Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Sen. Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan appealed to his colleague Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson to reconsider his decision to resign as the chairman of the blue ribbon committee.

In a statement on Monday evening, Pangilinan said no one in the majority bloc sought Lacson’s replacement as the head of the powerful blue ribbon panel.

‘My sense was and is that while there were a number of our colleagues in the majority bloc who disagreed with some earlier public pronouncements made by him, the matter had been threshed out and clarified by him in a majority caucus held last Wednesday Oct 1. No one in the majority bloc sought his replacement as blue ribbon committee chairman,’ said Pangilinan.

‘I appeal to Senator Ping to stay on as blue ribbon committee chairman and appeal as well to our colleagues in the majority bloc to reaffirm our support for him to stay on even as we iron out our differences,’ he added.

Pangilinan said he is hoping that with the renewed support of the majority bloc, Lacson will be convinced to stay on his post.

‘Now more than ever, amidst the political crisis facing the nation, our people are looking for stability and certainty in the state of our affairs and looking to the strength of our institutions to withstand the ongoing crisis and resolve it in favor of truth, transparency and public accountability,’ said Pangilinan.

Earlier, Senate President Vicente Sotto III confirmed the receipt of Lacson’s resignation letter as blue ribbon chairperson.

In a resignation letter dated October 7 and addressed to Sotto, Lacson explained how a number of their colleagues have expressed disappointment with the ‘direction’ of the blue ribbon committee hearings regarding the anomalous flood control projects.

‘Some senators publicly and secretly pursue the narrative that I am zeroing in on several of my colleagues while purportedly protecting those members of the Lower House perceived to be the principal actors in the budget anomalies related to the substandard and ghost flood control projects,’ said Lacson.

But according to him, nothing could be further from the truth.

‘This narrative is categorically false. These misrepresentations are being floated mostly by critics opposed to our efforts to get to the bottom of the flood control anomalies,’ he said.

Lacson underscored that his committee went where the evidence led them, and not by the noise coming from highly partisan political persuasions.

To all my colleagues, let me reiterate: there are no political considerations in any and all my actions related to my handling of the committee hearings and other related activities,’ said Lacson.

Agjanti Miller hadn’t played in a San Beda-Letran rivalry game before. But on Sunday, the rookie guard looked like he’d been built for it.

Miller scored 22 points and grabbed five rebounds, fueling San Beda’s 68-58 win over Letran to stay unbeaten in Group B of the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball tournament.

‘There’s really no extra motivation, but every time you play Letran you know they’re a strong team that you really have to prepare for,’ said head coach Yuri Escueta, whose squad now holds a 2-0 record. ‘I even look at them (Knights) as an all-star team, so I tip my hats off to my guys for playing defense and guarding our defensive targets.’

With Yukien Andrada unavailable, Bryan Sajonia stepped up to score 11 points, helping the Red Lions keep their composure in a back-and-forth affair. Miller, though, was the difference-scoring timely buckets, attacking in transition and hitting from deep when San Beda needed separation.

The Red Lions opened the fourth quarter with a flurry to wrest control, and Miller sealed the deal with a two-handed slam in the closing minute.

Letran fell to 0-2, despite a breakout 13-point, six-assist performance from Jonathan Manalili, who also added two rebounds and two steals. Deo Cuajao scored 10, but the Knights couldn’t convert late as San Beda tightened its defense.

Altas, 2-0

In the earlier game, Perpetual Help leaned on a different kind of maturity.

Second-year forward Mark Gojo Cruz played with the poise of a veteran, steering the Altas to a 73-61 win over Lyceum for their own 2-0 start in Group A.

‘I prepared myself with a mindset that even if I’m just a sophomore, I need to lead,’ said Gojo Cruz, who finished with 18 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals. ‘My goal is to lead my team on defense, and today, it’s a bonus that my offense clicked.’

The Altas, coming off a victory over San Sebastian, led wire-to-wire and kept Lyceum at bay with help from Jearico Nunez, who added 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Lyceum, which dropped to 0-2, was paced by Renz Villegas’ 18 points. But the Pirates struggled to contain Gojo Cruz’s activity on both ends, and fell behind early in the second half.

The Philippine Navy’s BRP Agta (LC290) delivered more than 44.66 tons of relief and construction materials to Masbate as part of its humanitarian response following the onslaught of Typhoon Opong.

‘The vessel left Ouano Wharf in Mandaue City, Cebu, on Thursday and arrived in the province the next day, unloading cargo-primarily construction supplies for rebuilding damaged infrastructure-intended to support rehabilitation efforts in typhoon-hit communities,’ said Lt. John Emmanuel I. Sison, PN, director of the NAVFORSOL Public Affairs Office.

He added that the operation was conducted in coordination with the Tanging Yaman Foundation, a private partner in the ongoing relief efforts.

‘The successful execution of this mission reflects our continued commitment to stand with our fellow Filipinos during times of need. The Navy remains committed to delivering aid wherever and whenever it is needed,’ said Commodore Salvador G. Lavapie Jr., commander of Naval Forces Southern Luzon, in a statement on Monday

The 2025 Miss Asia Pacific International pageant staged a scaled-down production of its preliminary competition following the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that shook the island last Sept. 30.

The preliminary competition was held at a portion of the Lapu-Lapu Ballroom of Bai Hotel Cebu in Mandaue City on Monday morning, Oct. 6, with the event going on a by-invitation only to limit guests.

Originally set as a public affair on Oct. 3 at the JPark Island Resort and Water Park in Lapu-Lapu City, the planned preliminary event was canceled because of the tremor, which also jolted the pageant’s Benefit Gala Night.

The earthquake, with its epicenter traced in Bogo City, left a trail of destruction to property and infrastructure, and claimed the lives of dozens, with northern Cebu the hardest hit. Organizers of the international pageant decided to realign the delegates’ activities to foster solidarity with those affected by the earthquake, and canceled the preliminary competition show and other events.

For four straight days since Oct. 1, the ladies took part in relief missions, including the packing of goods at the Cebu Province Warehouse and at their hotel residence.

On Oct. 3, the ladies got to see the earthquake’s effects up close when they distributed goods to the towns of Daanbantayan, Medellin, and San Remigio in the northern part of the island.

Miss Asia Pacific International Executive Director Jacqueline Tan-Sainz told Inquirer Entertainment that the pageant decided in the last minute to still hold a preliminary competition show, for the sake of the delegates who had prepared for it, and expressed their desire to showcase what they can offer. The delegates were said to be looking forward to a preliminary competition show and had prepared gowns for it, different from the ones that they would use for the finals.

In the simplified staging of one of the most crucial phases of the annual pageant, the ladies paraded in swimsuits by Filipino designer Sonny Boy Mindo, albeit on a much smaller stage than the one they walked on at the Benefit Gala Night.

Among the judges were Belgian beauty Selena Ali, second runner-up in last year’s competition, designers Daniel Manila and Phillip Tampus, life coach Carelle Herrera, and Zanea Strategy Manager Hannah Casaño.

At the end of the preliminary competition, the best-performing ladies were recognized. Adjudged Best in Swimsuit was Anita Rose Gomez of the Philippines, while Brazil’s Isabela Fernandes was proclaimed Best in Evening Gown. The two ladies scored two accolades each during the event. Gomez landed second in the gown contest, while Fernandes was second in the swimsuit segment.

Filipino-American bet Kayla Jane Usison from the United States finished third in the evening gown round, while Belgium’s Jana Janssens, who sustained an injury during the gala night quake, was third in the swimsuit contest.

The preliminary competition is an important event for the pageant because part of the scores that will determine the semifinalists will come from it. The closed-door interview scheduled in the afternoon will also contribute to the ladies’ fate.

The 2025 Miss Asia Pacific International coronation night will be held at the Cebu Coliseum on Oct. 8. Forty-three ladies are competing for the title.

Government procurement data from 2000 to 2021 reveal that construction has consistently dominated spending, while health has remained marginal, even during crises, according to an analysis of PhilGEPS records.

Dr. Rogelio Alicor Panao, INQUIRER Metrics data scientist and associate professor at the University of the Philippines, found that construction surged after 2007, capturing more than half of all contracts nearly every year, peaking at over 70 percent in 2018.

‘Even in terms of procurement awards from 2000 to 2021, construction still dominates. It appears to surge after 2007 to capture more than half of all contracts nearly every year, and peaking above 70 percent in 2018,’ Panao noted in his analysis.

He added that this trend intensified under the Build, Build, Build program adopted by the Duterte administration and which prioritized massive infrastructure spending as a driver of national development.

Health procurement lagged behind

In contrast, procurement for health rarely exceeded five percent of total awards. ‘Even during crises – such as the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 – procurement for medicines, hospitals, and medical supplies rarely exceeded 5 percent of total awards,’ Panao said.

The analysis, Panao explained, suggests that while hospitals may be constructed, operational capacity – including medicines, supplies, and equipment – has remained relatively underfunded.

‘This suggests that while hospitals may be built, the operational capacity to deliver care – supplies, equipment, and medicines – is relatively underfunded,’ he emphasized. The imbalance between infrastructure and health spending, Panao noted, ‘raises fundamental questions about whether procurement is truly advancing citizen welfare or primarily generating projects that are politically and visually rewarding.’

The findings come at a time when debates over public spending remain heated. The government’s massive allocations for flood-control projects have been questioned following multiple Commission on Audit (COA) fraud audit reports flagging ‘ghost’ or mismatched projects in Bulacan.

Meanwhile, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed long-standing weaknesses in the country’s health system. Despite new hospital buildings, shortages in medicines, equipment, and protective supplies were reported in many areas at the height of the crisis.

As discussions on infrastructure and health budgets continue ahead of the 2026 appropriations, the data highlights a long-term imbalance: trillions directed toward construction, while essential health procurement remains comparatively small.

a content creator and former ‘Pinoy Big Brother’ housemate who competed with her twin Jai – is set to tie the knot with her American non-showbiz boyfriend, as she announced their engagement.

Agpangan took to her Instagram account on Saturday, Oct. 4, showing photos of herself accepting her partner Danny’s proposal in Austin, Texas.

‘He put a ring on it! From Tita Joj to Wifey Joj. Forever starts now with you, Danny. What a journey it has been – everything happened in God’s perfect timing. I feel so blessed to have a man who loves so deeply and fully. My soulmate, I love you so much!’ she wrote while adding a bible verse in the caption.

Agpangan also showed a closer look at her engagement ring, featuring a thin silver band, an oval-shaped diamond in the center, and two small diamonds ’embracing the center stone’ in a separate post.

‘My engagement ring means more than I can put into words. It tells a story – the two small diamonds that embrace the center stone honor the bond I share with my twin, Jai, a bond that has shaped who I am. No matter where life takes us, we’ll always be there for each other,’ she wrote.

The content creator also shared that her fiancé chose an engagement ring ‘that captured [her] dreams and gave it an even deeper meaning,’ which she is grateful for.

‘I once had a vision of the ring I dreamed of, but the love of my life chose one that captured that dream and gave it even deeper meaning. For that, I am forever grateful,’ she said. ‘I’m so thankful for a man who understands that Jai will always be a part of me as I step into this new chapter.’

Agpangan also opened up about her engagement with Danny on her vlog, saying their relationship is ‘very lowkey’ but is nonetheless blessed by their families and loved ones.

‘He’s really a great guy. He’s the best. I can’t wait to spend my whole life with him. it’s a lot to process because everything is [happening] so fast, it’s a rollercoaster ride. I’m still processing it but I’m getting there,’ she said.

Joj and Jai entered the ‘Pinoy Big Brother’ house during its ‘Teen Edition 4’ edition in 2012. They finished their journey in fourth place. Myrtle Sarrosa emerged as the season’s Big Winner.

Opening with a mixed martial arts tournament in the late ’90s, a hulking figure emerges from the ring. It’s the first time we see Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson in A24’s ‘The Smashing Machine,’ but not the version we picture in the action-packed blockbusters he thrives in.

Beyond the prosthetics that render him unrecognizable, there are no cheesy lines, forced grins, or exaggerated furrowed brows. There’s no money shot of flexed muscles or forced male-gaze scenes. Instead, we glimpse the man behind the fighter-and I dare say, the man behind ‘The Rock.’

‘The Smashing Machine’ retells the life of UFC and PRIDE Fighting Championships legend Mark Kerr, played by Johnson. Kerr reigned in the late 1990s, earning the nickname that lends the film its title. But behind the ring and locker room, his championships are shadowed by addiction, personal struggles, and the crushing weight of fame.

His partner-and at times, his emotional anchor-is Dawn Staples, portrayed by Emily Blunt. Their relationship is the antithesis of the usual hero-and-damsel trope. Here, love and career don’t align, instability brews on both sides, and if anything, Kerr becomes the damsel in distress.

Dwayne Johnson as UFC and PRIDE Fighting Championships legend Mark Kerr

The machine breaks down

Benny Safdie’s solo directorial debut, one-half of the critically acclaimed Safdie Brothers (Good Time, 2017; Uncut Gems, 2019), reminds us that Kerr’s fighting alter ego doesn’t reflect an indestructible machine-but a fragility that breaks down when all is said and done.

Between stitched wounds and bloodshot eyes, winners in Kerr’s world return to holding rooms bloodied, bruised, and congratulated, their cauliflower ears swelling even more.

For the MMA audience, it ends there. For the fighters-the ‘machines’-life continues bruised and broken. In Kerr’s case, his gears fail outside the ring. His effort to uphold the same public image at home collapses into painkiller addiction. His fight doesn’t end in the cage; his opponent is himself. Safdie and Johnson ask us, humbly and painfully: ‘Have you seen a grown man cry?’-an image they offer while still withholding its full weight.

‘The Smashing Machine’ shows just how vast a fighter’s world really is. Bringing to mind the likes of classics such as Jake Gyllenhaal’s ‘Southpaw’ and Tom Hardy’s ‘Warrior’-for these fighters, the familiar grit, anger, and rivalry of the sport feels trivial compared to everything else that happens outside the ring.

Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson

The rock hits its mark

Early reactions to ‘The Smashing Machine’ have been overwhelmingly positive. At its Venice Film Festival premiere, the film received a 15-minute standing ovation, leaving the audience-including Johnson, Blunt, Safdie, and Kerr himself-visibly emotional.

Between stellar performances from his WWE peers, as well as a rumored contractual obligation that prevents him from ever losing on-screen, Johnson has received his fair share of criticism-particularly when compared to the likes of Dave Bautista and John Cena. But as critics and reviewers have praised him for delivering his rawest performance yet, perhaps Johnson has been listening to the noise after all and has promptly guided ‘The Rock’ off the stage.

Manila is a chaotic concrete jungle, thriving in traffic jams and the buzzing nightlife. On a stage of any Manila bar, musicians plug in their guitars, murmuring ‘sound-check’ into the mic for the awaiting audience-whether it’s a full house, or even just one person watching. Then, the first beat of the drum pulses through the air as the band unleashes its sound.

But off-stage, the hustle resumes: schoolwork, corporate life, rising costs, and agonizingly long commutes with an instrument on their back and an amplifier in their grip. Long before stepping foot into the bar, indie musicians must pay their dues through the unseen effort and commitment we rarely see in their set.

Here, we sat down with two rising groups-TBK, an indie-alternative OPM band, and Benchfly, a five-piece indie pop and alternative rock band-to shed light on independent music-making and how their passion continues to drive them despite the daily grind.

Benchfly is a five-piece indie pop and alternative rock band formed in 2019. Their latest release, ‘Quiet Hours,’ speaks for their style of introspective storytelling with melodic guitar backdrops. TBK, formerly known as The Baseball Kids, has been active since its members’ high school years in 2017. As an indie-alternative OPM band, they compose original songs that revolve around love and youth, their most popular single being ‘Shinjuku.’

Describe Manila as a hub for the indie scene.

Kevin (Benchfly): Manila is a melting pot of the indie music scene. The authenticity in the art-[the] intimate lyrics and experimental instrumentals. all that draws listeners in. At the moment, there’s a growing trend of genre fusion. Artists often blend electronic elements with traditional music, creating a uniquely modern OPM sound. There’s also a rise in female-fronted bands that adds diversity.

Yoro (TBK): There are a bunch of local productions that rotate around the Metro Manila ‘circuit of bars and venues.’ Sometimes they have themes. Minsan may mga Japanese cover night, indie night, ’80s, at ’90s. A random person pays to enter a bar with indie bands in it. Sometimes they hear a band they like, then eventually, they’ll look out for their next gig.

BENCHFLY – Quiet Hours (Official Lyric Video)

What are the cost-effective methods you have for gear and practice?

Edric (Benchfly): Invest in a multi-effects pedal. Space-wise and price-wise, there are a lot of choices you can buy online and in physical stores. I have been using my Boss ME-80 for at least six to seven years. It’s okay to buy secondhand equipment as long as you can gauge its quality and condition. Quality over aesthetic. Your real dream guitar can wait.

Yoro (TBK): [Our drummer] Elian’s dad is sound engineer Albert Michael Idioma. Really famous and a big contributor to Filipino cinema. Back when we were starting out in high school, we would practice in the home studio while the Idiomas were still at work. The drum kit was also there. So yeah, we’re lucky that we got to use that for free.

How do you balance late-night gigs with off-stage commitments?

Junelle (Benchfly’s manager): Everyone’s got stuff going on, so we make sure we’re clear about priorities. Sometimes, it means missing out on other things or turning down gig invites if the set times are too late. It’s exhausting, but the energy you get from playing live makes it all worth it.

What’s the hardest thing you face as an indie band?

Miguel (Benchfly): Now that I’m working in the corporate world, finding time for band rehearsals that work for everyone is a real challenge. But no matter how tired we are from day jobs, nothing beats the feeling of performing and connecting with the audience. The energy is just electrifying. While it’s tough, it’s a commitment we all share by making music together.

Elian (TBK): The very concept of pursuing it is hard enough. You have to be accepting and understanding if someone has something going on. Then, this thing that you really love at this moment will have to wait. It’ll wait until it can or it doesn’t [wait] at all. An indie band is rooted in nothing but passion, a pure feeling, which means it’ll always be fleeting.

Yoro (TBK): Adding onto Elian’s point on time, the age gap between the four of us is only one year. There’s the element of distance (we’re all taking different programs in different schools). Eventually, personalities change, and a re-rendering of style and a rehashing of priorities might be in order. We’ve had disagreements, but what really brought us back was our friendship and our wanting to create music together (cheesy as it may sound).

Does ‘making it big’ matter to you?

Edric (Benchfly): Nine to 10 years ago, it would have been the dream. But as you grow older, your responsibilities shift. The idea of ‘making it big’ would be nice. However, with the current ecosystem of social media, it’s best if you have a strong or solid number of fans or friends.

Migz (TBK): It matters to us at some level in this age, where content (especially music) can become viral at any moment, as long as you’re the one who hooks people on your stuff. We aspire to get big, but as independent musicians, it stays a pipe dream until we get that perfect formula of luck, skill, and talent.

What advice would you give to aspiring indie bands?

Eldric (Benchfly): Put your heart into your music, and be smart with your money. Passion is everything, but without solid financial planning, it’s easy to burn out. Also, be sure to network; building connections could open doors in the future. It’s also essential to connect with the fans and your audience; they’ll be the sole reason to keep going.

Zoilo (TBK): A band’s own identity is what makes them stand out. Once you figure that out, embrace it. Just be yourself and keep improving. Conversely, don’t [feel like] you should steal some riffs or licks from bands you like. Make it fit into what you’re writing. Music has always been like that-taking a sound you like before making it your own.

In the Philippines, October isn’t just for Halloween celebrations; it also marks the start of Museums and Galleries Month. Whether you’re a seasoned art enthusiast or taking your first curious steps into the world of exhibitions, this month offers an opportunity to immerse yourself in Filipino arts and culture.

Bahay Nakpil-Bautista

Located in Quiapo, Bahay Nakpil-Bautista is an ancestral bahay na bato associated with the Nakpils, a significant family in Philippine history. Most notable among them are Gregoria de Jesus, the ‘Lakambini ng Katipunan,’ and her husband, musical composer and Katipunan vice-leader, Julio Nakpil.

The museum features permanent exhibits about the house’s former residents, the Katipunan movement, and includes a small library of Filipiniana literature accessible to researchers.

Beyond its role as a museum, Bahay Nakpil-Bautista also functions as an active community center, hosting exhibits for emerging artists, meetings for advocacy groups, and organizing walking tours of Manila.

432 A. Bautista, Quiapo, Manila, 1001 Kalakhang Maynila. Open only on Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Entrance fee is P80.

The Tandang Sora Women’s Museum opened on Jan. 6, 2025, commemorating the 213th birth anniversary of Melchora Aquino, Mother of the Philippine Revolution. This museum honors not only Aquino, but also celebrates the contributions of Filipino women throughout the nation’s history. The bahay na bato-inspired building houses a creativity corner, an audio-visual section, and a rotating exhibit space.

Aside from a comprehensive timeline documenting Filipino women’s significant roles across various sectors-such as politics, arts, science, and media-the museum also preserves materials and memorabilia from feminist movements in the Philippines.

Fundación Sansó is a nonprofit foundation established in 2014 to preserve and promote the artistic legacy of renowned visual artist Juvenal Sansó. It maintains an extensive collection of over 600 works from Sansó’s personal archive, including paintings, prints, textile designs, opera set designs, sketches, and painted slides.

Aside from preserving the Spanish-born Filipino artist’s legacy, Fundacion Sansó also actively contributes to the development of the Philippine cultural sector by spearheading various arts-related projects, scholarships, and grants.

Found inside the Asian Institute of Maritime Studies (AIMS) campus, the AIMS Museo Maritimo is the Philippines’ first maritime-themed museum that offers comprehensive exhibitions on the country’s seafaring history. It provides insights into significant events such as Magellan’s global circumnavigation and the trade interactions between Mexico and the Philippines during the Spanish colonial period.

Visitors can also explore maritime artifacts and displays, learn about notable figures across different sectors of the maritime industry, and understand the duties and responsibilities of a Filipino maritime officer.

Founded in 2013 by Dominador Buhain, president of REX Publishing, the Book Museum cum Ethnology Center houses a curated collection of limited-edition books and published materials from over 200 countries. Buhain established the museum to share knowledge from his travels and reignite an appreciation for reading within Filipinos. In his collection are remarkable pieces such as a copy of the ‘Doctrina Christiana,’ the first book printed in the Philippines, and a miniature set of William Shakespeare’s works.

Doubling as an ethnology center, the museum features two artifact exhibitions highlighting Cordilleran, Mangyan, Tausug, and other Indigenous groups. The space also includes a 1950s-inspired coffee shop filled with James Dean memorabilia, honoring the museum owner’s favorite actor from that era.

Founded by photographer Erwin Canlas and maintained alongside his family, RiseSpace Art Gallery is more than just an exhibition space; it is also a platform for artistic expression and connection, welcoming emerging creatives, established artists, and art enthusiasts alike. Dedicated to fostering creativity and communication within the art community, RiseSpace hosts not only exhibitions but also artist talks and performances.

Their inaugural exhibition, ‘Visions,’ showcased works from the Canlas family members-Erwin, Rene, and Isabela-which expressed their common philosophy of art as a shared language.

Activists in the summer capital are developing a network of human rights cities across the country, beginning with northern Luzon, where civil rights protections and guarantees will help shape local governance.

This was revealed at a City Hall roundtable discussion among militant groups and university law school professors on Sept. 30, as a prelude to the formation of a task force that would oversee the Baguio law shielding ‘human rights defenders’ from harassment.

Audrey Beltran, vice chair of the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance, introduced a three-year-long project to harness the participation of civil society organizations in building human rights cities, with Baguio as a model community.

In 2024, the Baguio City Council passed Ordinance No. 78-2024, or the Human Rights Defenders Ordinance, to provide protection for anyone who is vilified in the course of discussing or promoting issues affecting civil rights. It has mechanisms for redress that punish offenders-even those employed by the government-in line with Baguio’s rebranding as an inclusive human rights city in 2023.

The city government has also been enforcing an antidiscrimination law (Ordinance No. 13-2017), which makes Baguio a safe space from hate speeches, political vitriol and other forms of discrimination against people because of their ethnicity, gender and political orientation.

Veteran activist Joanna Cariño, a Baguio Ibaloy, said laws like Ordinance No. 78 do not immediately end Red-tagging and other forms of attack against dissenters, citing an ongoing court trial involving four Baguio activists who sued government entities to remove their designation as ‘terrorists.’

This time, however, the Baguio laws show activists that the Baguio government ‘has their back,’ said Cariño, with the city council expressing outrage when local activists were targeted by the government.

Baguio’s human rights defenders ordinance and similar civil rights laws are what local activists want to see in other urban areas as they pursue a network of cities ‘that integrate human rights principles in their governance, policies and communities . to ensure equality, nondiscrimination and participatory democracy, ‘ according to a project outline discussed by Beltran.

‘Interrelated’

‘A major part of the (human rights cities) project is to expand human rights education, to partner with other organizations and establish initiatives for human rights legislation in the cities or set the discourse that would shape rights-based policies in the future,’ Beltran said.

The project builds upon Article 11, Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution that was crafted following the peaceful ouster of the Marcos dictatorship: ‘The State upholds human dignity and ensures full respect for human rights.’

The project aspires for a collaboration among human rights cities where ‘human rights are universal, interdependent, and interrelated. ‘

It will be undertaken until 2028 by the Cordillera Women’s Education Action Research Center, the Cordilleran Youth Center and the Katinnulong Dagiti Umili Ti Amianan Inc. These Baguio-based groups participated in Fianza’s roundtable talks.

Started in January, the human rights cities project has focused on civil society groups operating in Baguio, in Kalinga’s Tabuk City, San Fernando City in La Union and in Santiago City in Isabela.

Unique

Ordinance No. 78 is the fourth human defenders measure to be enacted in the country, Cariño said, but it is unique because of a provision that acknowledged the existence of Red-tagging as a threat and which penalizes offenders when the Red-tagging attacks occur within city jurisdiction. Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong, who signed the ordinance in December last year, was himself Red-tagged multiple times by a former official of an anticommunist government task force. /cb