Groups such as Pamalakaya, Katribu BAYAN, Gabriela along with youth organizations League of Filipino Students and Kabataan Partylist, gathered at the Chinese Consulate in Makati, Metro Manila as early as 9 am to raise their calls. They later proceeded to the US Embassy in Manila to continue the protest.

Metro Manila

During the protest, the group Pamalakaya asserted the rights of the Filipino fisherfolk amidst Beijing’s continued presence in the West Philippine Sea. They also urged the government to stop reclamation and seabed quarrying in Manila Bay and other areas.

Despite Chinese assertiveness in the West PH Sea, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. remains optimistic over the ties between the two countries. 

Earlier, the President attended a flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremony at the Rizal Monument in Luneta Park, where he again called for unity. This marked his first Philippine Independence Day as President.

Katribu, an indigenous peoples (IP) group, also expressed its strong opposition to the construction of China-funded dam projects such as the Kaliwa Dam, which will cause environmental damage and possible displacement of communities. The Kaliwa Dam is a 12.2 billion project signed under the Duterte administration that has been collectively opposed by environmental groups and indigenous peoples organizations.

Kabataan Representative Raoul Manuel along with its other members also marched from the Chinese Consulate to the US Embassy despite police presence along the route. 

“Sa ika-125 na Araw ng Kalayaan, ang Pilipinas ay patuloy pa ring humaharap sa matinding hamon at banta mula sa mga bansang naghahangad na supilin ang ating kalayaan. Ang Tsina at Estados Unidos ay nagtutunggalian para isa ang manaig bilang kapangyarihan sa Pilipinas,” the party-list Kabataan said in a statement.

(On the 125th Independence Day, the Philippines still faces many challenges and threats from countries that want to curtail our freedom. China and US are competing in order to reign over us.)

Despite a 2016 landmark Hague Ruling which invalidated Beijing’s claim over most of the vast South China Sea via the nine-dash line principle, China has maintained vessels within the West Philippine Sea.

The US, on the other hand, has been granted access to four new local bases where the American military will be allowed to build facilities and preposition defense assets. This was announced when US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visited the Philippines on February 2. 

Militant youth group Anakbayan also expressed its opposition to the continued attacks on national sovereignty by the US and China.

Other church groups also urged the government to free former senator Leila de lima, reiterating that her continued detention showed that the country is not truly free. (READ: ‘Not truly free as a nation’: Rights advocates decry De Lima’s continued detention)

Davao

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) and Anakbayan Southern Mindanao also organized a protest at Freedom Park in Davao. They urged the current administration to implement and keep an effective independent foreign policy in relation to the rising tensions between the US and China over the West Philippine Sea. 

Bacolod City

Meanwhile in Bacolod City, sectoral groups also echoed the calls of the groups in Metro Manila and Davao. They also called for an immediate response of the government in certain issues including jeepney modernization, continuous oppression of local vendors and farmers, and privatization of Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO)  vendor spaces. 

“For us in the marginalized sector of the city, there’s no true and genuine independence in terms of our evidently [poor] living conditions,” secretary-general of Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap Ante Berlita told Rappler. 

Bacolod City also organized a program featuring a military parade, flag raising ceremony, and a wreath laying at the monument of an unknown soldier. 

Members from various groups including the Girl Scouts of the Philippines, Boy Scouts of the Philippines, Drum and Bugle Corps of various participating schools, and PNP Bacolod also took part in the civic-military parade from Lizares and Araneta Streets to the public plaza. – with reports from Alexandria Grace Magno and Amiel Antonio/Rappler.com.

Alexandria Magno is a Rappler Volunteer from the University of Santo Tomas.

Amiel Antonio is a Rappler intern from Bulacan State University — Main Campus. He is an incoming fourth-year journalism student.

In an interview with Rappler, cartoonists Zach and StephB, described the murky situation of editorial cartooning in the Philippines.

For one, editorial cartoons were removed in at least two major print publications in 2022. First, The Philippine Daily Inquirer scrapped editorial cartoons in March. This was followed by The Philippine Star, which also ended the inclusion of editorial cartoons in its op-ed pages in August. 

“Cartoons used to be one of the most anticipated in major publications–Philippine Star, Inquirer. You will notice that the pages in the newspapers are getting thinner and thinner. Because of cost-cutting, because social media is also rising. So one of the first casualties was the cartoon, cartoonists were the first removed,” Zach said in a mix of Filipino and English.

He also pointed out how some publishers avoid controversial cartoons that would pose conflict to some political interests. 

This has pushed cartoonists like Zach and Steph to use the digital platform as a new avenue to promote their work. 

“Akala siguro nila– some newspapers, na hindi ganun ka importante yung cartoons, pero, I think social media proves otherwise, na alam mo na grabe yung engagements, grabe yung reception ng mga tao. (Some newspapers thought that cartoons were not important, but I think social media proves otherwise, because you know, the engagements and the receptions from people were really enormous),” Zach added.

But for Steph, social media as a wider platform also brings its own set of challenges to remain relevant online.“Since ang kakumpitensya mo ngayon is the whole world ‘di ba? Yung hindi lang dito sa Pilipinas…. kailangan medyo iimprove mo lagi ang sarili mo para manotice ang artwork mo. Mas malaki na ngayon ang playing field eh (Since you have a bigger competition worldwide, you need to also improve yourself as a cartoonist so your artwork will stand out from the rest. The playing field has become bigger),” Steph said. 

Regardless of the boost that social media can give to their work, Zach, meanwhile, expressed that editorial cartooning is a profession that must be balanced along with other jobs in order to meet the costs of living. 

“There are no full-time cartoonists in the Philippines. It is always necessary to have a side job. If you are an artist, you are not only a cartoonist, but also a graphic artist, you do the layout too. Because you need to make a living, the challenge is you cannot be a full-time cartoonist,” he said in a mix of Filipino and English.

“Social media has a huge potential. But of course, artists have to pay their bills so it is necessary to balance with other passions you love,” Zach added.

Call for support

Despite these challenges, cartoonists like Zach and Steph managed to keep the art alive. They mentioned the importance of belonging to an organization such as Pitik Bulag, an artist-collective co-founded by Cartoonist Zach, which aims to provide aspiring cartoonists a platform to showcase their works on sociopolitical issues.

According to them, such organizations serve as a strong foundation of support, encouragement, and motivation necessary for them to accomplish more as cartoonists. 

“I think because I’m part of an organization, I’m able to take part, and also join exhibits, collaborations and such- which on my own, If I’m not a part of a group, perhaps, I will not be able to do,” Steph, who is the only female member in the group, said in a mix of Filipino and English.

Both of them also added that their followers’ simple act of recognizing and sharing their works on social media can make a big difference to further amplify their advocacies and awaken people’s consciousness towards pressing issues.

“Sa pamamagitan ng paggawa ng cartoons meron kang abilidad… para isiwalat ano yung mensahe mo, ano yung gusto mo ipahiwatig tungkol sa mga issue na napapanahon. (Through creating cartoons, you have the ability…to reveal your messages, the things you wanted to share on issues that are relevant in our time),” Zach said.

This is especially important, according to Zach, because even if cartoons portray an issue at a certain time, its significance cannot be buried in the past. 

“Marami sa mga martial law or mga lumang cartoons na hanggang ngayon ay super relevant pa rin. (Most old cartoons, and those released from the Martial Law period are still relevant up to this day) And that’s a manifestation of a good cartoon. It’s a timeless concept,” Zach added.

Alongside its timeless value, Steph added that cartoons also create an instant connection among its audience beyond words. 

“I guess the editorial cartoon, for example, I will illustrate without words – if I do it well, someone from Iran or Japan will understand it, anyone who doesn’t speak English or Tagalog, they will understand. That’s how powerful it is,” Steph said in a mix of Filipino and English.

That is why for both of them, editorial cartooning still plays a very important role in journalism and upholding press freedom, especially in today’s online landscape. 

“I know the importance of facts. So before making a cartoon, like I said before, I make sure na I do my research….  Facts help a lot pag gagawa ka ng isang illustration or editorial cartoon,” Steph said, highlighting the importance of facts in creating editorial cartoons and its influence on people’s perception.

They also called for support from Filipinos so they can continue to do the work that they do. 

“In this age of disinformation, many people share false information. I want to make something different because art has the ability to instill awareness in people. It has the ability to mobilize, to arouse people’s political consciousness,” Zach said.– with reports from Angelica Coleto/Rappler.com

Angelica Coleto is a Rappler intern from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines – Sta. Mesa. She is currently a senior taking up a Bachelor of Arts degree in Literary and Cultural Studies. 

This wastage was uncovered by the Commission on Audit (COA) which said Maasin’s mishandling led to spoilage and wastage of perishable goods intended for disaster response.

In COA’s 2022 audit report on Maasin City released April 27, government auditors found that part of its Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund was used to procure groceries and other ready-to-cook meals.

Items purchased in the P1.182 million allocation were canned sardines, beef loaf, corned beef, instant noodles, and purified water. As for rice, the government auditors found that Maasin had ample supply of the staple coming from donations.

However, only P199,500 worth of the goods from the calamity funds were tapped during the year.  This left a total of P982,400 stocks. The auditors said these stocks were listed as “welfare goods for distribution” as part of disaster response.

But government auditors found these food items rotting and infested by pests in their storage areas, rendering these all but useless.

COA said: “During inspection, it was found that the welfare goods were not properly stored. There is leaking from the ceiling of the storage in Barangay Rizal. The storage room in Barangay Combado is unsanitary/unhygienic. Dust, spillage, and cockroaches were observed during the inspection.” 

“There were damaged goods due to the unpleasant smell and discoloration on some of the packed rice. Gnawing holes or damages observed on the box and packs of noodles is a sign of mice and cockroach activity,” the auditors added.

The auditors conducted onsite inspections at the storage facilities in Purok Bangkal in Barangay Rizal and at the Liga ng mga Barangay Building in Barangay Combado. The inspecting team concluded that both sites were unfit to store perishables.

The officer-in-charge of Maasin City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) told COA that the two venues were only temporary store rooms.

The CSWDO said the current facilities were damaged when Super Typhoon Odette swept through Eastern Visayas in December 2021. 

During the exit conference, city government officials told COA that a new storage facility was now being constructed. 

COA said providing adequate storage areas was also part of disaster preparation. It also said that the Maasin City mayor must also remind the CSWDO to constantly monitor the state and volume of the stored foodstuff. – Rappler.com

According to SINAGBAYAN spokesperson and Indi Na Maliwat’s production manager Faye Aldefolio, justice has yet to be served to the families of the victims, and farmers are still being harassed and exploited. She highlighted that farmers should not be perceived as enemies of the state especially since they have always been the backbone of our economy. 

The play was first launched on September 19, but SINAGBAYAN has steadily commemorated the Escalante massacre to help combat efforts in undermining dissent and attempts to revise the narratives among the plight of farmers. 

As part of the protest, she emphasized other similar events that happened in Negros, as well as relevant commemorations in November such as the Hacienda Luisita massacre and Ampatuan massacre which all involved civilians and farmers. 

“Kapag Pilipino ka at kumakain ka, kailangan mo suportahan yung mga magsasaka. Kahit anong administrasyon pa ‘yan, napaka evident ng massacre among farmers. May Hacienda Luisita Massacre, may Escalante Massacre, may Negros 14, may Sagay 9, especially sa Negros. Napakaraming massacre na nangyayari against farmers,” Aldefolio said.

(If you are a Filipino who eats, you have to support farmers. No matter what administration it is, the massacre among farmers is very evident. There is the Hacienda Luisita Massacre, there is the Escalante Massacre, there are Negros 14, there are Sagay 9, especially in Negros. There are so many massacres happening against farmers.)

Through this platform, they hope to donate proceeds to Defend Negros Network, an organization that calls for real land reform and acknowledges human rights violations in Negros Occidental. 

By tying the production to its home community, ensemble cast member Jules Azaula hopes that these experiences become more tangible to the audience by allowing them to learn, feel, and empathize with the Negrosanon people.

Art as dissent

The play follows the story of the Escalante Massacre, which happened just a day after the 13th Martial Law anniversary on September 20, 1985, in Escalante, Negros Occidental. The incident occurred after paramilitary forces gunned down at least 20 and wounded at least 30 civilians, including students, community leaders, farmers, and fisherfolk in a protest rally demanding for fair wages, work benefits, and genuine land reform in the province. 

With these issues still being relevant to the present situation of human rights in the agricultural sector, SINAGBAYAN highlighted how art can be utilized as a platform to expose the injustices happening in the country. 

But as a group dedicated to mobilizing and organizing the masses through artistic expression, they are hardly strangers to government suppression. 

“Hindi na maisagawa yung Escalante massacre commemoration at reenactment sa Negros Occidental. Hinuhuli yung mga cultural workers, yung mga artista ng bayan na gustong mag-reenact at sumama,” Aldefolio lamented. 

(The Escalante massacre commemoration and reenactment can no longer be held in Negros Occidental. Cultural workers and local artists who want to participate are being arrested.)

Bringing it to Manila and around the country not only cultivates awareness among those unfamiliar with the massacre and its relevance today, but also keeps these stories alive. According to Azaula, the act of truth-telling becomes visceral when it is done through his craft. 

Aldefolio echoes the sentiment of involving oneself in other local agricultural advocacies, whether that be through an art form like acting, joining protests, or simply educating oneself and others of the situation.

“Kailangan nating sumigaw at umiyaw para sa katarungan. Walang ibang gagawa nun kung hindi ikaw at tayong lahat,” she asserted.

(We need to shout and scream for justice. No one else will do that but you and all of us.)

“I-kwento [natin] yung naging kwento ng mga characters. Kung hindi ito hango sa totoong tao, hango sa kolektibo ng mga kwento mula sa mga interview ng mga nakaligtas ng Escalante massacre,” Azaula added. 

(Tell people about these characters and their narratives. Even if they don’t mirror specific individuals, these narratives are still based on a collection of interviews and accounts from those that survived the Escalante massacre.)

The play Indi na Maliwat: Alaala ng Escalante is scheduled for two reruns on November 27 at the 3rd floor of Alcantara Hall, Student Union Building in UP Diliman, Quezon City at 3 PM and 6 PM. Check out more updates on SINAGBAYAN’s Facebook page.—with reports from Gaile Patanñe and Marypaul Jostol/Rappler.com

The growing abundance of places to obtain information is putting credible news at risk. This is exacerbated by efforts to debilitate press freedom and everyone who stands for it. At this rate, the pressure for journalists to retain their place in a democracy will only intensify. 

Today’s public sphere has seen the rise of influencers, propagandists, trolls, and the like who actively partake in spreading disinformation online. Many rely on the internet as source of information, and it may be a matter of time before people are unable to distinguish what’s credible or false. 

Journalists, along with activists and fact checkers, will not concede to this trend. Amid personal attacks and ongoing threats to press freedom is a need to uphold their commitment to the truth and right to criticize. But how can they work against people’s waning trust in the news? How can others show their support for members of the press and protect their own right to trustworthy sources? How does fact-checking improve the way we consume information? 

To answer these questions and more, join us in our fact-checking webinar titled, “How can we #HoldTheLine in the post-truth era?” It is happening on Friday, December 2, at 4 pm, spearheaded by MovePH, Rappler’s civic engagement arm. 

This is part of MovePH’s series of fact-checking webinars, which aims at teaching participants about the current online landscape, how to spot and combat disinformation online, and about initiatives to help spread facts.

The program will feature the following speakers:

• Gemma Mendoza – Rappler head of digital services
• Loreben Tuquero – Rappler researcher-writer
• Ailla dela Cruz – Rappler researcher-writer

This webinar is co-presented by Amateur Media Association of Philippine Scouts, AUF College of Arts and Sciences – Lighthouse, Batangas Eastern Colleges, FEU IAS – Department of Communication, Kasingkasing Press, Limitless Lab, Rotary Club of Malolos Congreso, and The Kingfisher SLSU.

The show will happen on Zoom. Only limited slots are available.

Interested participants may register here.

Registration is open until Thursday, December 1, at 5 pm. If you signed up past the deadline or have any questions about the event, you may send an email to move.ph@rappler.com. Registered participants will receive a confirmation email from MovePH on or before December 1. – with reports from Marypaul Jostol/Rappler.com

Representatives from 1Sambubungan, Concerned Artists of the Philippines, Kontra Daya, and Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) talked about this and said understanding governance should start in our shared experiences on the ground. 

These civil society groups were part of panel in the episode of MovePH’s ‘#CourageON: Paano makakapag-ambag tungo sa tapat na pamamalakad?’ on Wednesday, July 20, in time for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address. 

Kontra Daya convenor Malou Turalde used the current economic inflation in the Philippines as an example of how governance can impact marginalized sectors. She said the need to make people see how governance is not an abstract concept, but one with implications that can be felt in the policies and experiences we encounter.

“Ito yung pakahulugan sa governance. Dapat ’di siya hiwalay doon sa pang araw-araw na buhay, hindi siya dapat makitang abstrakto. But rather nakakonekta siya sa sikmura lalo na ng mga mahihirap nating kababayan…na kadalasang hindi nakakakuha ng access sa serbisyo,” Turalde said. 

(This is the definition of governance. It should not be separated from everyday life. It should not be seen as abstract. But rather, it is connected to the gut, especially of marginalized sectors who usually don’t get access to services.)

Representatives said inclusivity is an important element to good governance and is crucial to address the needs of all citizens. 

“Public leaders should have a sense of leadership that is inclusive. Their way of treating people should be consensus-oriented, and, of course, their concept of a governing body is participatory,” Concerned Artists of the Philippines board member Toym Imao said in a mix of Filipino and English. 

1Sambubungan Teduray indigenous leader Jen Cornelio added how inclusive leadership is important, most especially in the indigenous community, to address the challenges and lack of services in their ancestral domain.

“[Dapat] ang tinitignan ng pamahalaan ay yung makataong pagtrato sa mga nasasakupan nito…Sa tingin namin hindi sapat na magpapalit ka lang ng posisyon sa Malacañang, dapat malalim ang iyong pagkakaunawa sa kasalukuyang karanasan ng mga mamamayan, lalo’t higit sa mga katutubo,” Cornelio said. 

(What the government should focus on is the humane treatment of its constituents…We think that it is not enough to plainly change your position in Malacañang. You must have a deep understanding of the current experience of the citizens, especially with indigenous communities.)

These are why it’s important that people must engage with government, and for government to listen as well, as good governance can help provide better services and policies to citizens.

Why everyone should push for good governance

According to Turalde, good governance is not usually given to us on a silver platter and should not solely depend on politicians – but rather, this is something that should reinforced by citizens. 

“Dapat open ang ating pamahalaan doon sa pag-kritik mismo ng taumbayan dahil ito naman talaga ang papel natin. Hindi magbabago ang isang sitwasyon kung walang nagsasalita, bahagi yun ng ating kaparatan na magsalita at magtuwid,” Cornelio said. 

(Our government should be open to criticism because this is our role as citizens, a situation won’t change if no one speaks about it, that is part of our duty to speak and correct.)

“Importante talagang may partisipasyon para sa paghuhulma ng kaisipan at pag-contribute sa pagbabago sa lipunan…mutually beneficial na nag-paparticipate tayo doon sa ating pagpu-push, but at the same time yung institution building–kailangan na kailangan yan sa isang demokrasya na working and enduring,” Turalde added. 

(Participation is really important in order to shape culture and contribute to social change. Participation is mutually beneficial for us as we push officials, but at the same time it is necessary in institution building, especially in a democracy that is working and enduring.)

Demanding accountability

Among the ways that citizens can demand transparency and accountability in their communities is by joining groups and campaigns that aim to keep watch on laws and policies in local government units.

“Dapat nag-e-engage din tayo sa pag-go-gobyerno sa lokal. Makakatulong tayo sa pagpapasa ng mga ordinance para i-amplify yung transparency and accountability…Dapat i-pursue natin yun para na-incentivise din yung partisipasyon ng mamamayan at yung mga pag aagam-agam natin ay masolusyonan,” Turalde said.

(We also need to engage with local governance. We can help in passing ordinances to amplify transparency and accountability. We must pursue this so that the people’s participation is also incentivized and our doubts can be lessened.)

Especially with the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections set to happen this December, Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) executive director Atty. Ona Caritos introduced the #NoToBSKE2022Postponement campaign to encourage citizens to register and elect village and youth leaders in local communities.

This is long overdue as the barangay and SK elections were postponed from 2016 to 2022. Two separate House bills have also been filed seeking to reset the said polls to either May 2024 or December 2025.

“Ang SK ang tinitignan namin [bilang] isang napakalaking oportunidad para mabago ang mukha ng pulitika sa Pilipinas… Kapag hindi gusto ang mga nakaupong opisyales, ang kanilang performance, the primary accountability tool that we can all use is elections,” Caritos said. 

(We see SK as a huge opportunity to change the face of politics in the Philippines. If we’re not satisfied with the performance of our seated officials, the primary accountability tool that we can all use is elections.)

Imao also suggested joining cultural and art circles to continually use creative platforms to secure and preserve historical materials. He said that this is another way of demanding accountability especially when new audiences are tapped and encouraged to keep the conversation going. 

“What’s important is we rally around organized groups, support them, work with them. There is already an existing necessary infrastructure of civil society that we can be part of in their efforts to safeguard our rights and push necessary programs in government,” Imao said in a mix of Filipino and English.

The #CourageON show was organized by MovePH, with Concerned Artists of the Philippines; iDefend; Karapatan; Kontra Daya; K4 Kilos na para sa Kalusugan, Kabuhayan, at Karapatan; LILAK; Move as One Coalition; and Power for People Coalition. It was also supported by the United Nations Joint Programme for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the Philippines. – with reports from Alek Mangasar/Rappler.com

Alexandra L. Mangasar, who prefers to be called Alek, is a Rappler volunteer under MovePH. She is a 4th year Journalism student at the University of Santo Tomas.

• Kalusugan at pagtugon sa pandemya 
• Kabuhayan at ekonomiya
• Edukasyon
• Kalikasan at pagbabago ng klima
• Kapayapaan, kaayusan, paggalang sa karapatang pantao

KALUSUGAN AT PAGTUGON SA PANDEMYA: Malinaw at epektibong plano para sa kalusugan ng bawat Pilipino at sa pagtugon sa pandemya. 

• NARARAPAT NA TUGON SA PANDEMYA. Mga plano na nakabase sa siyensiya at datos, napapanahon, malinaw, at binubuo matapos ang konsultasyon sa mga eksperto at mga maaapektuhang sektor. Mas epektibong pagpapakalat ng impormasyon tungkol sa pandemya, at paninigurong pantay-pantay ang pamamahagi ng mga bakuna sa bansa.
• ISANG EPISYENTENG SISTEMANG PANGKALUSUGAN. Libreng serbisyong pangkalusugan, sapat na gamot, at pinalakas na pamamahala ng mga sistemang pangkalusugan ng komunidad, mula sa pambarangay hanggang pambansang antas. Pinalawak na access sa HIV/AIDS testing, pagpapagamot at pag-aaruga, at mga serbisyo at gabay para sa reproductive health.
• PANGANGALAGA SA HEALTHCARE WORKERS. Pagdaragdag sa bilang ng healthcare workers at paniniguro na maibibigay ang karampatang special risk allowance at sapat na sahod sa tamang oras.
• MALINAW NA PAGPAPARATING NG MGA POLISIYA. Batas na nakabase sa lohika at siyensiya, at mapagkakatiwalaang impormasyong tungkol sa pandemya at iba pang isyung pangkalusugan na maipamamahagi sa lahat.
• PAGPAPANAGOT SA MGA OPISYAL. Panagutin ang mga opisyal na responsable sa maling pagtugon sa pandemya, korupsiyon, at pagwawaldas ng pandemic resources.

KABUHAYAN AT EKONOMIYA: Konkretong plano para sa milyon-milyong Pilipinong nawalan ng trabaho, mga negosyong nagsara, at mga sektor na napadapa dahil sa palpak na naging pagtugon ng pamahalaan sa pandemya.

• MALAWAK NA PROTEKSIYON SA KARAPATAN NG MGA MANGGAGAWA.
  • Pagwawakas sa kontraktuwalisasyon at pagpapatibay ng mga batas na nagbibigay ng suporta at proteksiyon sa mga manggagawang kontraktuwal, gig workers, platform-based workers, creatives, informal workers, katutubo, kababaihan, at mga indibiduwal na kabilang sa LGBTQ+ na naapektuhan ng pandemya.
  • Pagpapatupad ng national minimum wage system na sapat at akma sa presyo ng mga bilihin
  • Proteksiyon at pagpapalakas sa mga unyon
  • Pagbibigay ng proteksiyon sa mga OFW na bumalik sa bansa, kabilang ang tulong na makapagsimula sila ng sariling negosyo
• SAPAT NA SUPORTA SA MSME. Malinaw at agarang maipatutupad na programa para medium, small, and micro enterprises (MSME) na naapektuhan ng pandemya. Magbigay ng pagkakataon sa kababaihang nananatili sa tahanan na magkaroon ng puhunan, maiugnay sa mga interesado sa kanilang produkto o serbisyo, at maging maalam sa digital na pamamaraan ng pagnenegosyo.
• KOMPREHENSIBO AT DETALYADONG PLANO PARA SA PAGBANGON NG EKONOMIYA. Pagpapatupad ng nararapat na economic stimulus, at pagbubukas ng credit facilities at saganang cash assistance sa mga apektado ng krisis pang-ekonomiya.
• TUGON SA TUMATAAS NA PRESYO NG MGA BILIHIN. Polisiya ng pagbabantay sa mga presyo ng bilihin at iba pang serbisyo.
• SAPAT NA PUHUNAN PARA SA INDUSTRIYANG PANG-AGRIKULTURA. Palawakin ang kaalaman ng mga mangingisda at magsasaka at isulong ang kanilang karapatang mangisda sa sarili nating karagatan at ariin ang mga lupang kanilang sinasaka.

EDUKASYON: Kilalanin ang edukasyon bilang isang karapatan — ligtas para sa kabataan at ligtas mula sa red-tagging. 

• LIGTAS NA PAGBUBUKAS NG MGA PAARALAN. Malinaw na roadmap para sa ligtas na pagbubukas ng mga paaralan at polisiya ukol sa academic ease, pagbibigay ng subsidiya sa mga guro, at paglalaan ng mga kaukulang serbisyo para sa pagbabalik ng face-to-face classes. 
• PAGPAPAHALAGA SA ACADEMIC FREEDOM. Magpatupad ng mga batas na tutugon sa pagprotekta sa academic freedom at pagtiyak sa kaligtasan ng mga estudyante sa lahat ng antas sa paaralan.
• PAGBIBIGAY-PANSIN SA KALUSUGAN AT KAPAKANAN NG MGA MAG-AARAL. Pagbibigay ng mental health services para sa mga mag-aaral, guro, at staff ng mga paaralan, at pagpapasa ng Students Rights and Welfare (STRAW) Act. 
• PAGLALAAN NG PONDO PARA SA SEKTOR NG EDUKASYON. Pagbibigay ng badyet na hindi bababa sa 6% ng Gross National Product para sa edukasyon. Ibigay sa edukasyon ang pondo ng ibang sangay ng pamahalaan, kagaya ng pondo sa debt servicing at ng militar.
• KURIKULUM NA MAY MGA ARALIN TUNGKOL SA KARAPATANG PANTAO, MEDIA, DEMOKRASYA, AT ANG SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS, KASAMA ANG:
  • Digital literacy at digital rights, reproductive rights education
  • Good manners and right conduct (GMRC) at values education
  • Irebiyu ang K-12 program para maihanda nito ang mga mag-aaral sa pagtugon sa national emergency

KALIKASAN AT PAGBABAGONG KLIMA: Pamahalaang tutugon sa mga epekto ng pagbabagong klima at poprotekta sa mga tagapagtanggol ng kalikasan.

• MAAGAP NA TUGON LABAN SA PAGBABAGO NG KLIMA. Isang komprehensibong planong mula at para sa mga bulnerableng sektor para sa pagbawas ng polusyon ng fossil fuel at pag-angkop sa pagbabagong klima alinsunod sa mga commitment ng bansa sa Paris Agreement. Paramihin ang mga commitment na walang kondisyon at isaprayoridad ang mga solusyong nakabatay sa komunidad.
• TRANSISYON PATUNGO SA RENEWABLE ENERGY. Pabilisin ang paglawak ng malinis at renewable energy tungo sa pagiging pinakamalaking prosyento ng pinagkukunan ng kuryente kumpara sa fossil fuel, sa pamamagitan ng pagsuporta sa mga proyektong renewable energy sa antas komunidad, at sa paglimita ng pagpopondo para sa coal.
• LIKAS-KAYANG PAMAMARAAN NG TRANSPORTASYON. Promosyon at pagpapaunlad ng mas likas-kayang pamamaraan ng pampublikong transportasyon, at hikayatin ang pagbibisikleta, paglalakad, at iba pang active mobility options para sa mga mamamayan.
• PAGTATAGUYOD NG KILUSANG ZERO-WASTE. Pagpapasa ng mga batas na magbabawal sa mga Single-Use Plastic Products, magpapataw ng extended producer’s responsibility (EPR) o pananagutan sa pribadong sektor gumagamit ng plastics, magtutulak ng pagsasaliksik ng sistema ng mga alternatibong produksyon at materyales (circular economy). Maglaan ng pondo sa mga zero waste na inisyatiba sa antas ng komunidad para sa sustenableng pagkonsumo at produksyon para sa pangangailangan ng tao.
• SAPAT NA PONDO PARA SA PANGANGALAGA NG BIODIVERSITY AT KALIKASAN. Pagpapalakas ng mga inisyatibang mangangalaga sa natural na espasyo sa bansa, palawigin ang climate education, at triplehin ang bilang at protektahan ang karapatan ng ng mga forest rangers, sea wardens, defenders, at iba pang environmental workers.
• PAGPAPASA NG ALTERNATIVE MINERAL MANAGEMENT BILL. Pansamantalang ipatigil ang pagmimina, dredging, reclamation, plantations, infrastructure, incinerators, fossil fuel power plants, at iba pang proyektong nakakasira at sumasaid sa kalikasan na sinasabing parte ng pagtugon sa pandemya at estratehiya sa pagbangon ng ekonomiya.

KAPAYAPAAN, KAAYUSAN, PAGGALANG SA KARAPATANG PANTAO: Pamahalaang hindi yumuyurak sa karapatang pantao at may tapang na ipagtanggol ang ating soberanya.

• PAGTIGIL NG GIYERA KONTRA DROGA. Ibatay sa pagpapahalaga sa karapatang pantao ang pagsugpo sa ilegal na droga, at bawiin ang memorandum circular na nagbigay-buhay sa Oplan Tokhang.
• HUSTISYA AT PAGPAPANAGOT SA MGA UMABUSO. Pagsasagawa o pagpapatuloy ng mga imbestigasyon ng Kongreso, International Criminal Court, UNHRC, at truth commission sa ilegal na paggamit ng mga pondo at malawakang paglabag ng karapatang pantao.
• MAKATAONG TUGON SA INSUREKSIYON. Pagbuwag sa NTF-ELCAC, isang counterinsurgency program na ang tinatarget ay ang advocates, human rights defenders, at mga kritiko ng gobyerno. Bigyang pansin ang ugat ng himagsikan sa bansa, at magkaroon ng tunay na prosesong pangkapayapaan kasama ang mga grupo ng rebelde sa Pilipinas.
• RIGHTS-BASED NA MGA BATAS UKOL SA ICT. Pagbabalik at pagbabago ng Magna Carta for Philippine Internet Freedom bilang halimbawa ng digital rights na nakaangkla sa Philippine Declaration sa Internet Rights and Principles. Baguhin o alisin ang mga mapaniil na probisyon ng Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2021, kagaya ng criminal offense para sa libel.
• PAGPAPALAKAS SA KABABAIHAN, AT MGA MINORYANG PANGKASARIAN AT PANG SEKSUWAL. Pagpapasa ng batas at pagpapatupad ng mga polisiya na magtitiyak sa pagkakapantay-pantay ng mga kasarian upang mawakasan ang gender-based violence at diskriminasyon sa kababaihan at mga minoryang pangkasarian at pang-seksuwal. Isama sa education curriculum at sa mga ahensiya ng gobyerno ang pagkilala at pagrespeto sa kalakasan at kagalingan ng kababaihan at LGBTQ+
• PAGTATANGGOL SA KASARINLAN NG BANSA. Pagtibayin ang Hague ruling upang protektahan ang West Philippine Sea.
• PAGPROTEKTA SA MGA DEMOKRATIKONG INSTITUSYON. Protektahan at palakasin ang kalayaan sa pamamahayag, kasama ang pagprotekta sa civic spaces at pagbibigay ng ligtas at accessible na mga paraan sa mga mamamayan upang makipag-usap sa pamahalaan tungkol sa mga programa at polisiya. Palayain ang mga bilanggong politikal, kritiko, at miyembro ng oposisyon.

Patuloy na magmamatyag ang #CourageON Coalition at #PHVote Coalition upang bantayan ang pamamahala ng bagong administrasyon. Kung ikaw ay bahagi ng isang organisasyon na hangad na ipagtanggol ang ating mga karapatang pantao, sumali sa #CourageON: No Lockdown on Rights Coalition. – Rappler.com

Highlighting the need for more truth-tellers especially in the just-concluded May elections, Rappler’s civic engagement arm MovePH organized the #PHVote Movers Summit and trained at least 39 Movers to cover the polls in their respective communities.

Movers took various initiatives to debunk false information and contribute to #FactsFirstPH, a first-of-a-kind coalition that aims to help make facts spread faster and hold perpetrators of online disinformation accountable.

Christian Bohol, a lead Mover from Tarlac, said they saw the need for more people to help quash dubious claims, and to engage their network of friends on fact-checking and the many misconceptions about it.

Bohol’s team of three organized a workshop, taking off from best practices from the #FactsFirstPH initiative. He said that if more people stage similar efforts in the future, this would be a big help in bringing the fight against lies to underprivileged sectors.

“Disinformation plays a big factor in the results of the election and we need to hold the perpetrators of disinformation accountable… We need to have more integration with the local communities, with rural communities where factual information might not easily reach them,” he said in a mix of Filipino and English.

Aside from holding conversations about fact-checking, Movers were also behind creative executions that debunked false information in formats that were more accessible to more sectors and ages.

Movers from the #FactsFirstPH unit, for instance, created a series of short videos called “Mare, check!” where they show viewers why a certain viral claim is false or misleading.

With their videos gaining thousands of reactions and views on Facebook, Dominic Gutoman, Rappler Mover and one of the members who helped create the “Mare, check!” series, shared how the public’s reaction towards their team’s efforts motivates him to become more involved in this advocacy. (READ: MANIPULADONG VIDEO: Nagbanta ng gulo si Putin sa Filipinas kung manalo si Robredo sa halalan)

“When our works get published, you will see the comments and see how saturated our platforms are with troll armies… If I weren’t equipped with the necessary skills and principles, I think at first I would be defeatist because it seems like there’s no sense to what we’re doing. But I saw that it provoked people to confront the truth,” Gutoman said in a mix of Filipino and English.

Some Movers also made a constant effort to translate fact-checks into their local languages, particularly in Waray and Bicolano, while others shared local updates about the 2022 elections.

Chan Clerigo, a Rappler Mover in Camarines Sur who translated some of Rappler’s fact-checks in Bicolano, said that these kinds of initiatives help share verified information about candidates and the elections, which in turn can “lead to informed choices.”

This was echoed by Andrea Pefianco, Joey Baldonado, and Mariane Cagalawan, who are all Movers from the Visayas, as they underscored the role of citizen journalists in putting regional stories in the mainstream media space. This is especially important especially following the shutdown of ABS-CBN and several local papers in the provinces.

(READ: Voters in remote Antique village struggle to know national candidates)

Pefianco noted how regional journalists and citizen journalists who live in the area they’re reporting on can help offer perspectives and context that others may miss. 

“We are always overshadowed by big stories in Luzon,” Pefianco said in Hiligaynon. “It’s important that [citizen journalists and journalists] here in Visayas are the ones who will look for stories, who can relate with our peers, who can write stories which evoke a sense of belongingness among the masses…Especially here in Antique where mainstream media usually doesn’t reach us but where there are a lot of stories,” she added.

Braving disinfo, media distrust

But the battle for truth hasn’t been easy. 

For Pampanga Lead Mover Allena Juguilon, the added challenge of debunking disinformation on social media made the coverage of the 2022 elections much more different than the midterm elections in 2019. “We are already at this point that even if it is satire, we will fact-check it because it spreads disinformation.”

“The political climate is very different. In the 2019 election coverage, there is no aspect of historical revisionism [unlike this year] and we were just hoping back then that we would put leaders who were not plunderers and corrupt,” Juguilon said in a mix of Filipino and English.

“What happened in this election [compels] us to be more creative in communicating facts,” Juguilon said, adding that disinformation festered “because people developed innovative ways to communicate their lies.”

“We have to partner it with different approaches like organizing. We need to further develop it and maintain it in the coming years,” Gutoman said.

Covering in the provinces is also difficult especially when most public records are not yet available online. This has been a handicap in data gathering during the numerous lockdowns at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Stephen Esic, a Rappler Mover in Zamboanga del Sur since 2017 and now the Lead of a group of citizen journalists in Mindanao, shared how this challenge prompted him to reach out to other media practitioners in his locality just so he can verify the information at hand and deliver truthful news to his area.

Joining Rappler’s poll coverage for the first time, Rappler Movers based in Bulacan Jezreel Ines and Alex Culla both had a baptism of fire after facing intimidation while doing their duties as citizen journalists.

When Ines took pictures of people pleading for an extension of voting hours in Muzon Pabahay Elementary School, San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan, a police officer asked for his smartphone and deleted a photo that showed a commotion between the marshals and voters. Thanks to a smartphone feature, he was able to retrieve the deleted photo.

During her coverage in Barasoain Memorial Integrated School, Malolos City, Culla was gathering reports from people who complained about the inaccurate implementation of voting guidelines when an election support staff approached and yelled at her. The staff accused Culla of being one-sided with her report, but the latter clarified that she was about to reach out to the election officers until she was confronted.  

“The treatment against journalists, particularly to us citizen journalists, is daunting. If the members of the media are already experiencing this kind of intimidation, I can imagine the worst for the ordinary citizens,” Culla lamented in Filipino.

One in this fight

With the alarming spread of disinformation and the apparent hate towards journalists, Movers pointed out how everyone has a role to play in helping our online spaces be cleaner, in being more discerning of the content they consume, and in appreciating verified reports and sources.

For Antique-based mover Mariane Cagalawan, in this current political climate where press freedom is being suppressed, it’s time to branch out and encourage people to help amplify the voices of the masses. 

“Be grounded on the idea that what you’re doing is for the people and it will really embolden you to keep writing stories,” Cagalawan told Rappler.

Cagalawan had written a story in May focused on residents of Aningalan, an isolated barangay in San Remigio town, who struggle to stay updated on elections given their lack of access to internet or cellular communications.

Must Read

Voters in remote Antique village struggle to know national candidates

After her story was published, Cagalawan said supporters of national candidates made an effort to visit the community.

“After the article got published, that’s when I felt very satisfied because Doctors for Leni here in Antique really went to help. They printed brochures explaining things about Leni-Kiko. And what’s nice about this is they also included other national candidates because I told them that information rarely reaches them, so they also did a voter’s education [sharing] even BBM, Pacquiao. They brought videos and played them on the TV,” she said in a mix of Filipino and English.

With president-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. known to impose tough restrictions on journalists, Rappler Mover Niña Diño pointed out that journalists must stand resolute as they are needed to help Filipinos make sense of issues. (READ: ‘Something new to the table’: First-time voters share what their vote means) 

“[Journalists] have the power to be the voice of Filipinos, to raise to the consciousness of the government what the Filipinos want, what they are struggling with, and what they want for their future.” Diño said. – Rappler.com

Audrey Dayata is a Rappler volunteer from the University of the Philippines Visayas. She is currently in her third year pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science.

Jose Orlando Polon is a Rappler intern from De La Salle Lipa. He is a senior taking up Bachelor of Arts in Communication, Major in Socio-Cultural and Behavioral Communication.

Of the 67.5 million Filipinos eligible to cast their ballots in the 2022 elections, around 30% are from the youth sector aged 18 to 30. These historic registration numbers came despite the results of a commissioned Pulse Asia survey back in June 2021 that found nearly half of the entire Filipino population would be unwilling to go out and vote should their barangays log a high number of COVID-19 cases during the election period. (LIVE UPDATES: 2022 Philippine elections – News, voting process, results tracking)

‘Stand up’

For 19-year-old Patrick Allere, May 9 was a day of firsts. Not only was it his first time to vote, but it was also his first time to cover an on-ground event for The COMMUNICATOR, the official campus publication of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines – College of Communication.

“Tumitindig po talaga ang youth kasi sawa na kami sa pagiging takot lumabas, lalo na po ako na gustong maging media practitioner at journalist in the future. Natatakot din ako na baka ma-red-tag ako, so mas gusto ko po ng gobyerno na makapagbibigay ng pag-asa at sekuridad sa bawat isa,” Allere said.

(The youth are standing up for what they believe in, because we’re tired of being scared to go out. As an aspiring media practitioner and journalist, I’m scared to get red-tagged and so I want a government that gives hope and security to each citizen.)

Allere strived to be actively involved in his first elections, even volunteering to be an official poll watcher at a precinct different from where he cast his vote. His experience was not without struggles, however, as he and fellow youth poll watchers were denied entry to the precinct.

According to Allere, he had been waiting by the gates of BF Multipurpose Hall Phase III in Parañaque City, the precinct where he was assigned, for over an hour but officials would not allow him to enter as the venue was already supposedly full.

“Ang katwiran po namin ay kung walang poll watchers doon, paano masisigurado na malinis ang eleksyon? Hindi po sila nagrerespond, pinapaurong lang po nila ang mga poll watchers,” he said. (Our justification in wanting to enter the precinct is to ensure that our elections will be 100% clean. But they would not let us poll watchers in, instead they just kept asking us to step back.)

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168 vote-counting machines for May 9 polls found defective

Despite the obstacles, Allere and his fellow youth poll watchers persisted in staying to vigilantly observe and guard against any possible violations of election laws.

“Karamihan sa mga youth ay tumitindig para sa kabutihan. Ang role ng youth ay baguhin talaga ang sistema upang maging mas maayos na at maiboto ang mga tamang lider,” Allere said. (Majority of the youth are truly standing up for what’s right. The role of the youth is to change the system and vote for the right leaders.)

Similarly, first-time voters Jonathan Quirino and Anne Kristel Toledo stressed that the next six years are crucial because they directly affect the future of the younger generations.

Securing their future

Like Allere, Quirino, and Toledo, sisters Sofia and Samantha Reyes were also among the youth who got up at the crack of dawn, eager to cast their very first votes at their precinct in Parañaque City.

Standing in line for over two hours under the heat of the sweltering sun is no easy feat, but the Reyes sisters were determined to persevere and wait for their turn to cast their ballots.

“We’ve always been taught that once we reach the age of majority, we have to register to vote not only because it’s our right as Filipino citizens but also because it’s our chance to actively choose the leaders that we believe are fit to lead the country,” Samantha Reyes said.

Pandemic response is the issue that the Reyes sisters hope the next administration will urgently address. Within their family and community, however, it wasn’t always easy for the Reyes sisters to be taken seriously with their political views and stances on current issues.

“Some of our older peers are opposed to our opinions… ‘Lagi nilang sinasabi na wala pa kayong experience, hindi niyo pa ‘yan alam. This kind of discrimination still exists from the older generations,” Sofia Reyes shared.

(They always tell us that we don’t have any experience yet and don’t know what we’re talking about.)

Similar to other members of the Filipino youth, however, the Reyes sisters kept themselves informed about local and national issues through social media, critically filtering their feeds and digesting credible information in order to make an informed vote in the 2022 elections.

“With social media, it’s much easier and faster to be informed about issues cropping up, but of course this comes with our responsibility to fact-check everything we read,” Samantha Reyes said.

Allere and the Reyes sisters are only some of the country’s first-time voters who went the extra mile to secure their future through educated voting.

“Ang youth talaga ang makikinabang for the next six years. (It’s really the youth who will benefit over the next six years),” the sisters shared. “It’s very important that we incorporate the ideals of the young minds when it comes to the next administration because we have a lot of new ideas to bring to the table.”

Other first-time voters across the country proudly shared photos of their index finger marked with indelible ink on social media after they cast their ballots:

– Rappler.com

This is what election lawyer Emil Marañon emphasized in the last episode of Rappler’s Ask Your Election Lawyer where he urged people to remain vigilant and discourage vote buying in order to have clean elections. [WATCH: Ask Your Election Lawyer: Bantay-sarado sa sagradong boto]

What can individuals do if they witness any form of violation or irregularities on election day? 

“Pagdating ng eleksiyon, bantayan natin at siguraduhin na wala pong violations, wala pong vote-buying na nangyayari. If ever na meron po tayong makitang violation, ang first instinct po dapat natin is to document using our cell phones, kuha ng photos and videos,” Marañon said.

(When the election comes, let us watch and make sure that there are no violations, no vote-buying happening. If we ever see a violation, the first instinct we should have is to document using our cell phones, take photos and videos.)

The election lawyer encouraged voters that one of best ways to document incidents is by using cameras, cellphones, and CCTVs to capture as much photo and video evidence as they can in the face of voter violation incidents and to report them immediately. 

When reporting incidents, don’t forget to include the following details:

• Date and time. When was the incident observed?
• Place. Where did the incident take place? It is good to identify a specific barangay or landmark, or provide the specific school or precinct.
• Context. What happened to the incident? Reporters should state necessary information that will help verify or explain the incident.
• Additional photo or video proving that an incident took place.

Vote-buying, vote-selling, election-related violence, campaign violations are only a handful of forms of election offenses. A fair election can only be achieved if election-related anomalies are reported and immediately addressed. A comprehensive list of election offenses can be found on Comelec’s official website.

To ensure a fair election, MovePH and its partners are crowdsourcing and verifying cases of vote buying and vote selling, campaign offenses, election-related violence, technical glitches, and other election-related problems in the 2022 national elections. MovePH is also encouraging the public to refrain from amplifying secondhand information and unverified reports online – especially if they’re shared or posted anonymously. 

Here’s a list of groups where you can report election offenses:

Report directly to #PHVoteWatch

You may send reports or any election-related irregularities directly to MovePH’s #PHVoteWatch form. Complainants will need to provide their information for further verification of their reports.

Online users may also submit reports by composing a tweet or posting about the incident on Twitter or Facebook with the hashtag #PHVoteWatch in their posts.

Make sure to provide details about the incident, including the type of election violation, the concerned parties, and where the incident happened. Include photos or videos as proof to the report. We encourage first-hand and verified reports.

Once received, MovePH point persons will reach out to the provided contact number of the voter who sent the report as part of the verification process. (READ: #PHVoteWatch: Report vote-buying, other election violations in 2022 polls)

Report violations to Comelec

Election offenses can be reported to the closest office of the Philippine National Police (PNP), or directly to your local Comelec office.

You can also report voter violations directly to Comelec online through the email sumbongko@votesafe.ph, or posting the incident on Twitter with the hashtag #SumbongKo.

Report through iDEFEND’s website

iDEFEND, a human rights movement campaigning for social justice, launched a website for election violations. Reports from the information gathered will be shared with the Commision on Human Rights (CHR). You may send reports for any election-related issues through iDefend’s election violence form, or scanning the QR code in the post below. For further inquiries, you may also contact iDefend through their email iDEFENDofficial@gmail.com.

Report incidents to Kontra Daya

Kontra Daya is a campaign led by various organizations and individuals committed to opposing election fraud during the election period. The coalition is crowdsourcing reports for any election frauds through their incident report form.

You may also contact Kontra Daya through their hotlines: +63 920 833 2296 or +63 945 824 3600

Facebook or Twitter users can also submit their reports to Kontra Daya by using the hashtags  #KontraDaya and #VoteReportPH in their posts or tweets.

Kontra Daya accepts the following election fraud reports:

• Vote buying
• Red tagging
• Militarization
• Machine errors
• Illegal campaigning
• Disinformation
• Harassment
• Flying voters
• Failure of election
• Disenfranchisement
• Use of government resources

Report incidents through LENTE

The Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) launched its Election Monitoring initiative across 17 regions in the country to strengthen its advocacy on ensuring a safe, accountable, transparent, and inclusive conduct of the May 9, 2022 national elections.

The focus of LENTE’s monitoring activities is the implementation of May 9 elections procedures, including health and quarantine protocols, the voting experiences of persons with disabilities (PWDs), the elderly, indigenous peoples (IPs), and persons deprived of liberty.

You may send reports of election-related offenses or queries on election day procedures through the following hotline numbers: 0917 106 6265 (Globe), 0920 266 0944 (Smart), and (02) 7502 1591 (landline).

Facebook and Twitter users can also reach LENTE through its official social media pages: LENTE Philippines (Facebook) and @LENTE_PH (Twitter). 

To volunteer for the elections and for any of these efforts, email us through move.ph@rappler.com. – with reports from Andrea Abadia and KC Perez/Rappler.com

Andrea Abadia is a Rappler volunteer from University of the Philippines Cebu. She is a junior majoring in Bachelor of Arts in Communication.

KC Perez is a Rappler volunteer from the University of the Philippines Diliman. She is a junior taking up a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philippine Studies, Major in Philippine Literature and Broadcast Media Studies.