the Duterte government has initiated a comprehensive tax reform agenda that includes a mix of new and higher consumption taxes as well as lower personal and corporate income taxes. business, as well as better tax administration
Despite the reduction in revenue caused by the COVID19 epidemic, the Philippines borrowed more, obtaining a total of $2 billion in low-interest loans from multilateral lenders last year to purchase vaccinations and boosters on the road to providing free vaccines to the vast majority of the people.

With high debt, massive budget deficits, and yet recovering revenue, the fiscal consolidation package to be presented to the future administration might include new or increased taxes, cost cutbacks, and other measures. expenditure on non-priority areas, as well as economic development engines, to generate more revenue.
Non-tax revenue declined by over a quarter last year to 65.8 billion pesos, albeit this was about three-fifths above target when receipts were adjusted, unlike in 2020. when the national government collects more profits from state-owned enterprises to support an early COVID19 response because of the epidemic.

Sources:
https://www.rappler.com/business/philippine-government-debt-january-2022/?fbclid=IwAR2YXPBRZ13v9XCiHOx0Wb6y92EWj_kHFysqgjZC5t62v8GD7_XtRyeaHpg
https://countryeconomy.com/national-debt/philippines
https://business.inquirer.net/342425/ph-debt-breaches-p12-trillion-seen-exceeding-p13-trillion-by-end-of-2022

24/04/2022

A DEMOCRATIVE SLAVE

According to the Global Slavery Index, the Philippines is home to 784,000 modern enslaved people. The Philippines presents significant challenges as a source, destination, and transit country for trafficked men, women, and children. Each year, one million Filipino men and women leave to work in other countries, while 10 million Filipinos reside and work in other countries. Numerous foreign workers have been identified as victims of human trafficking, servitude, debt bo***ge, and forced labor in Asia and the Middle East.
Due to the country's socio-economic realities, many people are vulnerable to transnational and domestic trafficking. Trafficking occurs primarily in rural and urban areas. Adults and children are exploited in agriculture, small-scale manufacturing, and fishing through debt bo***ge and forced labor. They can be seen in farms and plantations, mines, streets, industries, and private households. Due to the population's susceptibility and the promise of a better life abroad, illegal recruiters have trafficked many Filipinos. Furthermore, because of the new normal, teenagers have become more susceptible online as internet availability has increased.

24/04/2022

HOW DIGITALLY SAVVY ARE YOU?

Literacy in the modern era encompasses much more than the ability to read and write. Digital literacy in the Philippines will be crucial as the country prepares for the "new normal," assuming the pandemic has passed.

While digitalization has grown in recent years, do Filipinos possess the skills and capacities necessary to be fully functional, effective, and efficient users of digital technologies? Are they digitally savvy enough to use information and communication technologies to solve gender inequity, education, health, and even employment?

Are Filipinos even capable of establishing a reliable connection to the internet?

The International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the United Nations' specialized organization for information and communication technologies, recently estimated that internet usage climbed from 4.1 billion in 2019 to 4.9 billion in 2021. Consider what happens in the following years.

Despite this growth, unequal access to the internet persists. Around 2.9 billion people, % of whom live in developing nations, have never used the internet.

Simply being able to send texts, post on social media, or surf the internet does not constitute digital literacy. Digital content creation and responsible internet sharing require specific skills. Students should begin learning about digital literacy in the classroom so that when they graduate, they can proudly declare that they are already digitally literate and capable of finding new opportunities.

Given how many people get information via the internet, it is critical to teach them how to generate, interact, share, and filter it. Individuals should understand how to properly consume and share reliable information to safeguard themselves against cyber bullies and cybercriminals. Digital literacy refers to the capacity to locate, examine, and evaluate online information efficiently.

23/04/2022

Divorce: Not a threat
Weddings are an extremely sacrament event in the Philippines. Often, unsuccessful marriages are rarely discussed among Filipinos. Due to traditional and conservative upbringing, marital problems are considered taboo.
It is not news that the Philippines, along with Vatican City, are the only nation that does not permit its residents to divorce. Several politicians have already made political attempts to legalize Divorce. These attempts remain unsuccessful, as others see Divorce as a threat to the “sanctity of marriage.”
Other couples are blessed with successful marriages, but what about those who are not? How does the law protect them?
Although annulment is an open option for married couples, not everyone can carry the cost. Other women are even hesitant to file because they are financially dependent on their spouses. Additionally, it does not have refined grounds and terms. Under the Philippine Law, there should be a party that must be blamed and deem the marriage that it never existed, which is not valid.
In the absence of legal Divorce, the lawmakers in the Philippines neglect to protect abused women and children. According to the Annual Statistics on Violence against women and children, wife battery (49%) ranked highest among all forms of violence and abuse against women. These women have to suffer in silence and choose to live their life hopeless because of the lack of divorce law. Researchers revealed that Women are afraid and lack confidence because very few laws protect them. Couples remain living under one roof because they are not given the opportunity to legally and adequately separate ways, which leads to long-term damage, not only to them but to their children, who are tortured by seeing their parents hit and quarrel with each other every day. This is why Divorce should be legalized in the Philippines. It could provide protection to battered wives and abused children. We can not be in a relationship that is already broken. Why stay in a marriage where love and respect are no longer present?
According to a poll, 40,414 voted yes to the question “Are you in favor of divorce in the Philippines?” this shows that Filipinos, married or single, are now open to the possibility of Divorce in our country. Divorce is not as bad as other people think. It allows couples to start again and lead better lives. Let us think about those suffering from an unhappy marriage because of a single piece of paper.

22/04/2022

To be representative, political systems must involve people from all walks of life. When young people are excluded or disengaged from political processes, they have little or no say in decisions that affect their lives. The representativeness of political systems is weakening as a result of this.

Young people must be involved in formal political processes and have a say in formulating today's and tomorrow's politics if they are to make a difference in the long run. Inclusive political involvement is not only a fundamental political and democratic right, but it is also critical for the development of stable and peaceful communities and policies that address the demands of younger generations. Young people must be informed about their rights and given the required information and capacity to engage meaningfully at all levels in political institutions, processes, and decision-making, particularly in elections.

Young people can quickly feel disempowered when they cannot participate in formal, institutionalized political processes. Many people fear that their voices will go unheard or not be taken seriously even if they are heard. If politicians are unable to earn young people's votes, the situation becomes cyclical. As a result, despite their sensitivity to demands for social equality and justice, environmental conservation, and cultural diversity, young people are increasingly excluded from decision-making and debates concerning critical socio-economic and political issues.

Young people's participation in formal political processes is critical from the outset in new and growing democracies. The active participation of young people can bring democratic values to life, resulting in the overthrow of authoritarian practices.

20/04/2022

Human rights, the rights granted by the government to each and every single person of the nation, fueled by the basic rights all individuals have from birth to death. But what if that right was taken in the guise of ‘justice’ and ‘order’? This is the issue rampant during the reign of Outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte. The loss of human rights brought by his war on drugs, that lead to EJK (Extra Judicial Killings) headed by the Philippine National Police that was mainly targeting the impoverished, and the red tagging and loss of press freedom.

The killings grew by 50% during the months of April to July of 2020 leading to the OHCHR (United Nations Office of the Higher Commission on Human Rights) to publish a critical report on the situation in the Philippines. As the war on drugs continue – sparing neither child or adult, the harassment of journalists, media companies, and netizens grew rampant. The loss of press freedom was greatly emphasized when the government shut down the largest television network – ABS-CBN, and with the deaths of 21 journalists during this administration.

Brought by the severity of his actions, it is right for the ICC (International Crime Court) to authorize a thorough investigation on Pres. Duterte’s alleged crimes against humanity. Nearing the end of his term, the outgoing President says he can be held responsible for the killings brought by his anti-drug endeavor but not including any charges of crimes against humanity. Which begs the question, will the people receive true Justice for their trampled human rights?

Sources:
https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2021/country-chapters/philippines
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/9/15/philippines-icc-agrees-to-probe-dutertes-war-on-drugs

For additional readings:
https://ipi.media/journalists-still-under-pressure-in-dutertes-philippines/
https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2021/11/07/press-freedom-is-no-joke-in-the-philippines/

19/04/2022

The Philippines' gender status is marked by strong inconsistencies. It visually displays examples of women's development in politics, academic and professional success, and even legislation. Images of prostituted women, abused wives, economically impoverished women, and exploited migrant workers, on the other hand, stand in stark contrast.

The MTV and online generation are fighting with socio-cultural traditions. The lengthy history of colonization has instilled in Filipinos a patriarchal society. Modern women exerting themselves in many facets of life are eroding the stereotypes of women as full-time homemakers, submissive to males, victims of private violence, reserve work force, and sexual objects. The harsh realities of global business and consumerism, on the other hand, have disenfranchised, discriminated, and even exploited some people.

This brings gender equality to the center of public debate and prevents women's standing in modern Philippine society from deteriorating further. There are a lot of levers to pull in order for the adjustments to happen. These legal and policy victories came as a consequence of women's powerful voices, which began even during the anti-dictatorship movement and culminated in Corazon Aquino's election as the country's first female president.

18/04/2022

LET PH BREATHE

Beyond the possible economic benefits to the government, there are more than enough grounds to be critical of the Philippines' mining industry. Several mining catastrophes have occurred around the country over the last several decades, wreaking havoc on communities and ecosystems. The most infamous mining accident in the country's history occurred in 1996 on the island of Marinduque, southeast of Manila. Acid rock drainage, large sediment loads, and tailings from the Marcopper Mining Corporation's mine poured into the Mogpog and Boac rivers, wreaking havoc on adjacent beaches and the sea. To this day, 25 years later, communities continue to suffer from health problems related to the disaster's pollution, and they continue to seek financial compensation and justice in court.

Considering the pandemic's implications, the Philippines needs economic development. President Duterte's shift on mining is a wrong move. He has thereby wasted an opportunity to construct a better, more sustainable future for Filipinos. Given that other countries are responding to climate change and altering their development goals, the Philippines' reversal will harm the most marginalized and vulnerable groups of society. Communities are still hurting from decades of mining-related human rights and environmental abuses. Devastating typhoons and other natural disasters strike the country every year.

Given the accelerating pace of climate change and the importance of the environment in mitigating its impacts, it is reasonable to conclude that the social and environmental costs outweigh the economic benefits of mining. The country should recognize that the long-term benefits of a healthy environment exceed the short-term monetary rewards.

Hence, this makes the May 2022 election crucial and critical. Candidates are already jousting within their parties to position themselves for the election. There are many political, economic, and social issues for voters to consider, and the environment has traditionally been secondary. People should look attentively at each candidate's position on mining, ecology, natural resource management, and the long-term ramifications of today's activities. Consider the Philippines' National Climate Change Action Plan and its Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Agreement as examples of the government's existing plans. What the Philippines lacks now are leaders with the desire and vision to support the implementation of these climate-resilient plans.

02/04/2022

Colonial Mentality is defined as the perception of ethnic and cultural inferiority and a form of internalized racial oppression and deemed by many historians as a direct consequence of the Philippines' long history of colonialism. According to research conducted by E.J. David, about thirty (30) percent of Filipino Immigrants have admitted to having at least five symptoms of Colonial Mentality.

A typical example and practice of colonial Mentality is the white-washing of Filipino actors and actresses in tv commercials where they endorse skin whitening products. This exhibits the entertainment and beauty industries' bias among Filipinos with Eurocentric features or fair-skinned people, also called as mestizo and mestiza.

Colonial Mentality is an issue that has always been discussed and seen everywhere, but the long-lasting effects on our nation is never tackled. However, Filipino Researchers of Psychology Today has found a relationship tied between colonial mentality and depression that causes the following:

1.) Denigration of oneself (hating one's brown skin and "Filipino nose," which could cause low self-esteem)
2.) Denigration of one's culture (e.g., believing that Filipino food is not as good as American pizza, not using the Filipino language because English is superior, denying Filipino identity, or claiming pride in self as "mixed Filipino-Spanish/Chinese/Hawaiian" but not claiming Filipino when asked about ethnicity)
3.) Discrimination against those who are less acculturated (i.e. making fun of "FOBS" and/or judging those with thick Filipino accents as less intelligent)
4.) Tolerance and acceptance of contemporary oppression of one's ethnic group: acceptance, forgiveness, and appreciation of the colonizer because of feelings of indebtedness; therefore, denying any negative impact of colonialism
5.) Hierarchy between Filipinos and Filipino-Americans/within groups based on how you look (more mestizo is better), education (American-educated vs. Philippines-educated), religion (Catholic Christian vs. Muslim Filipinos), language spoken, etc.
Through the years, we have been challenged by ridiculous beauty standards as a result of colonial mentality. However, today’s generation are raised, and continuously being raised, to be more inclusive and accepting of who they truly are, especially our identity as Filipinos. Regardless of our skin-color and shape of our noses, what matters the most is we embrace our bare and true selves.

Photo source: https://themindofthegarrett.wordpress.com/2017/04/02/colonial-mentality-in-the-philippines/