sabrina

Sen. Cynthia Villar’s latest Twitter debacle prompted discussions on farmers, land conversion and the National Land Use Act—issues Villar herself has influence over as chairperson of the Senate Committees on Agriculture and Food and Environment and Natural Resources. 

NLUA has been pending in Congress for almost 20 years, even as President Duterte has made repeated calls to pass it. Villar doesn’t seem interested as it would directly affect her business venture - Vista Land. She has spoken openly about her misgivings on NLUA stating that the delineation of land according to use would undermine the authority of the local government to manage their own affairs. Even as the economics seem to be on her side, the welfare of farmers should not be sacrificed for the sake of economic development. Instead of being subject to constant berating, suffering from the conversion of their lands to gated subdivisions and the effect of rice import policies, greater support is needed from the government to boost our agricultural system and ensure the well-being of our farmers.

At times, Villar poses herself as a champion for the environment. However it has become clear that her position only seeks to serve her interests and the hypocrisy that comes with it.   She opposed reclamation plans in Manila Bay over flooding concerns in  Las Pinas and Paranaque, including a bill that will expedite ECC requests from EMB during national emergencies. Villar claims that by expediting requests, the validity and credibility of studies are compromised. While she makes a valid point, her reasons for opposing are not entirely for the sake of the environment, but because such a move compromises a wetland park in the waters of Las Pinas and Paranaque, which is a project by Villar SIPAG. If the name isn’t suggestive enough, a look at the Board of Trustees reveal a family affair - her husband, former senator and presidential candidate, Manny B. Villar Jr. serves as the Chairman, Cynthia as Managing Director, and their son Mark (current secretary of DPWH) as the Treasurer and Secretary.

Villar must know that the land and water that traverse throughout the country are interconnected. The conversion of fields into roads affects not just one community but all communities in more ways than Villar realizes. That is why it is imperative that we have a national perspective on the matter of land use and other resources to ensure that we, as a nation, can have sustainable development. 

“I’m so tired. I’ve been fighting this for the last 20 years. My God, you don’t know the hardship that I have encountered,”

“Twenty years is a long time to fight for this. Am I going to fight for this until I die, and ask my children to fight for this?”  Villar said. 

September 25, 2020

Hon. Francis Gerald A. Abaya

District Representative, Cavite, 1st District

House of Representatives 

Dear Hon. Abaya, 

Greetings! I am writing this letter to petition for the swift passing of the National Land Use Act (NLUA) into law, which has been pending in Congress for almost 20 years. The Philippines is in desperate need of a clear and consistent land use policy amid the worsening effects of climate change. We have seen over the past years intensified natural hazards becoming the norm and setting new records with each succeeding one—as well as unpredictable weather patterns, causing loss of life and property and damage to crops that will affect our food supply chain. Moreover, these events drastically impact vulnerable communities who lack the necessary capacities to mitigate and recover from them. We are also in the face of a growing population living on limited land and resources owing to their continued exploitation and the failure to resolve issues over land ownership. 

While there are provisions under the Local Government Code of 1991 mandating Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUPs), many LGUs do not have such plans or have out-dated ones. Moreover, existing policies such as the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (Republic Act 6657), Urban Development and Housing Act (RA 7279), Philippine Mining Act (RA 7942), Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (RA 8371), and Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (RA 8435)—rightfully aimed at protecting land and resources—are contradictory and seem to further deepen conflict over ownership. These issues have been aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic as people struggle to socially distance and acquire needed supplies. This prompted once again discussions on the importance of the NLUA. 

The NLUA aims to harmonize land use policies for the proper management of the country's resources in a way that upholds human rights, guarantees environmental conservation, and sustainable development. When passed, it will distribute land based on purpose—production, protection, settlements development, and infrastructure, allowing future generations to adapt to the rising demands for food, housing, and livelihood. Furthermore, it will craft the National Physical Framework Plan which will serve as the guiding framework of the National Land Use Council. The act came close to becoming a law twice in recent years, first in 2013 when it was certified as urgent by former president Benigno Aquino III. It resurfaced again in 2017 in the form of House Bill no. 5240 and was approved by the Special Committee on Land Use. Upon transmission to the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources in 2019, Senate Bill No. 38 was filed and it has been pending there ever since. 

Since assuming the presidency, President Rodrigo Duterte has made repeated calls to Congress to pass the NLUA during his annual State of the Nation Address (SONA). In 2019, he gave Congress the end of the year to enact the NLUA, but they did not deliver. Cabinet members now look to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), who drafted an executive order (EO) to expedite processes on land use but still remain committed to enacting the law. 

As a member of the Committee on Land Use and a representative of Cavite, I strongly urge you to be a champion for the National Land Use Act and push for its enactment.

In Cavite City and nearby municipalities of Kawit, Noveleta, and Rosario, we experience widespread flooding due to intense rains and the rapid rising of water levels in rivers cutting across these areas. We are also prone to liquefaction (a phenomenon that occurs when vibrations of an earthquake cause soil to lose strength and flow) and often have incidents of fire. In densely packed communities with slim roads, it is difficult to mitigate and prepare for such events. New developments exacerbate these phenomenons, particularly those on Centennial Road and the proposed Sangley Airport, leaving more and more communities vulnerable and driving them deeper into poverty and suffering.

Now is the time to stand by your fellow Cavitenos by virtue of our shared history of coming together in times of crisis. By promoting inclusivity and environmental conservation, we shall be able to guarantee a safe and secure future for every Filipino. Be a champion for the National Land Use Act.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. I look forward to hearing from you.

Regards, 

(1)

Person A: “You should stop going out for non-essential matters. There is still a pandemic going on.”

Person B: “You go out too! You’re not sick. I’m not sick either. It’s fine, who defines what’s non-essential anyway?”

(2) 

Either we follow the path to modernization by the West, or the world will never develop.

(3) 

Look at the way she dresses, she's not a good public speaker.

(4) 

If I don't feed the cats in the morning, they will eat me alive.

(5) 

September 21, 2020 

I make it habit to read the news each morning. Even if the news topic is the same, I read articles from different news outlets. The details may seem repetitive with each website, but I try to dissect the angles and the manner by which the article was written and how it is connected to other events around the globe (It is quite difficult to do this first thing in the morning, but I try). Because I get my news from trusted websites, I am assured that the facts and information they have are credible. However, when I encounter information while scrolling through my Facebook or Twitter feed, I make sure to take the headlines with a grain of salt, and check if the stories have merit.

To be completely honest, my knowledge about Sabah and the Philippines' claim to it is limited. I initially didn't understand the uproar the tweet had caused. But judging from the tone of the tweet, it did seem unprofessional and undiplomatic for the country's top diplomat to make such a statement (especially when it is about aid being given to Filipinos amidst the pandemic). I only felt its seriousness when the Foreign Affairs secretary of Malaysia reacted to the tweet and said that the Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia to explain why Locsin would make such a statement. At that moment, I could not respond to the tweet as I did not know much about the issue.

1. 

My mom drinks soft drinks all the time and compared to my dad, she never gets sick. So, soft drinks aren’t really bad for you.

2.

Person A: “You should stop going out for non-essential matters. There is still a pandemic going on.” Person B: “You go out too! You’re not sick. I’m not sick either. It’s fine, who defines what’s non-essential anyway?”

3.

September 21, 2020

The COVID19 pandemic has forced millions of people to stay at home, which sounds easy enough until one realizes not everyone can do that. All over the news we hear about those living in informal settlements where space is scare and houses are tightly packed together, are finding it difficult to stay at home. Even worse is the situation for those who do not have homes to begin with. While organizations and some business establishments opened up their doors to provide food and shelter to the homeless, these were shut down by authorities claiming that it violated quarantine protocols 

Homelessness is a multi-faceted issue related to poverty, job security, wealth inequality, and many more. My interest in homelessness and the housing industry first came about when my professor recommended Matthew Desmond's "Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City” which told the story of different families struggling to survive the fallout from the 2008 US financial crisis. (I highly recommend people read this book as well.) Since then I have been reading and researching about the housing industry and the ways other cities around the world address homelessness. This led me to overall field of urban planning in the Philippines and the National Land Use Act (NLUA), an act that has been going around in Congress and the Senate for two decades now, with little progress. I was astonished to find out that this kind of law did not already exist in the country. The passage of the act into law will institutionalize land use planning and designate land into four categories - protection, production, settlement development, and infrastructure development. Not only will this law strengthen measures to protect Indigenous Peoples (IPs) lands and prioritize environmental conservation, it will also regulate areas for housing and infrastructure.

The fact is, more and more people are pushed to the urban fringes never to be paid attention to until election season when politicians go to these communities and make promises they have no intention of keeping. Instead of providing them with housing, every available square inch of land is turned into commercial spaces. Those that are turned into housing units  often expensive and out of reach for most people.

A video I came across recently insisted that the reason why houses are so expensive today is because citizens are protesting against the building of new houses for the reason that such developments are ugly. No new developments drive up the value of the land where houses are already built. I found the argument to be ridiculous and reduces the complex, multi-faceted issue on homelessness and the housing industry to a matter of aesthetic. The video did not consider the fact that the income has not risen proportionately with the amount raised by the prices of goods nor did it take into account the rent-seeking policies and widespread greed pervading the housing industry.

Furthermore, those affected by disasters are still struggling to rebuild their lives as they continue to live in temporary shelters. The building of new homes is slow paced, compared to the developments in the business sector. IP lands and the environment are constantly being sacrificed in the name of progress, serving the interests of the few.

These factors, coupled with other issues on job security, inequality, and corruption further push people into poverty and without government support, the cycle of poverty will be even more difficult to escape. This underscores the importance of the NLUA (provided, of course it is properly implemented). Ensuring the passing of NLUA into law is one of the advocacies my group identified because we believe people should be provided with affordable housing. Moreover we believe that the people should be at the center of policies pertaining to urban and regional development in order to have a better future.

September 18, 2020

Here are some of the lines that struck me from the letter:

"A lawyer lives in a by the law; and there is no law when society is ruled, not by reason, but by will-worse, by the will of one man."

"Worse, when the constitution is invoked to justify outrages against freedom, truth, and justice when democracy is destroyed under the pretense of saving it, the law is not only denied — it is perverted."

"But we can, even now, scrutinize our past; try to pinpoint where we went wrong; determine what led to this madness and what nurtured it; and how, when it ends, we can make sure that it need never happen again. "

It is haunting to realize that we as a nation have not learned from our past as these words written nearly 50 years ago are still applicable today. Even more demoralizing is with the nearing anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law, we see its remnants in our current events - the glorification of the police and military, widespread misinformation, the passage of the Anti-Terrorism Law, the violence against dissenters and activists, and finally, the shutdown of ABS-CBN. During these times, it is very easy to feel helpless and discouraged, because the fight for equality, press freedom, and justice is tough. We are going against powerful institutions who would do everything to preserve their power and influence. But I still have hope, because I believe that we can change the world, as idealistic as that sounds. I believe in the power of the youth,  in good people, and right now that's enough for me.

I personally do not have plans on becoming a lawyer, but I was still able to relate to the letter. I think in some ways the same can be said about work in the development sector - it is demanding and the reward is not in the money but in the communities we work with. I hope that in the work that I do I will be able to serve and abide by my principles.

September 15, 2020

For this activity, I am grouped with Jannele Jimenez, Lianna Cabigas, and Gianina Ng. I have worked with them in separate occasions and had a great experience, so I was relieved to know that they were my groupmates. Moreover, it’s been a long while since we last saw each other and it's great to start off the new school year with familiar faces. I do not possess the talent nor confidence to create a video to present my individual response to the three readings, so I will sharing my thoughts through this blog post.

The readings revolved around the various definitions of development communication, contrasting communication for development and communication of development (development journalism).  What I got from them was that development communication pertains to a discipline, making use of communication theory to bring about development, while communication for development is a social process, aimed at empowering communities and facilitating their participation in decision making.  Rogers (1976), in contrast with UNDP (2009) exemplifies this point. The latter’s definition of communication for development pertains to the actual process of communication between the community and the development practitioner towards social change, while the former’s definition of development communication studies that process.

To be honest, I’m still a bit confused whether to consider development communication as the overall discipline with two components (for/of), or if the two (development communication and communication for development) are totally separate from each other. In my perspective, the two fields intersect in many ways and there are some similarities with the tools used as well as their goals. This is seen in the definitions provided by the World Bank (2006) and the Rome Consensus (2006) wherein empowering communities to bring about social change is the apparent goal. I believe that we can make use of both fields to create and sustain social change.

The definitions are rooted in how the authors define development, which is reflected in the goals of the two fields. Both Quebral and Chatterjee’s definitions of development still put primary attention on economic development as the jumping point or end goal. While Quebral acknowledges the importance of social, political, and moral development, what often lacks is its measures. Understandably, economic progress is much easier to track (and more preferable for most people), however there needs to be some basis for other forms of development. Such is the case for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs, bouncing off from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), recognizes the interconnectedness of the world’s issues and the need for an integrated approach to solve them. However, the metrics by which countries are measured are economic in nature, which sometimes glosses over issues on human rights, press freedom, social justice, and environmental sustainability.

Continuing with Quebral, she also takes into account the need to include everyone ‘especially those in the peripheries’ to achieve true development. For decades, development interventions benefit only a few members of society, leaving virtually nothing for the rest of the population. In the context of urban planning, this is seen in the stark contrasts between meticulously planned layouts of areas such as Bonifacio Global City (BGC) and exclusive subdivisions and densely populated areas like Tondo, Manila. We also see this in the vast difference between urban and rural areas. We have to involve other communities such as women, Indigenous Peoples, LGBTQIA+, PWDs and many more because they see and utilize their spaces differently, and we have to work diligently to ensure safe spaces for the whole population. However, my concern is how do we navigate the tensions and conflict between the very sectors we are trying to unite? This part I’m not exactly sure what to do. What Quebral also highlights in her work is the need to build the capacities of communities. I did research on technical vocational education and training (TVET) last semester and found that it is an effective way of capacity building. I hope that we will be able to break the stigma surrounding TVET and see its benefits. But more importantly, capacity building highlights the importance of community organising and development. It reminds us that local contexts matter, and that definition of development will differ from each community. As development practitioners, we have to be aware of our roles and take into heart the principles of empowerment, participation, and sustainability. We also have to be conscious about our privileges and work towards utilizing that for social change.

It was interesting to read about the role of community media, particularly radio in development. It reminded me of the plan released by the Department of Education to use radios as a form of teaching for students in areas without stable electricity and internet connection. But there is still the concern over the quality of education the students will receive. I’m sure we’ve all seen the video on Twitter about incorrect English questions presented during the technical dry-run of the government’s educational program. Now that I am writing about this, I realize that it has been a while since the government provided updates about the conduct of this mode of learning. I have not heard stories about how many students are using this mode of learning, whether the content has been improved, which areas are these students usually located, and others. Education is a vital right for every person, and honestly, what is going on right now is a mess, for students and teachers alike.

Shifting to Chatterjee (2010), he mentioned that one of the goals of development communication is behavior change. It should be clear that this pertains to behavior change on part of stakeholders who hold influence over  certain community. However, I think back to our first session in sociology class, which stated how it can be sued to alter people’s behavior in order to pacify, and not address their concerns. While I do not think anyone in the class will utilize the tools learned in this class against communities one works with, it is a concern that I have that might happen. As development practitioners, we should be conscious about this and make sure that the work that we do will lead to genuine development.

What makes development journalism unique compared to other forms (as discussed by Chatterjee), is that it thoughtful and deliberate writing. More than reporting what has happened, it asks deeper questions and strives to establish the bigger picture.   This is why ideology cannot be separated from the ‘tangible and measurable terms’ of development. The notions of development and community are rooted in ideas, which reflect people’s core values and beliefs. One cannot talk about the tangible factors without the ideological because they are connected and reinforce each other. Furthermore, development journalism has to be used to amplify the voices of the marginalized, to make noise about their plight, and urge leaders to take effective action to address their concerns.

September 14, 2020

Ever since I started journaling again, I was able to reflect upon my life and experiences. Especially now as I’ve spent the past few months at home, rediscovering old memories and developing a new but still familiar fondness for the space I started saying goodbye to ever since I transferred to Manila for senior high school and college. I felt the need to document these stories and possibly tie it to the unprecedented experience we are all going through right now. You could say that as of now, my writing aspirations are personal, because these are my stories and I want to share them with people. I am not the best writer, I don’t have an artistic way with words the way my poet friends do nor the talent for the creation of complex plots and subplots of my favorite authors. But what draws me to non-fiction pieces is the simplicity of the language, but the richness of the experience, which encourages me to continue writing. I believe my experiences are unique. I have a couple of prompts lined up in a separate document, and they mostly come to me during the the most randoms of times. But it is overwhelming to confront. So as of now, it's mostly bits and pieces of writing, phrases, key words, that I hope will make for full sentences and stories one day.

Write it down.

When I was younger, I used to have a diary that I would fill with moments that made me happy throughout the day, stories about school and the troubles my friends got themselves in, and my current obsessions. Then for some reason, I stopped. I closed my diary and never opened it again.

It would be years later when I would pick up a notebook again and start journalling. This time, the purpose of my journal was to be an outlet for anxieties and worries I would be too scared to share with my friends and family, things that I would never admit out loud. I was skeptical at first, but as things got stressful with college, I knew a needed a way to release all these feelings. Exercise helped, but it did not address it. It just took my mind off it for a few hours but then it would slowly makes it way back to my mind.

I started journaling whenever I had bad days, just letting the words flow from my mind onto paper. I didn’t care whether the grammar or sentence construction were correct, nor if my handwriting was perfect, because this space is a safe space and no one will ever read these words but me. Journaling allowed me to confront my thoughts and emotions and make sense of them, instead of shoving them at the back of my mind. Every time I would finish a journaling session, I always felt a sense of peace and calm. I was surprised that I felt like I knew myself better, because I was becoming more in tune with my emotions.

Overtime I have come to realize that it is also important to take note of the good days, to be grateful for the day that has been. I started collecting mementos from happy moments I shared with my friends and family. I definitely got some weird looks from asking if I could keep strip of paper attached to the top of a wine bottle, the wristband from a resort that took a lot of effort to remove, or the wrappers of my childhood favorite snacks. I needed to remind myself that there are good days. Through this I discovered a creative side to me as well, as I took these assortment of knickknacks and created art spreads, combining them with photos, flowers, and words as I talked about what they represent. My journal also became a space where I could jot down ideas, new things I learned, quotes, and more, which is why I think it is what the journal community would call a junk journal.

I recently started a new journal, and as I flip through my old one for this entry, I am reminded of how much I struggled and of how much I have grown. Journaling has become a big part of my life and it brought me to a better place mentally. It helped me manage anxiety and stress better, most especially now with the COVID19 pandemic changing the world as we know it, bringing a lot of uncertainties and the ‘new normal’ and with the whole year being online.

I would definitely recommend journaling to anyone for whatever reason, but I would also like to emphasise that this is something deeply unique and personal to you, so there is no right or wrong way to do this, it depends on you.

written: September 10, 2020

How my family see me: cat lover, never without a book in hand

How I see my family: they just tend to let me do my own thing, but when it comes to struggles, they’re not really open to that 

How my friends see me: ultimate cat lady !! will cuddle all cats if given the chance

How I see my friends: they’re all really smart and intelligent people and i love them

How I see my crush: really someone i want get to know better 

How my crush sees me: he doesn’t know me so haha 

Recently, I met up with a friend from high school that I haven’t seen in long time in person but regularly talk to online. I observed that in public, (we met at a coffee shop), he is more cautious with his choice of language. There were less curse words and we didn’t really talk about other people on the fear that someone might overhear. Basically, we talked about ‘wholesome’ things. I think that maybe this just happens when he’s with me because he knows that I am usually reserved in public but really talkative and loud online. And he is really an outspoken person. During our exchange of stories, I noticed that he is much more present in the conversation as compared to our online conversations where replies sometimes would be an hour, maybe two after. But the content, like how sassy he is, how blunt he is matches the way we talk online. I think this is because he is very much self-assured of his personality; he knows who he is and does no means to hide himself from others. Even in public. 

In the “Unknown” section where people put what they think my untapped potential/s was, a friend of mine said ‘strategic development’. I was confused because it was oddly specific and when I asked her what she meant, she said that she could see me working in that line of work because of my characteristics of being organized, logical, observant, and meticulous. I was surprised at how easy it was for her to associate me with that field based on what we both knew about me but I realized that I wasn’t able to do that myself. I am not sure yet whether this is an indication of my friends knowing me better than myself because as of the moment, I am not sure where exactly I want to go or what I really want to do. Further, I can’t help but notice that there are more things written on the “Blind” section of my Johari Window. A lot of the time when we talked about it my reaction was “Wow, do I really give off that vibe?”. Especially for things such as being a perfectionist and outgoing.  I think that possibly, there are things written there that used to be in the “Aware” section, but as I have changed, they’ve been reduced to the “Blind” section. A factor that contributed to this I think are the fact that the friends I invited to do this exercise with me are people I’ve met during different parts of my life and so in some aspects, they know me differently.

Everyone else: No? I think that's just you?