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In SuySuy, Zamboanga sibugay (2025)

27/07/2025

𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗔 𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗴𝗮 𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗮𝘆 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗽𝗮𝗱 𝗻𝗮...

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is set to deliver his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) tomorrow, July 28, 2025, at the Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City.

Halfway through his six-year term, Marcos Jr. is expected to walk the nation through his administration's key accomplishments, outline the current policy agenda, and respond to the country's most pressing concerns. But beyond the speeches and applause, many are watching closely. What’s been promised, what’s been delivered, and what still remains out of reach?

The SONA isn’t just a formality or a yearly address—it's a constitutional mandate, and it is a mirror of where we are as a nation and a glimpse of where we’re being led. 🇵🇭

𝘊𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘈𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘻𝘢 𝘚𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘨
𝘓𝘢𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘑𝘶𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘦 𝘚𝘩𝘦𝘢 𝘉𝘶𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯

25/07/2025

𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬𝗔𝗟 | 𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗔-𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘆𝗮 𝘀𝗮 𝗚𝗶𝘁𝗻𝗮 𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝘂𝗹𝗼

𝘐𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘪 𝘕𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘩

Sa panayam ng GMA Integrated News kay Palestinian Ambassador to the Philippines Mounir Anastas, muling binigyang-diin ang masidhing krisis sa Gaza kung saan daan daang buhay ang nawala at nasira dahil sa pambobomba at taggutom. Sa kanyang pahayag, siya ay nanawagan, “What we hope, since the Philippines has good relations with Israel, is to apply some pressure on Israel in order that Israel respects the humanitarian question in Gaza especially and in the West Bank as well.” Ito ay isang malinaw na panawagan na nais iparating ng Ambassador—ang pagtindig ng Pilipinas ng may tapang at tinig sa masalimuot na kalagayan ng bansang Palestine.

Ngunit sa harap ng panawagang ito, nanatiling kalmado at balanse ang posisyon ng Pilipinas. Isang paninindigang tila binabalanse sa manipis na linya sa pagitan ng pagkondena at pakikiisa, prinsipyo at proteksyon, at moralidad at interes ng ating bansa. Sa harap ng lumalalang digmaan, kaguluhan at ng panawagang “apply some pressure,” nararapat lamang na ating pag-isipan at pagnilayan: sapat pa ba ang balanseng paninindigan, o panahon na ba upang ipahayag ng Pilipinas ang isang mas matatag na tinig para sa katarungan, kapayapaan, at sa karapatang pantao ng mga Palistinong sibilyan?

Ang direktang panawagan ng Palestinian Ambassador Mounis Anastas sa kanyang panayam sa GMA Integrated News ay dapat na magsalita ang Pilipinas at gamitin ang diplomasya nito upang magpahayag ng pressure sa Israel. Subalit, sa tugon ng DFA, ipinahayag ng Pilipinas ang paninindigang manatiling bukas sa dayalogo at hinding magsasagawa ng mapanirang aksyon sa alinmang panig. Ayon sa DFA, mas epektibo ang mapayapang pakikipag-ugnayan kaysa sa presyur na maaring makasira sa umiiral na relasyon sa ibang bansa.

Sa gitna ng mga samu’t saring reaksyon, opinion, at mga tanong sa naging tindig ng Pilipinas sa digmaang Israel-Palestine, hindi pa rin maikakaila na ang ugnayan ng Pilipinas sa Israel ay matagal nang matibay. Mula pa man noong 1957, naging magkatuwang na ang dalawang bansa sa larangan ng teknolohiya, agrikultura, at seguridad. Dagdag pa rito, ayon sa Rappler, aabot sa 30,000 na OFWs ang naghahanap-buhay sa bansang Israel na kailangan protektahan sa gitna ng digmaang nagaganap. Ang mga ito ang nagdidiin sa pangangailangan ng maayos at kritikal na diplomasya sa bansang Israel at Palestine upang maibsan ang dulot ng crisis sa iba’t ibang estado, tulad ng Pilipinas. Sa ganitong kalagayan, hindi basta-basta makakapaglabas ng matinding pressure o pagkondena ang Pilipinas, lalo na’t bilang isang maliit at umuunlad na bansa, walang sapat na pang-ekonomiya o military na leverage ang ating bansa upang magpatupad ng presyon tulad ng ginagawa ng malalaking bansa. Ang bawat hakbang sa diplomasya ay kailangang pagtimbangin, sapagkat sa bawat salita at kilos ay maaaring malagay sa panganib ang kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan sa ibang bansa. Sa halip, pinili ng Pilipinas ang landas ng balanseng diplomasya na kung saan kadalasang nakikita bilang mali, ngunit sa pamahalaan, ito ay isang mapanagutang estratehiya.

Sa kabila nito, sinusuportahan ng Pilipinas ang paninindigan sa isang makataong prinsipyo at solusyon. Sa United Nations, palagi itong pabor sa mga resolusyong humuhikayat sa “Two-State Solution,” na naniniwalang kapwa may karapatang umiral ang Israel at Palestine bilang makaibang soberanong Estado. Noong 2023, sumali ang Pilipinas sa Global Alliance for the Two-State Solution na isang hakbang na nagpapatunay ng malinaw na panig ng bansa sa usapin ng kapayapaan at katarungan. Subalit, hindi pa rin makakaligtaan ang naging pasya ng Pilipinas na mag-abstain sa isang resolusyon ng UN na nananawagan ng “immediate ceasefire.” Ayon kay Ambassador Antonio Lagdameo, ito ay dahil sa kakulangan ng resolusyon na kondenahin ang karahasang ginawa ng Hamas noong Oktubre 7 na kung saan ilang Pilipino ang nasawi. Ang ganitong posisyon ay ipinakikita ang masalimuot na realidad ng internasyonal na diplomasya, kung saan kahit isang boto ay may kasamang mabigat na responsibilidad.

Sa gitna ng alitan sa Gitnang Silangan, muling sinubok at inilalagay sa pagsubok ang prinsipyo ng balanseng diplomasya ng Pilipinas. Habang ilan ay nananawagan ng mas matinding posisyon laban sa karahasan, kailangan ding kilalanin natin ang ating realidad at limitasyon ng ating bansa. Isang realidad na kung saan tayo ay isang estado na may limitadong kapangyarihan, ngunit may malaking papel sa panawagan para sa katarungan ng kapayapaan.

Ang paninindigan ng Pilipinas sa usaping ito ay isang sinadyang hakbang upang mapanatili ang dyalogo at pangalagaan ang mga kababayan sa bansang Israel. Ngunit, habang patuloy ang pagdanak ng dugo at lumalakas na hinaing ng mga inosente, nararapat lamang tanungin: sapat pa ba ang katahimikan ng balanseng diplomasya o panahon na upang ang tinig ng Pilipinas ay tuminding para sa katarungan ng mga inosenteng mamamayan ng Palestine? Marahil ay panahon na upang ang BALAnseng paninindigan na hinahayaan ang pagpapaulan ng bala sa Palestine ay ituwid at mas maging matapang ang panawagan para sa walang pinapanigang katarungan at karapatang pantao sa Gaza, sa Israel, at sa saanmang dako ng mundo.

𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀:

[1] (3) GMA News—Nagpasalamat si Palestinian Ambassador to the... | Facebook. (n.d.). Retrieved July 25, 2025, from https://web.facebook.com/gmanews/posts/pfbid0DGEFVHBCzVJPubKooQYU45f7msXrZfDK6qZySDntMZrzyL5hMGD1zutAvPuNvvXSl?rdid=4Mz0XL64tlVinzul #

[2] Bilateral relations | Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (n.d.). Retrieved July 25, 2025, from https://new.embassies.gov.il/philippines/en/the-embassy/bilateral-relations

[3] Filipinos in Israel, Iran urged to leave as alert level raised. (n.d.). Retrieved July 25, 2025, from https://globalnation.inquirer.net/281492/filipinos-in-israel-iran-urged-to-leave-as-alert-level-raised

[4] General Assembly Adopts Three Resolutions to Advance Middle East Peace, Two-State Solution | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases. (n.d.). Retrieved July 25, 2025, from https://press.un.org/en/2024/ga12661.doc.htm

[5] Philippines says “dialogue and understanding” needed in Israel-Palestine conflict | Philstar.com. (n.d.). Retrieved July 25, 2025, from https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/06/27/2453776/philippines-reiterates-balanced-approach-israel-palestine-conflict

[6] Why the Philippines abstained from UN call for humanitarian truce in Gaza | ABS-CBN News. (n.d.). Retrieved July 25, 2025, from https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/10/28/23/why-the-philippines-abstained-from-un-call-for-truce-in-gazacom/gmanews/posts/pfbid0DGEFVHBCzVJPubKooQYU45f7msXrZfDK6qZySDntMZrzyL5hMGD1zutAvPuNvvXSl?rdid=4Mz0XL64tlVinzul #

24/07/2025

𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗜𝗡 | 𝗞𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗸𝘀𝘆𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗞𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗶𝗸𝗮𝘀𝘆𝗼𝗻

𝘐𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘪 𝘚𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯 𝘈𝘯𝘯 𝘓𝘢𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘭𝘰

Taon ang ginugugol upang hubugin ang isang maayos na resume. Internships, volunteer work, actual work experiences at iba pa ang isinasalansan upang maiangat ang sarili sa mga employers. Ang resume ay isang buod ng pagsisikap kung saan nakasaad ang bawat tagumpay, ngunit nagkukubli ng mga sugat at sakripisyong natamo sa buhay. Sa likod ng bawat linya ay mga kwento ng pagtitiis, pagkatuto, at pagbangon na hindi kailanman naisatitik. Ngunit sa likod ng pagsisikap na buoin ang resume, madalas sumasagi sa isipan, “May laban ba ako sa applicanteng may koneksyon?” Dahil sa likod ng kakayahang taglay at kumpyansa sa pag sagot sa interview, may isang katotohanang pilit nilulunok ng marami: hindi sapat ang galing kung ang posisyon ay nakalaan na sa may kakilala.

Ang sistemang Padrino o sa Ingles ay “Patronage System” (kilala din bilang “Spoils System”) ay ang personal na ugnayan ng isang patron at kliyente upang maisakatuparan ang isang kahilingan. Sa sistemang ito, ang isa o bawat partido ay nagtatamo ng benepisyo sa pamamaraang labas sa makatarungang proseso. Ang sitemang Padrino ay hindi na bagong isyu sa Pilipinas. Sa katunayan, naging parte na ito ng kulturang Pilipino (Wong & Lara-de-Leon, 2010)—isang bubog na realidad sa mga manggagawang lumalaban ng patas, at ang unti-unting bumubura sa saysay ng ng edukasyon, pagsasanay, at marangal na kompetisyon.

Sa kabila nito, patuloy ang panawagan na pagtibayin ang merit-based hiring. Ito ay isang sistema kung saan may pamantayang dapat maabot, ang oportunidad ay batay sa kakayahan, at ang workforce ay naitatatag sa isang masusing pagsala ng mga aplikante. Kapag ang tunay na may galing ang nauupo sa posisyon, hindi lang epektibo ang trabaho—naibabalik din ang dignidad sa mga pinaghirapang resume.

Sa kabila ng mga problemang bumabaluktot sa proseso ng pagkuha ng trabaho, maraming Pilipino ang patuloy na nagsusumikap sa paniniwalang ang tagumpay ay dapat nakabatay sa kakayahan at marangal na pagsisikap. Gayunman, may pagkakataong hindi sapat ang kanilang sipag at galing. Ang mismong sistema ang pumapalya; isang sistemang mas pinapaboran ang may kakilala kaysa sa may kwalipikasyon. Sa halip na gantimpalaan ang merit ng isang tao, nananatiling laganap ang personal na impluwensiya sa desisyon ng pagkuha ng empleyado, na siyang humahadlang sa tunay na patas na kompetisyon.

Ngunit ang pagbabago ay hindi lamang nakaatang sa mga institusyon. Tungkulin din ng bawat isa na itaguyod ang isang kultura kung saan pinahahalagahan ang kakayahan kaysa sa pabor. Kailangang maging mas kritikal ang publiko sa mga proseso ng pagtanggap sa trabaho at mas mapanagot ang mga institusyong lumilihis dito. Kung may humihingi ng pabor, tanggihan. At kung tayo mismo ay matuksong humingi ng pabor, kailangan nating lumihis sa ganitong gawi. Ang integridad ay hindi lamang panawagan sa iba kundi obligasyon ng bawat isa. Ang pagbabago sa sistema ay nagsisimula sa pagbago ng pananaw: na ang tagumpay ay dapat pinaghihirapan.

𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲:

[1] Padrino System (Philippines)—Global Informality Project. (n.d.). Retrieved July 24, 2025, from https://www.in-formality.com/wiki/index.php?title=Padrino_System_(Philippines)

18/07/2025

𝗜𝗡 𝗦𝗨𝗬𝗦𝗨𝗬 𝗔𝗥𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗦 🔍 | WMSU Student Organizations

14/07/2025

𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 | 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗼 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝘄𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗗𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗧𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻

𝘉𝘺: 𝘋𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘢 𝘔𝘢𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘭

On July 1, former Philippine Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino was officially banned from entering China, including Hong Kong and Macau, following the passage of two Philippine maritime laws.

These laws are the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, which defines and affirms the maritime zones of the Philippines based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Act, which designates specific sea lanes and air routes through which foreign ships and aircraft can pass safely and legally. Both laws aim to assert the country’s maritime boundaries.

Tolentino, who is the sponsor of the two maritime laws, responded to the ban and called it "a badge of honor” and added that no foreign power can silence him.

"This sanction is a badge of honor and a testament to my unwavering commitment to protect our national interest and our people’s dignity," the former senator stated.

| 𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙖 𝙨𝙡𝙖𝙢𝙨 ‘𝘼𝙣𝙩𝙞-𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙖’ 𝙍𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙨

Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated, "For quite some time, driven by selfish interests, a handful of anti-China politicians in the Philippines have made malicious remarks and moves on issues related to China that are detrimental to China’s interests and China-Philippines relations." They also describe Tolentino’s actions as "egregious conduct on China-related issues."

| 𝘿𝙁𝘼 𝙎𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝘼𝙢𝙗𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙖𝙙𝙤𝙧

Days after China’s sanctions on former Senator Tolentino, the Department of Foreign Affairs summoned the Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian.

In a statement read by Palace Press Officer Claire Castro during a briefing, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has made it clear that while they recognize Beijing's legal right to impose sanctions, targeting an elected official for simply doing his job sends the wrong message.

"The DFA statement conveyed to the Chinese side that, while the imposition of such sanctions falls within China's legal prerogative, the imposition of punitive measures against democratically elected officials for their official acts is inconsistent with the norms of mutual respect and dialogue that underpin relations between two equal sovereign states," Castro said.

The statement also highlighted that in a democratic country like the Philippines, they value freedom of expression and the principle of separation of powers.

"The Department also reminded the Ambassador that as a democracy, the Philippines values freedom of expression. In the Philippines’ adherence to the constitutional separation of powers among the three branches of government, it is the mandate of Senators and other elected officials to inquire on matters of national and public interest."

"The Department remains committed to addressing differences through diplomacy and dialogue and looks forward to continued constructive engagement with China to promote mutual understanding," the statement concluded.

𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀:

[1] Foreign Ministry spokesperson announces sanctions on the Philippines’ former senator Francis Tolentino. (n.d.). http://ph.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/fyrth/202507/t20250701_11662115.htm

[2] https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-sanctions-former-philippines-senator-foreign-ministry-says-2025-07-01/

13/07/2025

𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗔𝗟 | 𝗔 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻’𝘀 𝗩𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲: 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱

𝘉𝘺: 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘢 𝘋𝘢𝘨𝘶𝘯

𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙖𝙗𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙨 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙣—𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚, 𝙛𝙚𝙖𝙧, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧—𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙟𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣.

Through an exclusive interview in 24 Oras with alias “Totoy,” a whistleblower, the veteran journalist and reporter, Emil Sumangil, uncovered a chilling web of allegations: abductions, murders, cover-ups, and the possible involvement of personalities tied to the gambling industry. According to the Manila Times, the case of the missing sabungeros began between April 2021 and January 2022; a cold case—now, a reboiling one. And in telling that story, he knew what it could cost him…

Journalism is not just a job; it’s a responsibility and a calling—one that demands courage in the face of danger, integrity in the face of pressure, and service in the face of fear. While others would have backed down, he stood firm. He chose the story.
In doing so, he reminded us what journalism is meant to be: a force that holds power accountable, not one that bows to it. The case exposes systemic rot, and his quiet bravery exposed more than just a criminal operation; it exposed the void left by institutions that failed to uncover the truth for 4 years. And once again, it was the press that stepped up to fill that silence. What does that say about our justice system?

It’s in this spirit that we must remember what the Constitution guarantees. Article III, Section 4 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution clearly states:
“No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances.” This isn’t just text on paper. It’s the legal backbone that allows journalists like Sumangil to pursue stories without fear of censorship or state suppression. It ensures that the press remains free, not for its own sake, but for the sake of the people’s right to know.

And yet, his bravery comes at a cost. His family, particularly his wife, on July 4, 2025, has had to publicly ask on social media platforms for prayers and protection (via The Filipino Times, 2025). Multiple articles then also surfaced online, confirming and supporting her message, using hashtags such as , which quickly circulated online.

This is not normal. In any functioning democracy, a journalist doing their job should not have to fear for their life. When the press is left vulnerable, it empowers perpetrators of abuse, allowing them to act without scrutiny or consequence. A government that fails to protect its journalists ultimately fails to protect its citizens' right to the truth. Guaranteeing press freedom is not enough on paper—it must be enforced in practice. The government has the crucial responsibility to ensure that journalists are safe not only from censorship but also from violence, harassment, and retaliation. They must demonstrate moral leadership by defending journalists publicly, condemning attacks immediately, and refusing to tolerate threats to truth-tellers.

𝙏𝙝𝙪𝙨, 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙘𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙮: 𝙒𝙚 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙀𝙢𝙞𝙡 𝙎𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙟𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙢—𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙨𝙩𝙨. As citizens, stay vigilant. Report and condemn threats online, support legislation that strengthens press protections, and amplify the voices of journalists by sharing their work responsibly. It is a must to support credible news organizations that uphold investigative reporting and push for accountability whenever a journalist is harmed, harassed, or silenced.

The truth is not always loud, but it is powerful. It is not always welcome, but it is necessary. And when delivered by someone who is willing to put their safety on the line for it, it deserves more than applause. It deserves action. Protection. Respect.
Let us stand by the truth-tellers. Let us honor those who keep serving the people, even when it’s dangerous. Because without journalists like him, darkness wins. Without the bravery of the press...

who will expose the truth?

01/07/2025

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗦𝘂𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝘆𝗦𝘂𝘆: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱

𝘓𝘰𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘢𝘪𝘯: 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦

Rain may have halted the Marcha de Orgullo 2025 parade to Plaza Pershing, but the spirit of Pride thrived under the covered court of Zamboanga Central School. In this video for What Can You Suy with InSuySuy, we sat down with LGBTQIA+ youth leaders who shared unfiltered truths about visibility, representation, and the politics of acceptance in the Philippines today.

“Even if I am tired, I have to show up, not just for myself, but also for the community,” said Nur-Aina J. Albar, the President of WMSU Lakandiwa, confronting the exhaustion of fighting for rights in a society that claims progress but remains deeply rooted in exclusion.

Zaara Althani, Founder and President of ZPPSU Unla Mascara Gender and Development, underscored the reality of conditional visibility: “Napapakinggan siya, pero hindi ganun kalakas yung goses… Kailangan natin magtulungan. Napapakinggan siya na at the same time, hindi ganun kalakas yung mga patas na meron tayo. And that’s the reason why we are fighting na sana maipasa na yung SOGIE bill.”

Both leaders pointed to a sobering truth—that being heard in political and educational spaces is not enough when those in power remain reluctant to pass laws that protect LGBTQIA+ lives.

Their final call rings loud beyond the court: “Never be ashamed of who you are...” Albar said. and “We need to listen to people who don’t have their voices and their sentiments. We need to focus on that. Not only for the LGBTQIA+ members, but also for the heterosexual, or should I say, the cisgender men and women,” Althani re-echoed.

This video stands as a testament to Pride as both a celebration and a protest—a continuing fight against a system that too often offers tolerance instead of justice. The rain may have delayed the march, but these voices marched on.

𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮: 𝘡𝘰𝘯 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘦ñ𝘰
𝘝𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘰 𝘌𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳: 𝘡𝘰𝘯 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘦ñ𝘰
𝘏𝘰𝘴𝘵: 𝘡𝘰𝘯 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘦ñ𝘰

01/07/2025

𝗜𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝘆𝗦𝘂𝘆 𝗘𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 (𝗘𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱-𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲)

In Suysuy, the Official Political Commentary of Western Mindanao State University, embarks on a new era as the organization presents the new Editorial Board members for the Editorial Year 2025-2026. The election was held at the College of Liberal Arts building on May 8, 2025.

As the organization welcomes a new chapter to serve with purpose and vision, the organization is thrilled to welcome Mr. Jackson Roxas, who signed the Memorandum of Agreement on the same date to formally sit as the new In SuySuy Publication Adviser. Additionally, former Editor-in-Chief Sharmida Mawan appointed Shyr Rhys Sagan as the new Editor-in-chief, while the rest of the members were elected by the organization members.

Here's to the brand-new publication ahead, stepping into the role not just to write and publish pages but to dedicate their hearts to challenging the status quo and redefining it with their commitment to amplifying the voice of youth, leaving footprints of truth.

𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰 𝘓𝘢𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘕𝘶𝘳-𝘈𝘪𝘯𝘢 𝘈𝘭𝘣𝘢𝘳

30/06/2025

𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗡 | 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗹𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆

𝘉𝘺: 𝘕𝘶𝘳-𝘈𝘪𝘯𝘢 𝘑. 𝘈𝘭𝘣𝘢𝘳

Dazzling attire. Cheerful chants. Rainbow flags are waved proudly. Yet beneath the glamour and confetti a question lies: Is this celebration really enough? In a country that refuses to pass the SOGIE Equality bill, do the members of the LGBTQIA+ community really feel accepted or are they still in the same cycle of hiding their real identity in the fear of being discriminated?

Despite the heavy rain, the corners of Zamboanga Central School burst into a celebration of visibility, identity, and defiance as the LGBTQIA+ community partook in this year’s Pride March. With individuals whose identity falls outside the gender norm and allies that stand by the principle of equality, the event became a powerful call for action.

Among all the placards that were raised, one message remained consistent: “𝗣𝗔𝗦𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗢𝗚𝗜𝗘 𝗘𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗕𝗜𝗟𝗟 𝗡𝗢𝗪.” While we acknowledge that celebrations like this stand as a symbol of solidarity and inclusivity, it doesn’t change the reality that only some are privileged enough to attend. Others are out there facing discrimination and harassment in every space they enter—including their own homes, which should at least be their safest place when society refuses to be accepting.

The first ever Pride March was held in New York on June 28, 1970, a historical event that turned protest into a celebration of identity. In Asia, countries like Taiwan and Thailand have legalized same-sex marriage and offered adoption rights to same-sex couples. Yet unlike those that have progressed and become truly inclusive with protective laws and policies that safeguard the rights of every LGBTQIA+ individual, the Philippines remains stalled and has been left behind.

𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝘆 "𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴" 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘁𝘆 𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀. It turns into staged allyship—a masked display of acceptance that allows society to claim progress without addressing the deeper problems that make the LGBTQIA+ community vulnerable to inequalities and systemic injustices.

True allyship and support doesn't mean that we only celebrate it during its time. It means that we move beyond acknowledgment—a commitment that requires legal recognition, policy change, and collective action from the government and the people. Without those, are we truly supporting LGBTQIA+ individuals, or are we merely tolerating their existence without ensuring that their rights are legally safeguarded?

One urgent bill that could undeniably turn the tables for Filipinos is the SOGIE Equality Bill. And yet, this bill has faced years of delay, allowing discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression to persist. Ever Since Senator Risa Hontiveros introduced Senate Bill 159, or what is known as “An Act Prohibiting Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity or Expression (SOGIE) and Providing Penalties Therefor,” misconceptions have spread rapidly, leading to some policymakers opposing this bill. Accordingly, the SOGIE Equality Bill is seen to favor LGBTQ+ individuals, but what everyone failed to realize is that this policy recognizes diverse human sexuality, including heterosexuals. They say the SOGIE Equality Bill violates the rights of other people—but when did the call for equal protection and privilege become a threat? In fact, if passed, this bill deprives no one of anything, except the “right” to discriminate and engage in acts of gender-based violence.

𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘴𝘬:

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝘂𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘄?

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘄𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁?

𝗜𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁'𝘀 𝗱𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻?

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲?

𝗪𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲—𝘄𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

Celebrating Pride in the Philippines isn’t proof that we have won—it is a protest wrapped in colors. And behind the glitters, we owe the community nothing less than the right to love and be loved, to be seen, heard, and accepted. Only then can the Philippines rightfully claim to be celebrating the very essence of Pride.

𝘓𝘢𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘣𝘺: 𝘚𝘩𝘺𝘳 𝘙𝘩𝘺𝘴 𝘉. 𝘚𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘯

𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀:

[1] De La Cruz, C. (2019, September 19). 10 common misconceptions about the SOGIE Equality Bill. SPOT.ph. https://www.spot.ph/newsfeatures/the-latest-news-features/79054/sogie-equality-bill-misconceptions-a833-20190919-lfrm

[2] Human Rights Campaign. (n.d.). Marriage Equality Around the World. https://www.hrc.org/resources/marriage-equality-around-the-world

[3] Library of Congress. (n.d.). The history of Pride [Dataset]. https://geo.loc.gov/datasets/the-history-of-pride

18/06/2025

𝗙𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 | 𝗔𝗜 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗜-𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮

𝘉𝘺 𝘈𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘭𝘢 𝘝𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘭

𝘼 𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚. 𝘼 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚. 𝘼 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙚𝙘𝙝. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙮𝙚𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡. 𝙄𝙣 𝙖 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙩 𝙤𝙣 𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙣𝙨, 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙨 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙩𝙝? Where once propaganda wore paper and ink, today it wears a face. A flawless face, forged by Artificial Intelligence. A face that can cry, confess, or convince…how many will notice? This is no longer science fiction. It is the quiet war unfolding beneath our fingertips. And politics, the very system meant to protect the people, may be the first to bleed.

What makes this threat even more alarming is how easily it slips into our feeds, undetected. A video can go viral in minutes, but what if that video is fake, and you can’t tell? As Artificial Intelligence (AI) rapidly evolves, so does its power to shape perception. In politics, that power is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. One notable development is the rise of deepfakes—an AI-generated form of media that manipulates audio, video, or images to falsely portray individuals doing or saying things they never actually did.

A recent incident involving Senator Bato Dela Rosa, who shared an AI-generated video believed to be authentic, served as a wake-up call. On June 16, 2025, Rappler published a fact-check confirming that the video was artificially generated using AI, highlighting just how easily such content can spread, even through the hands of public officials. The deeper we dive into advanced technologies like AI, the more urgent the question becomes: As we stand at the peak of technological advancement, should we view these innovations as blessings that deserve gratitude, or as threats that warrant concern, especially in the realm of politics? The implications of AI-generated content in political settings are far from simple. In a statement, Vice President Sara Duterte remarked, “Kumbaga, if I were a social media account owner at gagawa ako ng AI to support a certain personality, walang problem doon kasi hindi ko naman ginagawang negosyo, hindi ko naman binebenta sa mga tao ang produkto ko eh.”

In other words, the use of AI in politics might seem acceptable if it’s not for personal or financial gain. But the reality is more complicated. When AI is used to sway public opinion and influence voters, its impact on democratic processes becomes a serious issue. These tools are no longer confined to theory. They are reshaping how we absorb information and how political discourse unfolds. While AI isn’t inherently bad, its misuse, especially in contexts as sensitive as elections raises serious ethical and legal questions.

As AI-generated propaganda becomes more prevalent, it is essential to examine the potential consequences of its misuse. By being aware of both the risks and benefits of AI in politics, we can work toward strategies that minimize harm. According to the Brookings Institution, “Deepfakes have the potential to be used to manipulate public opinion, including creating fake news stories and spreading disinformation.” Meanwhile, a 2023 study by the UC Berkeley Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity, 65% of individuals are concerned about deepfakes altering how we perceive reality.

Right now, many countries, including the Philippines, are still in the early stages of creating clear rules for how AI should be used. In 2023, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) launched a task force to begin drafting national AI governance guidelines, in collaboration with tech experts and lawmakers. This move reflects a growing awareness of the need to regulate AI, especially before it becomes unmanageable. The technology is evolving faster than the laws meant to guide it. Without proper oversight, there is a risk that some individuals or groups could misuse it, especially in politics, where accuracy and trust are important. This doesn’t mean AI should be banned. Instead, what’s needed is a fair and workable system that encourages responsible use while helping prevent harm.

To ensure AI benefits society while promoting transparency and accountability, regulation is crucial. As Dr. Darrell M. West, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, explains: “The key to mitigating the risks of deepfakes is to develop effective regulations and technologies that can detect and prevent their misuse.”

By acknowledging the complexities of AI in politics and working together, we can harness its power not to mislead or manipulate, but to enhance democratic engagement and protect the truth.

𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀:

[1] Anderson, J., Rainie, L., & Pew Research Center. (2017). The future of truth and misinformation online. In Elon University, Pew Research Center.https://eloncdn.blob.core.windows.net/eu3/sites/964/2019/07/Future_of_Info_Environment_Elon_University_Pew_10-18-17.pdf

[2] Rappler. (2021, December 22). RAPPLER | Philippine & World News | Investigative Journalism | Data | Civic Engagement | Public Interest. RAPPLER. https://www.rappler.com/

[3] Rappler. (2021b, December 22). RAPPLER | Philippine & World News | Investigative Journalism | Data | Civic Engagement | Public Interest. RAPPLER. https://www.rappler.com/

[4] Ronda, R. A. (2025, February 20). DICT leads creation of AI regul DICT leads creation of AI regulations ations. Philstar.com. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/02/21/2423077/dict-leads-creation-ai-regul-dict-leads-creation-ai-regulations-ations

[5] Vaccari, C., & Chadwick, A. (2020). Deepfakes and Disinformation: Exploring the impact of synthetic political video on deception, uncertainty, and trust in news. Social Media + Society, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/2056305120903408

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