SMNI hosts accused of red tagging books and authors

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Language, culture, and education orgs unite against redtagging of authors and pulling out of KWF books 

More than 30 language, culture, and educational departments or organizations signed a unity statement against SMNI hosts’ redtagging of authors and some Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino/Commission on the Filipino Language (KWF) commissioners’ purported order to pull out or stop the publication of at least 17 books erroneously labelled as “subversive” or “anti-government.” 

In a YouTube video posted on 09 August 2022, three SMNI hosts – including former National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) spokesperson Lorraine Badoy and a uniformed personnel –  tagged books written by Reuel Aguila, Rommel Rodriguez, Don Pagusara, Malou Jacob, and Dexter Cayanes, and more than a dozen more books published by KWF as “subversive” allegedly because they cited references written by the CPP-NPA, and the said hosts also redtagged prominent art critic Alice Guillermo and National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera (who died last year) in the same broadcast.

The unity statement signed by various organizations defended authors from redtagging, asserting that “many books – be it in Filipino or English – will certainly cite or quote materials from various references, including those from groups considered by the government as subversive or revolutionary. Such citation should not be treated as agreement or sympathy with the cited material, but rather a part of the typical academic and scholarly process of analyzing various sources. Granted for the sake of argument that a book agrees or sympathizes with a political ideology, such socially committed writing tradition is respected in the whole world and considered as an important element of any country that calls itself as democratic.”

The abovementioned unity statement also calls upon Congress to investigate SMNI’s redtagging broadcasts as these violate constitutional provisions on free expression.

The signatories also emphasized that “reading, analyzing, scrutinizing, citing, and using any reading material, regardless of the writer and the publisher, is part of the academic freedom of writers, teachers, researchers, and all citizens.” 

One of the redtagged authors, Rommel Rodriguez is a professor at the University of the Philippines Diliman’s Departamento ng Filipino at Panitikan ng Pilipinas (DFPP), reacted on the de-facto book ban through this statement: “Ang libro ko’y naglalaman ng mga akdang hinubog ng aking danas bilang manunulat. Mula ito sa kaibuturan ng aking puso na hinulma ng aking pang-araw-araw na pag-iral. Ang bawat salita’y maingat kong hinabi upang makabuo ng pananaw na maglalatag ng mga katotohanan sa isang lipunang makitid at mapagkunwari. Ang pagsupil ng aking akda, ay pagsupil sa aking malayang paglikha. Hindi ako kailaman padadaig sa anumang pananakot sapagkat batid kong marami akong kasamang mga manunulat, artista ng bayan, manggawang pangkultura, mananaliskik, edukador, at mambabasa na nakasandig pa rin sa katuwiran, hustisya, karapatan at halaga ng pagbabago ng lipunan.”

Another multi-awarded and redtagged author who was a founding member of the Davao Writers Guild, Don Pagusara asserted that his work is literary – fiction based on real-life events: “Ako ang author ng May Hadlangang Umaga. Ang akdang iyon ay isang dula, na ang kuwento ay natuon sa  buhay ng bilanggoan --- sa Fort Bonifacio...noong mga unang taon ng Martial Law.  Specifically, 1974 -1976.  Iyong sinipi nilang bahagi ay isang ekenang dula/kung saan nag-uusap ang dalawang tauhan.  Bale, fictional na nababatay sa totoong nangyayari sa  loob ng kulungang YRC. Naisulat iyon ng mga taong 1980s...Hindi namount, ni nalathala kailanman.”

The KWF Chair, Dr. Arthur Casanova – who did not sign the purported KWF memorandum that stops the publication of the said books – defended the authors saying in a public statement that “(t)hese books which are alleged to be subversive passed through the review process of the KWF. All the books underwent the usual scrutiny that all publications of the KWF must pass, including receiving the imprimatur of the other two full-time commissioners...the allegations that these books are subversive is a dangerous accusation which may already be stepping on the boundaries of freedom of expression and academic freedom.”

UP Professor Ramon Guillermo, who’s also a leader of the Network in Defense of Historical Truth and Academic Freedom (a signatory in the abovementioned statement) pointed out that “the KWF is right in publishing books in various disciplines. It is not true that KWF can publish only books on languages or orthography. In the context of Filipino as our national language, the KWF is within its mandate when it publishes materials in any discipline because intellectualization of the national language is among its main functions. Publishing cutting-edge works in every discipline is thus part of the KWF’s role in ensuring the further intellectualization of Filipino which all the more becomes important as we fight disinformation in these times.” 

De La Salle University professor and Tanggol Wika convener David San Juan also asserted that labeling books as “subversive” is tantamount to censorship and an attack on academic freedom, both of which have no place “in a civilized and democratic society. Hence, if the purported KWF memo is genuine, we call upon the commissioners who signed it to immediately withdraw their signatures in that clearly repressive and authoritarian order.”

ACT for Peace Convener and Ateneo de Manila History Prof. Mike Pante notes that “this is not the first time that government bureaucrats redtagged books and authors. In 2021, under threat from the government's NTF-ELCAC, some libraries removed books deemed ‘subversive’ from library shelves. Hence, in a way, NTF-ELCAC paved the way for the purported KWF memo that stops the publication of some books. Hence, we join calls for the immediate abolition of NTF-ELCAC and other similar redtagging entities that curtail the people’s right to information, right to free expression, and academic freedom.”

“As the country commemorates the 50th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law this year, we are once again reminded that the fight against tyranny is far from over. The struggle for democracy and human rights carries on,” Tanggol Kasaysayan Convener Dr. Francis Gealogo commented.  

The updated list of signatories in the unity statement is posted at: https://tanggolwika.org/2022/08/11/nagkakaisang-pahayag-ng-mga-organisasyon-at-departamento-laban-sa-pangreredtag-ng-tatlong-host-ng-smni-sa-mga-may-akda-ng-mga-aklat-na-nilathala-ng-komisyon-sa-wikang-filipino-kwf/ 

Miss Philippines Earth’s Jasmine Paguio bats for environmental education as Miss BingoPlus Lucky

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Fil-Canadian Jasmine Paguio finished as runner-up in the recently concluded Miss Philippines Earth beauty-with-a-cause pageant, but for the BingoPlus community of players, game developers, employees, partner brands, institutions and beneficiaries, she is their queen.

The 23-year old actress and model who grew up in Canada but returned to the Philippines to seek an acting and pageantry career was chosen as Miss BingoPlus Lucky among 36 contestants at the Miss Philippines Earth Finals held August 6 in Coron, Palawan.

It was her brave and game personality coupled with her sincere concern and dedication to the environment that made her stand out to BingoPlus officials as the fitting person to embody the company’s own advocacies.

“She has a great personality that reflects both her outer and inner beauty. Her courage to pursue her dreams and passion by leaving the country where she grew up and taking a leap in the Philippines is admirable. Her faith and confidence in herself and her desire to share her advocacy by educating others about saving our planet is remarkable. She is a fun-loving, high-spirited person, embodying the same characteristics we seek in every person working at BingoPlus, and the same outlook shared by our partners and patrons,” said AB Leisure Exponent Inc. president Jasper Vicencio.

“We have been taught to reduce, re-use and recycle since we were young. Although it may appear straightforward, the task of recycling and proper waste management is more intricate than it might seem. If one wrong item is recycled incorrectly, then tons of recyclable items get tossed into landfills daily. That is why I am advocating for a change in our educational system where we can properly teach the youth the importance of proper waste management and how to correctly recycle. This way we can have full confidence that correct knowledge will be passed down to future generations and we can contribute to a more sustainable lifestyle beginning at a young age,” Miss Paguio said.

As Miss BingoPlus Lucky, she will take part in the brand’s corporate social responsibility projects conducted under its mother company, Leisure & Resorts World Corporation. She will also actively promote BingoPlus through various events and spread the value of entertainment and having fun while sharing the message of responsible gaming.

“Miss BingoPlus Lucky will inspire our employees and show proof that you can still serve others while having fun by helping save the environment,” added Mr. Vicencio.

I wish to not just advocate for change, but to be a part of that change. I want to continue spreading my message, sharing my passion, helping educate others and most of all saving our planet,” Miss BingoPlus Lucky said.

Protecting children’s lives through vaccines

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When the five-month-old son of Marissa Santos had recovered from measles, more commonly known as “tigdas,” Santos thought that that would be her son’s last encounter with the measles virus. Six years later, Santos’ son started to show symptoms of a rare and serious complication caused by measles—subacute sclerosing panencephalitis or SSPE. Santos says she hopes parents can take advantage of vaccination to help prevent measles and SSPE among their children.

Measles is a serious and highly contagious viral respiratory disease. The symptoms of measles include high-grade fever, rashes, and the three C’s—namely cough, conjunctivitis, and coryza. Measles can result in serious complications even among previously healthy children. The virus that causes measles can mutate and cause fatal complications.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that in 2018, more than 140,000 people—most of them children under five years old—died of measles. This was despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine against the disease. According to the WHO, before the measles vaccine became widely used, major measles epidemics happened around every two to three years. Measles led to an estimated 2.6 million deaths per year.

In the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) reported in 2020 that about 2.4 million children under the age of five are susceptible to measles. The DOH also reported from 2008 to 2017, that there had been a decline from above 80 percent to below 70 percent in the first dose of measles vaccine in the Philippines. The DOH had declared measles outbreaks in 2014 and 2019. As with the cases of some countries, outbreaks happened despite attempts at wider immunization coverage.



A complication of measles

(L-F) Dr. Anleyn Reyes, Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist; Dr. Marissa Lukban, Pediatric Neurologist;

Ms. Marissa Santos, Mother & SSPE Advocate and Ms. Diane Medina, Celebrity Mom & Host during

the “Baby Come Vax: Mga Bakunang Nalaktawan, Panahon nang Balikan” online forum.

Sharing her story in an online forum, Marissa Santos said that at five months old, her son, Jan, was hospitalized because of severe fever and convulsion following his measles infection. Because Jan was exposed to measles at an early age, Santos received advice from a pediatrician that Jan no longer needed to be vaccinated against measles.

Santos said that Jan had recovered from his episode of measles infection and spent the next five years living a normal life. But at six years old, Jan began having twitches and seizures. At times, Jan would suddenly drop things that he was holding in his hands. His head would suddenly drop or he would be in a daze. Both Jan’s mother and teacher noticed, too, a decline in Jan’s performance in school.

Worried, Marissa brought her son to an expert in pediatric neurology in the country, Dr. Marissa Lukban. In 2002, 7 year-old Jan was diagnosed with stage 2 subacute sclerosing panencephalitis or SSPE, a rare but progressive, disabling, and fatal brain disease.

According to Dr. Lukban, SSPE occurs in 0.5 to five cases per million population worldwide, although these figures depend on vaccination rates.

SSPE may occur when the measles virus mutates, Dr. Lukban said. Unrecognized by the body's immune system, the virus enters the nerves, reaches the brain of a patient, and remains dormant until several years later when it reactivates.

Symptoms of SSPE include involuntary muscle movements, seizures, and behavioral changes including diminished performance in school. With less than five percent of cases having remission, SSPE patients often eventually become unable to swallow, speak, see, hear, and interact with others. The last stage of SSPE is characterized by coma or long coma.

“’Yung nightmare sa akin no’n, sinasabi ni Dr Lukban, was that there was no cure [The nightmare for me then was when Dr. Lukban said that there was no cure for SSPE],” Santos said.

Marissa and Jan had joined a support group in the hope of finding a cure for the disease. However, after ten years of enduring SSPE, Jan died in 2014 at 25 years old.


Measles vaccine as form of protection against SSPE

While a cure for SSPE has yet to be discovered, the best protection against this disease remains to be vaccination against measles.

Based on the Philippine General Hospital’s experience and citing Dr. Aida Salonga’s (2002) work, Dr. Lukban reported that from 1999 to 2001, there were roughly 18 to 20 Filipino children admitted in PGH with SSPE each year. But increased vaccination efforts since 1998 led to significantly lower measles cases. In 2002 to 2006, Dr. Lukban noted that the number of admitted cases decreased to 10-15 new cases per year and more recently down to 1-2 cases per year.

“Vaccination is a protection against getting measles at ‘pag hindi ka nagka-tigdas, hindi na magkaka-SSPE. Kumpletuhin lang po ang MMR vaccine at dapat po may booster [Vaccination is a protection against getting measles and if you haven’t had measles, you will not have SSPE. Complete the MMR vaccine and there should be a booster],” said Dr. Lukban.

Dr. Lukban also warned that high vaccine coverage needs to be sustained to prevent future measles outbreaks and SSPE cases. In the Philippines, there have been reports of measles outbreaks in 2014 and 2019. There is a likelihood that SSPE cases may increase in the following years.

“Nagkaroon tayo ng campaign in 2004 pero bigla nating napansin na umaakyat na naman at nagkaroon ng ilang outbreaks, which only shows na talagang dapat kapag may programa, dire-diretso [We have had a campaign in 2004 but we also noticed that the cases increased and there were outbreaks, which only shows that if there is a program to vaccinate against measles, the program should be consistent and steady,” said Dr. Lukban.


The importance of continuing vaccination amid Covid-19

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, parents have been fearful of bringing their children outside their homes and have opted to postpone their children’s vaccination. Manpower and resources in public health have also been focused on the COVID-19 vaccination.

Dr. Anelyn Reyes, an infectious disease specialist, estimated that one in two children is not being vaccinated. According to DOH, the national vaccination rate in 2021 was at

48.5 percent. Dr. Reyes also cited a study that indicates three to four Filipino families are hesitant to have their children vaccinated due to misinformation on social media and lack of knowledge about vaccine safety.

The online forum entitled Baby Come Vax: Mga Bakunang Nalaktawan, Panahon nang Balikan is an activity under the Vax My Baby campaign–a vaccine mobilization campaign aimed at improving routine immunization amid the COVID-19 pandemic under the partnership of the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination, Metro Manila Development Authority, and GlaxoSmithKline Philippines, Inc.