Keith

Only yesterday, the Anti-terror Bill was signed into law by the Philippine president. If the law is implemented, it practically removes people’s human rights and subjects citizens to more oppression from the government. There are already COUNTLESS forms of economic and governmental oppression present, which you can see through sources below. This law makes our present situation unbearably worse. Nobody is talking about this law on mainstream media outside of the country.

Here is a master list of sources about inequalities in the Philippines, both present and historical. All news articles are in English. Even if you are not Filipino, please still self-educate, REBLOG to spread awareness, and search up ways you can help. Sadly, I am afraid to share links to things such as petitions and donation drives because of the new law. However, I implore you to help one way or another. I know I can count on the academia community to listen and help us. Thank you.

Free Documentaries 

COVID-19 Response: The Atom Araullo Specials: COVID-19: Nang Tumigil Ang Mundo | Full Episode

This documentary is in Filipino but is still useful in understanding Philippine context during the pandemic. Please be prepared to witness the lack of government initiative and the struggles of socioeconomically disadvantaged Filipino citizens. For instance, this documentary includes how workers in the National Capital Region who live in provinces struggle to return to their homes due to poor transportation systems and abrupt government decisions. Regardless of whether or not you are able to understand the language, this documentary sufficiently showcases what is currently taking place in the Philippines in terms of the lack of medical supplies, government aid, and economic preparedness. Moreover, captured are the abuses of power due to Community Quarantine provisions (i.e. public humiliation of curfew-breakers, etc.)

Martial Law in Philippine History: BATAS MILITAR: Martial Law Under President Ferdinand E. Marcos Full Documentary

This is a historical documentary in Filipino. It aims to shed light on the Marcos Regime, wherein uncountable atrocities and abuses took place. This dictatorship is integral to learning about the previous injustices Filipino citizens suffered in the past and what the current Constitution intends to avoid from happening again. 

The Current Regime’s Extrajudicial Killings: Duterte's Drug War (full film) | FRONTLINE

This documentary is in English and has English subtitles. This is still happening today. This documentary depicts brutality on suspected drug users and seller. You will notice that those targeted are often from low socioeconomic classes. In the Philippines, the impoverished are subject to fear of being suspected as a “drug user” or “drug pusher” without their right to due process. There are more news articles on this below.

Education & Poverty (These were not made within the context of COVID-19. However, they contextualize economic inequalities in the Philippines as is, without the pandemic effects just yet. Hence, these documentaries are good for empathizing with citizens and understanding how bad economic inequality is in the Philippines.)

I-Witness: "Iskul Ko, No. 1!," a documentary by Sandra Aguinaldo (full episode) - in Filipino

I-Witness: 'Pag-asa sa Pagbasa,' dokumentaryo ni Kara David (full episode) - in Filipino

Investigative Documentaries: PAAralan (TREADucation) - in Filipino but has English Subtitles

The Philippines' Baby Factory | 101 East - in English

Fallen Angels. True cost of sex tourism: Philippine’s fatherless kids of Angeles City Streetwalkers - in English

Articles on Anti-Terror Bill: Republic Act No. 11479

Duterte signs 'dangerous' anti-terror bill into law - Rapple

Philippines: New Anti-Terrorism Act Endangers Rights …

The Act itself: House Bill - House of Representatives

Human Rights lawyer Diokno tells lawmakers: Focus on COVID-19, not on anti-terror bill

Duterte signs into law the controversial anti-terrorism bill

Anti-terrorism bill problematic even under the best gov't leaders

Bangsamoro leaders urge President Duterte to veto Anti ...

Articles on COVID-19 Response in the Philippines 

COVID-19 Response Budget (read for how funds are gathered)

Where did funds from 2019, 2020 budgets for coronavirus …

Big cuts in infra, education budgets to fund COVID-19 dole ..

TIMELINE: The COVID-19 response money trail

WB sees PH poverty worsening in COVID-19 recession ...

Community Quarantine Abuses 

Philippine Children Face Abuse for Violating COVID-19 Curfew

During coronavirus lockdown: Abused women, children more ...

Child abuse cases triple while PHL cities on Covid-19 lockdown

Rising cases of violence, abuse on women, children noted ...

Elder abuse increased during COVID-19 pandemic — CHR ...

Articles on the Drug War

'Do not be fooled:' Groups say panel probing drug war deaths 'damage control'

Philippines' 'War on Drugs' | Human Rights Watch

Duterte's drug war is wildly popular, despite thousands dead ...

Court verdict: Cops lied, Kian delos Santos helplessly killed

Philippines drug war: Police guilty of murdering Kian Delos ...

UN Rights Council to Investigate Killings in Philippine Drug War

UN Rights Office Criticizes 'Impunity' and 'Systematic' Violence ...

Disclaimer!

i see you, i’m here for you, and i care about you. regardless of how ugly our study spaces are, no matter how much time and energy is taken by trying to protect ourselves and other people, we are still academics who deserve to pursue education within the limits we face. 

it’s okay to be stressed, scared, and unproductive. it’s okay to have the ugliest study area in the world or even no designated area at all. you are strong and these circumstances don’t define how smart you are.

where would the dead poets be after welton?

Todd

“good god, boy, there’s a poet in you after all”

studies the classics in columbia university

writes poetry during breaks and on the subway

thinks to himself “carpe diem” every time he goes to a terror professor’s class

is part of the over 75% of welton graduates who move onto the ivy league

drinks wine when having to study core subjects he does not care about

misses classes way too much

overanalyzes for poetry classes, almost fails college-level math

just goes along with how neil wants to spend date night

he loves suits because he gets to blend into the crowd even if he is the most frightened college student that has ever existed

his parents buy him ugly suits and he pretends to like them

studies at the coffee shop until 2 AM, unless neil is studying a role because he joins neil at the diner and withstands the terrible coffee

exam season breakfast is either nothing, or something while on the subway (he tries to be as discreet as possible)

constantly forgets where he put his metro card so he keeps buying new ones because he’s almost always late for class

brings huge bouquets to neil’s performances

owns lots of shoes but only wears one pair because it’s his most trust-worthy one (feels somewhat comfortable even after hours of walking)

is comfortable around neil all the time, except for when he’s writing poetry because neil might steal it because he’s done (walt whitman chasing part 2)

speaks as confidently as possible when called on by a professor but still undergoes stuttering moments once in a while

Neil

an nyc actor

his friends invite him to chill at the Paramount Hotel a lot, he only goes because he’s too afraid to tell them he can’t afford it so he just avoids spending money while he’s there

estranged from his father, who needs a lot of time to accept his career decisions

goes to the ticket booth in times square for last-minute musical tickets on sale

still memorizes lines from a midsummer night's dream

goes to a small unknown university in the city, just in case acting doesn’t work out

shares an apartment with todd, the love of his life (todd also pays for the apartment but it’s okay todd doesn’t mind)

absolutely loves times square in the day but todd hates it so they only go when it’s 4 am and there’s less people

when todd is stressed, he tends to blurt out musical songs to make todd laugh (”come on babe, why don’t we paint the town?”)

never learned how to drive

when the rest of the dead poets visit, they complain about how much neil makes them walk without noticing it (new york means walking ALL THE TIME - meeks hates it)

is a sucker for breakfast bagels on sunday mornings

learns roles in the local diner 6 minutes away from their apartment (“hey neil, up for an audition again?”)

is friends with the diner owner and the coffee shop barista

Knox

a pre-law student at yale

“mr. future lawyer”

he and chris are still together but chris goes to a liberal arts college far away so knox goes on road trips just to see her

writes a poem for chris every time he visits

he ADORES the snow in new haven because it reminds him of happy days in vermont

his favorite places to eat apart from the dining hall are shake shack, taco bell, and the chinese food store beside it

has a poetry notebook whenever he feels like his soul being sucked into a passionless profession (other people are passionate about it, he just isn’t)

has a lot of friends but chooses to hang out with pitts a lot because pitts also went to yale, enrolled in a different course (engineering)

he refuses to wear suits unless required because he is so tired of that welton uniform

his dad visits him more often because he decided to follow the path he was set out to take

has a secret dream of writing award-winning poetry

sits on the grass way too often that upperclassmen give him the stink eye because he tends to play loud romantic songs when he studies

would die for Insomnia cookies (his favorite cookie shop in the world)

has a lot of money but doesn’t want to spend it so he drives all the way to the nearest walmart or target to buy things

eats way too much cupped noodles