dress code ->
as far as i know, uniforms create a sense of equality among students; however,
doing so makes a very little room for self-expression, which is a constitutional
right, along with freedom of religion. dress codes methods which further the goals
of a learning institution and that prevents violent or abusive behavior, but at the
same time not violating the constitutional rights of students. i think that's the
compromise.
free speech, freedom of religion (cloth elements associated with religion, but
thankfully we don't have issues with that aspect), sexualize certain body parts
like shoulders and body shaming; we should teach males proper behavior (turned on
and embarrassed), patriarchal attitude in schools,
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sogie bill -> the Philippines shall pursue initiatives and programs that seek to
establish and maintain an environment free of stigma and discrimination, everyone
has SOGIE, what we want is equality...protection of our rights because all of us
are human regardless of sexual orientation, local ordinances, toilets aren't
biology-based entirely because there are people who are intersex (having
characteristics associated with both males and females)
Trans women are women and trans men are men. Being transgender means that your
gender identity doesn’t match your sex. According to the Human Rights Campaign,
one’s gender identity is a person’s “innermost concept of self as male, female, a
blend of both or neither.” This means that regardless of one’s “biology,” a
person’s gender identity solely depends on how they feel inside.
In the US, no cases of violence whatsoever in restrooms that are free for all
genders. In the UP Center for Women’s and Gender Studies’ (UPCWGS) headquarters in
Diliman, there is an all-gender bathroom. The UPCWGS has said that there have been
no cases of gender-based violence since the restroom was put up. The fear is that
straight men will use anti-discrimination policies to find a way to harass women.
Why then should trans women bear the brunt of a hypothetical problem that is
perpetrated by men?
Currently, with no Anti-Discrimination Bill in place, LGBTQ+ people are susceptible
to hate speech and violence in schools, workplaces, and public places. Employers,
businesses, and even hospitals can refuse service to LGBTQ+ people, or treat them
unfairly based simply on their sexual orientation and gender identity and
expression. The call for a SOGIE Equality Bill wasn’t born out of a desire to
receive special treatment, but rather to be treated just like everyone else.
However, these LOCAL ordinances only protect 20 million Filipinos from
discrimination on the basis of SOGIE. This leaves more than 81 million Filipinos
residing in areas without protection from SOGIE-based discrimination. It is more
important to note that only two million Filipinos living below the poverty
threshold live in areas with anti-discrimination ordinances, with 26 million poor
Filipinos left with an additional layer of vulnerability to discrimination in
schools and workplaces, among many other spheres. But the absence of a national
legislation against discrimination has effects that go beyond figures and
percentages. Simply counting those who are protected and who are not fails to
accurately illustrate such effects. Rather, the lack of a national policy also
reflects a culture of indifference towards the LGBTQ+ community, and it maintains a
perspective that equality and non-discrimination can simply be given or taken away.
“Kailangan natin ang SOGIE Equality Act.” This was repeatedly stressed by
Congresswoman Kaka Bag-ao of Dinagat Islands during her sponsorship speech for the
anti-discrimination bill last year.
“SOGIE Bill does not give special treatment or special rights. What it's trying to
do is correct an imbalance [in the law],” said Atty. Jazz Tamayo of Rainbow Rights
Philippines.
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oplan tokhang -> no body cameras (the pnp rejected the idea because, according to
them, God is their only camera). the absence of cameras alone gives them leeway to
commit grave sins like killing innocent ppl.
FLAG -> The police's own records showed that the Duterte administration's war on
drugs caused the cops to kill their suspects outright, the Free Legal Assistance
Group (FLAG) told the Supreme Court (SC). "All of them, without exception, were
killed by police operatives in their own homes and without search or arrest
warrants," said FLAG. Oplan Tokhang, which rolled out shortly after President
Rodrigo Duterte became president in June 2016, allows the police to raid suspects'
homes even in ungodly hours and without warrant.
--------------------------------------------
Politically-aware -> By being politically aware you’ll have more knowledge about
what is happening in the world; you’ll be more informed and will be able to make
better decisions not only for you, but for your community. Sure, politics may seem
like a very complicated game and you may feel powerless about it, but there are
many ways to make your voice heard, and through these ways everyone can make a
small but significant difference in the world.
Being politically aware means that we have to understand its importance, what it
stands for, and how to use it. The vote should be your responsible answer to the
problems you and your peers are facing. In a way, the vote represents the pinnacle
of being politically aware. Your vote is the result of you being politically aware
or apathetic about politics. Political awareness is not only about politicians;
it’s also about ourselves and making a better world out of that awareness.
--------------------------------------------
Student Activism -> Not only is student activism a meaningful contribution to
society, but it's a great way to stay connected and up to date. Activism helps
develop communication, connections, relationship building, and critical thinking
skills. Civic engagement is always a good thing to practice and is essential for
life. Activism consists of efforts to promote, impede, direct, or intervene in
social, political, economic, or environmental reform with the desire to make
changes in society toward a perceived greater good.
Whether it’s protecting a historic building on your college campus, ensuring fair
treatment to animals, or fighting for LGBTQ equality, the most passionate student
activists have identified a cause that makes them get up each morning believing
they can make things better.
---------------------------------------------
Death Penalty -> The Philippine justice system is flawed. Innocent people being
sent to prison because of, for example, Oplan Tokhang. An innocent person may be
released from prison for a crime they did not commit, but an execution can never be
reversed. According to UN Amnesty, the death penalty violates the most fundamental
human right – the right to life. We know that this administration likes to control
critics and opposite, and death penalty can be used as a tool for control, not
justice. It makes citizens fearful and violates their human rights. Contrary to
popular belief, evidence from around the world has shown that the death penalty has
no unique deterrent effect on crime.
-----------------------------------------------
Improve: Free speech of students. I believe that students should be more vocal in
expressing their thoughts about (let's say) problems, especially to the leaders and
administration. This would be sufficient for making decisions that'd reflect their
opinions and wishes. That is why we have Tugon and PaMalayan.
-----------------------------------------------
Most pressing among current national issues:
Iyung sunod-sunod po na
The supposed arrest of vaccine refusers. This threat has been made by none other
than Duterte. I believe that this violates the individual liberties stipulated in
our Constitution. Also, there is no law as yet punishing refusal to be vaccinated.
Therefore, there is no legal basis for arrest.
------------------------------------------------
LGBTQIA+ fully accepted? No. Although the Philippines is, as a matter of fact, one
of the most accepting countries in Asia, I believe that Filipinos in general don't
accept them fully. There are instances of attacks to the members of that community
in terms of usage of restrooms, employability, and the like. Also, the attitude of
Filipinos towards LGBT is rooted from superstitions, traditions, and toxic
(misinterpreted) Christian teachings. That is why we need a national legislation
called SOGIE bill to create a national equality for all sexual orientation,
including straight people.
------------------------------------------------
Jeepney Modernization Program: In addition to the phase-out of old jeepneys, the
program aims to change the current franchising system, revise and introduce new
routes and provide training to jeepney drivers. Modern units are expensive. Even if
the Land Bank of the Philippines will provide loans and the government has
committed added assistance, the cost of new jeepneys is still way beyond the
financial capacity of many operators and drivers.
------------------------------------------------
Cancel Culture: Cancel culture creates a sense of accountability for the person
being judged. However, I think we shouldn't practice that kind of culture stemmed
from mob justice because, notwithstanding the mental health of the victim of such
practice, we need to educate them, not to embarrass and humiliate them publicly.
Cancel culture also means that the person is finished. It's over, in other words.
But people still have a chance to change; we are dynamic social beings. So, I do
not agree with cancel culture.
------------------------------------------------
Political Dynasty: Political dynasty doesn't do anything good; in fact, it puts the
Philippine government into a bad position, leading to ineffectiveness, and we
experience it at the present. There is also significant evidence to suggest that
Philippine political dynasties use their political dominance over their respective
regions to enrich themselves, using methods such as graft or outright bribery of
legislators. They develop interests largely separate from the people they were
supposed to be serving. Dynastic politicians have a significant advantage from the
start of their political career as they have a statistically higher probability,
likely due to factors such as popularity and incumbency advantage, to win elections
when pitted against politicians with no such political networks.
The situation in the Philippines is far, far different. There is a widespread
prevalence of voters made captive by political dynasties through the use of tax
money and corruption money. A good example is the so-called pork barrel. No matter
how it is described or masked, it represents a very large sum of people’s money
identified for each legislator that is used to capture votes for the legislator
and, when their election rotation comes, for members of the legislator’s family. In
local governments, misuse of public funds and corruption are known to be
widespread.
BUY VOTES! Political dynasties have cleverly exploited over time the poverty of our
people and their lack of informed judgement brought about by insufficient education
and inadequate understanding of the language that government and media use in
presenting, reporting, and discussing government and political affairs. These
dynasties make the poor dependent on them for doleouts. During election time, they
buy votes, the price of which, I understand, is now P1,000 per vote.
------------------------------------------------
Sexual harassment: We should make significant reforms and preventive procedures.
Along with it, analyze the situation and report to the advisor. The advisor will
then apply disciplinary action to the offender. *Among these was the formation of
an independent committee tasked to investigate cases of sexual harassment to “avert
conflict of interest in all parties involved.”*
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What change?
Free speech kemerut for ideas.
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Issue in MCL. 8 AM to 8 PM. Professors ghosting and cramming lessons towards the
end of the term. Respecting each other time. Student (ask) - prof (post activities,
48 hours minimum deadline)
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Anti-Terror Law:
Under Anti-Terrorism Law people can be apprehended without a warrant and detained
for weeks prior to appearance before a judge. The 1987 Constitution only allows 3-
day detention, so it does not abide by the supreme law. Not only is the law broad
enough to permit the detention of people for social media posts critical of the
government, it also makes it a criminal offense to ‘incite others’ to commit
terrorism through ‘speeches, proclamations, writings, emblems, banners,’ further
restricting freedom of expression and the media. I'm also against Anti-Terror Law
because it can arrest you without warrant upon the recommendation of the Anti-
Terrorism Council.
------------------------------
Response for not fitting officer:
What I would do is to be honest and message that person privately. I'll tell that
person their weak points so that they'll improve as a student leader. After all, we
are here to serve our students, so this individual shouldn't have the impression
that the private message is personal. Trabaho lang. I will use the ethical
communication skills I've learned in English 40 to inspire and motivate that person
for the betterment of our overall service.
Increase engagement in online learning:
Our platform
Political/social standpoint or work ethic/attitude: If not both, I'd say work ethic
and attitude. As human beings, we tend to change our beliefs over time because we
are dynamic in nature. However, work ethic and attitude remain because these
factors are what the student body will feel and expect from you. In our ethics
class, 'work ethics' also covers a person's set of moral principles and values, so
the political and social standpoint are included as well. Moreover, attitude
affects work performance.
