Patricia J

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A fish and a hope

A ship can catch tons of fishes, but a fisherman can only bring home enough for his family. Enough to fill their empty stomach, but not enough for them to eat three times a day. That's the untold story of a fisherman, Carlos Crisostomo Bagtas, 44 years old. According to him, he started doing this job when he was 12 years old. At a very young age, Carlos has already memorised the waves of the sea and how he can support his family while fighting and surviving alone in his boat. 

According to mang Carlos, workers in factories are luckier than them. 

They have three major problems in Hagonoy, Bulacan as a fisherman. The typhoon, the big and new machinery, and the construction of Taliptip Airport. These problems make his life so hard that he needs to do a lot of side jobs just to bring money for his family. 

If you're a fisherman in Hagonoy, you are lucky if you get to eat three times a day. 

big ships catch a lot of fish even those that should not be caught yet, typhoons destroy their boats and cost them thousands to fix it, and they were forced to leave 200 meters near the construction of the airport that makes them question who really owns the sea.

Mang Carlos has two children, they both stopped studying to work and help their father. While their mother left them and has another family in the other country. For him, education is very important and is a big step to be successful in life and to get out from the poor life they have. Carlos' life is a gamble and he needs to survive every obstacle. 

With all these challenges in his life, Carlos still chooses to stay in Hagonoy because for him, everything is in here, the life they are used to, the job, and a lot cheaper when it comes to day-to-day living. 

Just like the other fishermen, Carlos called on the government to listen to them and to give them the proper rights because they are the real king and the keeper of the sea.

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Gen Z speaks: Ear Condoms Off, Contraceptives On

Written by: Patricia Jaime and Jade Pillosis

Sex. Perhaps it's one of the most taboo topics to be talked about in public. Even the utterance of certain body parts will gain you dirty stares from people—old religious people. Other than living in the Philippines, being a Filipino is much worse. Being the conservative country that the Philippines is, it's hard to talk about topics like sex without getting disowned or being seen as the black sheep of the family. Isn't it quite ironic how they preach about being careful about having sex, but they will give you judging stares when you buy contraceptives in public? Moving on, even with the media, specifically social media’s effort to destigmatize topics like these, the Philippines still have a long way to go to have the same liberating atmosphere that social media have.  

The rise of social media can also be considered as another renaissance age, as it also paved the way to enlighten people about certain issues. You can say that the world is in your hands quite literally. With just a few clicks, you can find information about almost anything. The younger generations are more exposed to social media, thus enabling them to digest these kinds of information. Due to this, they become exposed to more ideas that are considered to be taboo in a conservative country. Taboo because it deviates from the norms and what the older generations are raised with. It includes atheism and being sexually active without waiting for marriage. To Gen-Z’s engaging to premarital sex and being sexually active is completely normal. Strolling through local drug stores to purchase condoms and birth control pills is part of their routine. However, they are still not safe from the constant shame that is being put into them by other people. 

According to the conducted survey, Gen Z ages 17 to 20s are more open in talks with regards to sex and contraceptives. They mostly learned about contraceptives with their circle of friends or the internet. However, this kind of discourse is not yet open for all, especially parents with the reason that our last generations are so conservative that these topics are sensitive and should be talked about when you are at the age of getting married.

This is, however, a big step for society to learn and understand that contraceptives are not to be afraid of and should be taught to teenagers as this is the stage where they are exploring things out of their zone.

The thinking of new generations leads to more opportunities and learnings about what is sex and why we need a proper education about this matter.  In a general way of speaking the attitude of gen z's toward sex is multifaceted, although differing opinions might clash on that matter, gen z is by no means sexually repressed. Gen z's attitude towards sexual intercourse comes up with two deviating stand points; "A viable option for connections" or "a recreational medical activity" As opposed to the older generation's stance on sex as a means to express genuine love or a means to engage in sacred procreation. In conclusion gen z's are just more liberal and exhibit cultural apathy towards sex norms unlike millenials who had a more traditional upbringing

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The story must be heard: the power of every voices

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Tugon ng mga opisyales (Hagonoy, Bulacan)

After conducting a survey to the citizens living in Hagonoy, Bulacan, we interview the officials to know what actions they are doing or planning to answer these issues.

Gelyn R Romero, Barangay Nutrition scholar

'' talagang sobra ang pagbaha dito sa aming barangay. Ang tanging aksyon lamang na nagagawa namin ngayon ay pagpapataas ng kalsada, which is nagagawa na namin dito sa ilang mga purok sa amin barangay na nakatulong sa mga mamamayan.''

'' malaki talaga ang epekto ng pagbaha dito sa barangay namin, kasi nawawalan sila ng hanap-buhay, natitigil lalo yung mga tricycle driver, tapos ang mga estudyante ay nahihirapang pumasok. kaya gumawa kami ng solusyon, na nagrequest na mapataasan ang mga kalsada dito sa amin.''

Danilo R Galon, Officer chief tanod

'' sa ngayon, siguro meron ng mga one month, mga kabataan. Magugulo sila which is hindi namin magalaw dahil nga dun sa RA 7610. Mahirap pumatol sa mga kabataan.''

'' self-discipline lang, kasi pag inendorso namin sa DSWD, wala namang facilities ang DSWD para sa mga kabataan. Ang ginagawa namin dito, parang bata na kakalingain mo, tuturuan mo, counselling.''

'' yung baha kasi dito during rainy season lang yan eh, pag matataas ang high tide. nagiging problema rin namin yung baha pero katulad ngayon, nag-upgrade kami ng mga kalsadahan para maging passable anumang oras, not like before na pag talang high tide mag- iintay ka mag sink in ang tubig para makatakbo ang mga sasakyan. Happy kami pag high tide. ''

The officials believe that they are doing the right action to the problems said by their citizens. From the flood issues and the peace in their place. However, do these actions really solved the citizen's problem?

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Baha pa rin? (Hagonoy, Bulacan)

Arsenia Carlos Santos, brngy. Sagrada 

‘’Pag tumataas ang tubig, hihinto ang ang mga tricycle sa pamamasada.’’

Mercidita Dela Cruz, brngy. Sagrada

‘’Lumalaki ang tubig’’

Milo Geronimo, brngy. sagrada

‘’Dahil po sa malakas na bagyo at hangin, lumubog po ang aming palaisdaan.’’

Joy Andrea Leoncio, brngy. Sta. Monica (18)

‘’madami nading hindi magawa dito pag merong baha at isa nadon ang pagkaroon ng pasok.’’

Genesis De Mesa, brngy. Sagrada (17)

‘’biglaang pag laki ng tubig dulot ng pag kakasabay kung minsan ng bagyo at high tide.’’

Mariza hernandez, brngy. Sagrada (58)

‘’Yung ulan lang nagiging baha na.’’

Annie Dela Cruz, brngy. Sta Elena (32)

‘’Wala pa kaming kakayahang bumili ng lupa sa mataas na lugar kaya nagtitiis nalang kami sa baha.’’

Michael De Mesa, brngy. Sagrada (38)

‘’Baha, pagbaba ng lupa dahil sa pagpapatayo ng airport wala ng puntahan ang tubig kaya kami binabaha.’’

Ana Corita M. Martin, brngy. Sagrada (55)

‘’nasanay nalang din kami kaysa sa lumipat pa eh nandito ang trabaho. ‘’

Emman Cruz, brngy. Sto. Rosario (19)

‘’simulat sapul nakalakihan na namin yung baha tsaka narito din yung hanap buhay namin.’’

Based on their answers, the survey concluded that most of the people’s concern living in Hagonoy, Bulacan is the flood problem. It became normal to them to the point that most of them won’t leave the place if given a chance because they live here and they are used to it. The jobs they know are here so why do they need to leave. Three of the participants are still students and one of them answered that because of the flooding, the schools are closed most of the time. One of them is a fisherman, the issue affected their fishery, Milo said. According to them when they asked what are the actions of the government to the said issue and they respond ‘’wala’’, ‘’hindi ito pang matagalan kumabaga parang pansamantalang lunas lamang.’’ 

As someone who lived in Hagonoy, Bulacan, the problem of floods has been everyone's problem ever since. Even though there is no typhoon or even light rain, the water is still rising because it is surrounded by Manila Bay and the West Philippine Sea, it is where the water flows when it rains and every time it is high tide. The projects on fixing the roads and raising the areas will always be the people in Hagonoy wanted to finish. According to them the government will start for a while then stop and it becomes a cycle in the place. However, it will be hard for them to leave the place because their lives are here, and they see the place as their easy way to make money for their families.