Like it or not, closed-circuit televisions (CCTV) have become a ubiquitous presence in modern cities. As CCTVs record daily public activity, they help monitor crimes and illegal activities, providing a sense of security among citizens. But as much as it can reassure a community’s safety, it can also put them Read more…
To say that the Philippine Internet has changed over the past decade is an understatement. The Internet has opened up various opportunities for Filipinos to communicate and learn. But the past few years have been challenging with how hate and prejudice ran rampant online, rendering the Internet a perilous place Read more…
Last August 2024, I attended the Asia-Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum in person for the second time. The first time was in 2017, merely a year after I started working on digital rights. The biggest difference is that this year, I went to APrIGF not just as a participant but Read more…
It is a privilege for LGBTQIA+ kids to have accepting parents considering the reality mentioned earlier. It is a dream for every unaccepted queers to be shielded by parental acceptance against societal demarcation. To aspiring parents or to those who already have an LGBTQIA+ kid, you can still actualize such Read more…
Being a predominantly religious country, the Philippines still has a long way to go before it can truly claim to be a gay-friendly country. Many Filipinos continue to believe that queers are either a sin or a sickness that requires assistance in transforming themselves to heterosexuality. Parents are one of Read more…
The household should be a safe space, where people can be comfortable being their truest selves. In the case of most of the LGBTQIA+ community, it is just like any other spaces in which they conceal their identity to protect themselves against their homophobic parents. They already receive so much Read more…
Universal Health Care (UHC), also known as Kahimsogan Para Ha Ngatanan in Waray-Waray, is a phrase that has yet to achieve full sincerity in the Philippines. With PhilHealth members covering at least 60% of their medical expenses out of pocket and an increasing number of women facing unmet needs for Read more…
The Philippines has had a total of 17 presidents. Out of these, 15 have been men. For much of its history, men have led the government, perpetuating the stereotype that men should hold control. Recent election data shows that women only hold about 28% of seats in the House of Read more…
In the present report, the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences examines violence against women and girls as a form, cause and consequence of prostitution. It is a breakthrough report that is harmonious with the UN Protocol on Trafficking 2000, the ACTIP 2015, and our own Read more…
As the Pacific region is rapidly digitizing and embracing digital transformation, the newly available technology can empower Pacific citizens with greater access to information and networks. However, there is a lack of global and Pacific governance standards and norms on the digital economy and digital transformation. Digital governance encompasses the Read more…