Last January 23, a Twitter user known as PinoyAkoBlog posted an image of a graffitied ‘Team BBM-Sara’ tarpaulin. In the picture, it is seen that the word ‘duwag’ was spray-painted across presidential aspirant’s Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s likeness.

by Steffi De Chavez In the four walls of our classrooms and in the pages of our textbooks, we are taught about the EDSA People Power Revolution. It is discussed to us how, on the 25th of February every year, we honor and remember the individuals who took part in the struggle against the Marcos…

To say that the current regime isn’t known for treating its critics very well is an understatement. If not subjected to personal attacks from the president himself, voices of dissent are met with red-tagging and immediately labeled as enemies of the State.      

This year, we commemorate the 52nd anniversary of the First Quarter Storm (FQS)—a period of turmoil and resistance marked by a chain of student-led rallies held from January to March 1970.

As cases continue to skyrocket, Filipinos remain uncertain of what the future holds.  The question remains—is it even possible to revert to a pre-pandemic society, especially in consideration of the health crisis’ effects on our economy, education systems, and emotional and physical well-being?

On January 22, 1987, thousands of farmers flocked to Mendiola Street in Manila in the hopes of opening a dialogue with President Cory Aquino on land reform and free land distribution. Instead, they were met by state troops wielding bullets and tear gas. 13 farmers were killed, 39 sustained gunshot wounds, and 20 suffered minor injuries.

On November 13, a post in the Facebook group Bongbong Marcos Alliance for Unity and Progress falsely declared that presidential aspirant and son of a late dictator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. won the 2016 vice presidential elections “by [a] huge margin”. The Facebook user stated that Marcos Jr. garnered a grand total of 21 million votes. As of writing, the post has accumulated around 24,000 reactions, 6,400 comments, and 18,000 shares.

Last November 9, presidential aspirant Manny Pacquiao met with President Duterte in Malacañang. Two days later, BANAT NEWS TV claimed in a video that the Commission on Elections had announced Pacquaio’s departure from the presidential race.  As of writing, the video has been deleted. 

Throughout the pandemic, the Duterte administration has been met with condemnation for prioritizing policies and infrastructure projects that range from wasteful to anti-people over  the pandemic response.