http://cegpcordillera.wordpress.com/

College Editors Guild of the Philippines - Cordillera, #95 North Sto. Tomas Road, Imelda Marcos, Baguio City (2026)

18/08/2026

STATEMENT OF UNITY: DEFEND THE EARTHLINE! NO TO RED-TAGGING! DEFEND THE CAMPUS PRESS!

The College Editors Guild of the Philippines-Cordillera, with its member publications and media organization, stands in solidarity with The Earthline, the official student publication of Kalinga State University, after receiving overwhelming negative and red-tagging comments in their coverage of the Konsultahang Kabataan spearheaded by the Kabataan Partylist and its representative Atty. Renee Co.

It is alarming and disappointing that The Earthline is met with negative, threatening and red-tagging comments for simply covering a student event. The Konsultahang Kabataan, an initiative by Kabataan Partylist, serves as an avenue for students to register their concerns to the Congress. Likewise, it is very alarming that the Kabataan Partylist and Representative Atty. Renee Co was subjected to red-tagging remarks for doing her job as the representative of the students and the youth in Congress.

In a landmark ruling in Deduro V. Vinoya, red-tagging and vilification are threats to the safety of the people it is directed at. It is also a direct attack to the mandate of The Earthline and student publications, and a threat to their right to expression. This is the reality that campus journalists and the youth face. They are highly expected to know about their social conditions, but when they voice their opinion, they are met with threats, red-tagging, and vilifications.

We commend The Earthline for fiercely covering and continuing to fulfill their mandate as a student publication despite the flooding of negative comments in the articles. We stand firm with The Earthline and all student publications against such attacks to our freedom of speech. CEGP Cordillera amplifies our call for the defense of our publications and our academic freedom! To write is already to choose!

Signatories

College Editors Guild of the Philippines Cordillera
College Editors Guild of the Philippines Baguio-Benguet
The Apayao Collegian of Apayao State College Conner
The Greenfields of Ifugao State University Potia
The Beacon Publication of Ifugao State University Potia College of Education
The Upland Farm Ifugao State University Lamut
Tala: The Mocking Bird of Mountain Province State University
The Tonisian Reflectors of Saint Tonis College Inc.
Outcrop of University of the Philippines Baguio
The Mountain Collegian of Benguet State University
The Hyperlink of Benguet State University College of Information Sciences
The Gray Owl of Benguet State University College of Veterinary Medicine
The Catalyst of Benguet State University College of Natural Sciences
Cordillera Bulletin of Cordillera Career Development College
White & Blue of Saint Louis University
The Buttress of Saint Louis University School of Engineering and Architecture
Daily Dose of Saint Louis University School of Nursing, Allied Health, and Biological Sciences
Schema of Saint Louis University School of Accountancy, Management, Computing and Information Studies
Stellaris of Saint Louis University School of Teacher Education and Liberal Arts
Purple Pages of Saint Louis University Department of Pharmacy The Apothecaries’ Society
Pipeline of Saint Louis University Philippine Institute of Chemical Engineers - Junior SLU Chapter
The Flame of Baguio Central University
Gray Scale of University of Baguio
Router of University of Baguio School of Information Technology
SEA’y It of University of Baguio School of Engineering and Architecture
PSS Manifesto of University of the Cordillera Political Science Society

15/08/2026

𝐋𝐄𝐓'𝐒 𝐔𝐍𝑷𝑨𝑿 | 𝐕𝐀𝐓 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐧

𝐏𝐚𝐱 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚 is a US-led massive project being planned for New Clark City, Tarlac.

While it promises billions in investments and engineering jobs, it risks displacing locals and straining power the country's systems. Hence, it is important to be knowledgable about the advantages and disadvantages of the project.

Is the Philippines about to become a global technology powerhouse, or just a backyard of foreign countries?

by Aliyah Almoite
Layout by Cyron Gabon

12/08/2026

𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐃𝐚𝐲, 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐎𝐥𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐬

As the new semester unfolds and our campus unveils pristine facilities, Louisian students still face the same recurring challenges: slow online enrollment, faulty access to the student portal, long queues, and unreasonable face-to-face enrollment for regular students. Even with the rollback of the initially proposed increase in other fees from 6.5% to 5.5%, one would think it would be better to prioritize the preexisting internal systems rather than external aesthetics.

The university's online enrollment process is, in theory, quite streamlined; just input your information, click the checkboxes, and you're good to go. Welcome, you are now a Louisian, accomplished from the comfort of your own home. In practice? The iSLU Student Portal suffers from server errors, slow loading times, usability issues, and an interface that often turns a supposedly smooth and simple task into a frustrating experience. Given that each Louisian pays an ICT Education/Admin Services Fee at around ₱700 per academic year, it is reasonable to expect a portal that is stable and capable of handling the enrollment process without frequent technical difficulties.

But as bugged as it may be, the online option is a luxury, but not one offered to all students. There is a distinct and appalling discrepancy in quality from the enrollment process within the university itself. Though the campus can be described as a polished compound of sleek facades, the in-person enrollment process is anything but. Queues swarm the gates to congestion as early as four in the morning, with some students having to wait outside in the inclement weather; procedural steps trace a lengthy sprint from one building’s bottlenecked corridors to the next; and disproportionately sparse staff and facilities diminish the processing speed to a slow, tedious pace. And all this is happening while the university erects yet another immaculate edifice with the new Fr. Evarist Verlinden Building. While no one would contest its construction given how it's supposed to service students with better amenities and such, adding a new building to the premises while preexisting systems continue flawed operations for years appear out of touch. We're not asking to have our cake and eat it too; students can benefit just as much from a well-curated matriculation scheme as they can from a well-built edifice.

Disparity comes in when the university already possesses the proper medium to facilitate its online enrollment. If the system can accommodate some students, why can’t it accommodate all? Despite being regular students, some of the students of the School of Engineering and Architecture (SEA) are still ‘webbed’ to come to the campus for procedures that could otherwise be completed via the iSLU Student Portal. The SEA population remains the primary school that does not fully utilize the online option. Though Google Forms was implemented fairly recently in the form of a ticketing system, it is a mere band-aid solution in combating the tumult of the early morning marathon to Otto Hahn once the gate opens at six. It does defeat the very purpose of having or conducting enrollment procedures digitally in the first place. Ultimately, it adds another layer to an already strenuous and drawn-out process when that time and energy would have been better spent making the most of the academic break.

But if there is a perpetually suffering demographic during enrollment season, it's the waves of irregular students who follow behind the rest of the student body. Irregular students in the university do not have the choice to enroll online. They are relegated to the more physically demanding alternative of waiting for hours on end just to get their names down for a class slot or two. Even then, haggling over schedules is also far more convoluted, as slot acquisition constrains students into selecting disjointed schedules that possess no complete security in the long-term against setbacks, such as block dissolution. With their sizable population and narrow timeframe reserved consistently at the end of enrollment week, the threat of cutoff is palpable if they cannot make it in time, forcing students to fall in line up until the first weeks of class. 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗽 𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘆: 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺. As far as the university is concerned, irregular students appear little more than second-class members of the student body.

Face-to-face enrollment also surfaces additional costs and burdens to students who are not from the city. Some need to commute from their provinces, and every additional trip to campus to enroll translates into transportation costs and hours that could have been spent resting or enjoying time with their loved ones. This year’s enrollment season just so happened to coincide with storm season; introduce prolonged typhoon-level rains to the situation, and suddenly, students face a very real environmental risk from the road up the mountains to the lines down to the registrar. Accessibility should not be selective when a safer, less taxing medium already exists.

Students are exhausted from abiding by a system of this caliber of inefficiency. What is being asked here is simply the capacity of the student to choose, at their behest, what option they wish to follow. Whether they want to enroll online or in person is a decision that must be theirs to make. And the quality of those options must be equivalent to the fees forked over by the Louisian body to be reasonably effective in their implementation. The infrastructure of the university has to be formulated to support this paradigm, not arbitrarily funnel the population into one slot or the other.

The demographics challenged by this flawed enrollment system—the province kids, the irregular students, even the regulars who had the misfortune of faulty Internet connection, glitching browser access, or just logging in at the most inopportune time—do not shoulder the bulk of the blame. Is there a meaningful difference between a SEA and a STELA student? A regular and an irregular Louisian? In the end, these are all just people who unconditionally wish to pursue education in the most straightforward manner available. The circumstances leading to their present state are irrelevant, and a university that espouses compassion as one of its four core values must, therefore, demonstrate that value practically and in perpetuity, beginning on the very first day it opens its gates.

Illustration by John Llamelo

06/08/2026

Kasuklam-suklam ang patuloy na paglapastangan 50th Infantry Battalion at 98th Infantry Battalion sa labi ng mga nasawi sa engkwentro sa pagitan ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at New People’s Army (NPA) sa Abra.

Sa kabila ng mandato ng International Humanitarian Law na bigyan ng respeto at dignidad sa kamatayan ang mga nasawi sa oras ng digma, nananatili ang pagwalang-hiya ng AFP at PNP sa namatay at kanilang mga kamag-anak.

Dalawang araw matapos ang naitalang pagkamatay ng mga biktima ng engkwentro, hindi pa rin naibabalik sa mga kamag-anak ang labi sa kabila ng patong-patong at paulit-ulit na mga rekisito, paghingi ng iba’t ibang mga dokumento at pagpapapirma sa kanila ng mga papeles. Ayon rin sa ulat ng Cordillera Human Rights Alliances ang pagpapabaya ng AFP-PNP sa mga katawan ay nagresulta ng malalang pagkaagnas ng mga ito.

Masahol na pambabastardo ang mga ito hindi lang ng buhay pero lalo ng mga labi ng namatay. Kinitilan na nga ng buhay, hindi pa binigyan ng katahimikan ang mga namatay. Habang lalong inaantala ang pagbibigay ng mga labi sa pamilya, ninanakawan rin nila ang mga ito ng karapatang magluksa.

Patuloy na nanawagan ang College Editors Guild of the Philippines Cordillera na agarang ibigay ang mga labi kanilang mga pamilya at bigyan ng dignidad ang mga nasawi at kanilang pamilya! Nananawagan kami na irespeto ang karapatang pantao!

05/08/2026

Philippine Army refuses release of slain armed rebels in Abra

Despite the request of the mother of one of the slain armed combatants of the New People's Army (NPA), the 50th and 98th Infantry Battalions of the Philippine Army refused to allow the family to receive their bodies for burial today, Aug. 5.

In a live video, the Ilocos Human Rights Alliance (IHRA) reported that the bodies of the slain NPA rebels are being stored in a funeral home located in Bangued, Abra. According to reports, the bodies were left in a truck for over 24 hours.

This incident follows the armed encounter between 10 alleged members of the Ilocos-Cordillera Regional Committee and the 50th and 98th Infantry Battalions in Barangay Bonglo, Licuan-Baay, Abra on Tuesday, Aug. 4. Three alleged rebels were killed, while three fi****ms were recovered.

The Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA) have since condemned the actions of the military, arguing that they are a violation of International Humanitarian Law, which states that the remains of the dead must be returned to the family and protected from mutilation and despoilment.

"Every hour of delay leaves the bodies exposed to the elements, hastens decomposition, and inflicts further pain on grieving families. Respect for the dignity of the dead and the rights of their families is a clear obligation under International Humanitarian Law," the CHRA said in an online statement.

"While we all aspire for a just and lasting peace, it cannot be achieved through intensified military operations or localized peace initiatives that fail to address the root causes of the armed conflict," they added.

05/08/2026

ITIGIL ANG MILITARISASYON AT AGRESIBONG OPERASYON SA ABRA!

Tinututulan ng College Editors Guild of the Philippines Cordillera ang patuloy na militarisasyon at agresibong mga operasyon ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) sa Abra. Hindi sagot ang patuloy na pandarahas ng mga militar sa sumisidhing krisis panlipunan na dulot na paglagapak ng ekonomiya, patuloy na pagkakamkam ng mga lupang ninuno at pagkasira ng kalikasan, at hindi maayos na pag-ugat ng kahirapan.

Simula Hulyo 19 ngayong taon, apat na armadong operasyon ang sinagawa ng AFP sa Licuan-Baay at Tineg, Abra. Matagal nang ginagamit ng AFP ang “kapayapaan” at “kontra-insurhensya” bilang katwiran sa kanilang pandarahas, bagay na hindi na bago sa lalawigan ng Abra.

Noong Oktubre 2023, walang awang pinaslang ng militar si Antonio Diwayan, isang residente ng Lacub, Abra sa operasyong isiganagwa ng 77th Infantry Battalion. Sa kabila ng pagiit ng pamilya na siya ay sibilyan, pinilit pa rin ng militar na si Diwayan ay kasapi ng New People’s Army. Ganito rin ang paratang ng AFP sa apat na magsasakang pinaslang nila noong 2022 na nagpapahinga lang matapos nilang mangaso.

Ang paglala ng militarisasyon sa lalawiganng Abra ay kabuhol ng panghihimasok rin ng mga proyektong kumakamkam sa mga lupang ninuno at lalong nagpapahirap sa kalagayan sa kanayunan. Ang Yamang Mineral Corp. ay kasalukuyang may 16,187 ektaryang exploration permit na sakop ang Sallapadan, Licuan-Baay at Malibcong. Kasabay nito, tinutulak ang pagpapatayo ng 2,000 ektaryang military complex sa Villaviciosa at Luba na magsisilbing dagdag na base para sa AFP.

Kaya naman, nananawagan ang CEGP Cordillera na itigil ang karahasan sa kanayunan. Hindi kailanman magiging sagot sa kahirapan ang marahas na militarisasyon, patuloy na pagkamkam ng lupang ninuno at supil sa mamamayang lumabalan. Gayundin, naninindigan ang CEGP Cordillera na igalang ang International Humanitarian Law. Ngunit, hanggang hindi tunay na nauugat ang mga problema ng lipunan, hindi titigil ang mamamayang lumalaban.

29/07/2026

𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞’𝐬 𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐀 ’𝟐𝟔 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐬𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐭𝐲, 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐬

Coinciding with Pres. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27, multi-sectoral groups, educators, student leaders, and senior citizens gathered at Malcolm Square for .

Dressed in white and carrying placards bearing calls for accountability and reform, protesters challenged the administration's claims of economic progress, pointing instead to what they described as worsening poverty, corruption, and threats to national sovereignty.

𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐇 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

One of the rally's key themes focused on the effects of foreign influence on public education. Joel Capulong, president of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers–Cordillera Administrative Region (ACT-CAR) Union, rejected claims that United States (US) imperialism no longer affects the country.

"Kasi lingid sa kaalaman ng lahat na wala na daw ang imperyalistang Estados Unidos dito sa Pilipinas, pero isa itong malaking kasinungalingan," Capulong said. "Nandiyan ‘yong mababang sahod na dinidikta ng International Monetary Fund at World Bank doon sa tinatawag nilang pagtitipid."

Capulong also cited shortages of 165,000 classrooms and 150,000 teachers nationwide. He further criticized the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), saying they have placed greater focus on technical-vocational education while giving less attention to subjects that develop students' critical thinking skills.

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐬 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐄𝐃𝐂𝐀 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

Demonstrators also opposed the expansion of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) in Northern Luzon and the proposed Pax Silica project in Capas, Tarlac, arguing that these threaten agricultural land, indigenous Aeta communities, and local natural resources.

National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) Cordillera Regional Coordinator and spokesperson Eugene Andrei Enciso urged the government to reject unequal foreign agreements while responding to the public's calls for higher wages, lower prices of basic goods, and accessible, quality education.

"I-reject ang Pax Silica at lahat ng mga hindi pantay na tratado... Dinggin ang demokratikong panawagan ng mamamayan, mula sa pagtataas ng sahod, pagpapababa ng presyo ng mga batayang pangangailangan... at sa ating mga kabataan ay ang tunay, libre, at dekalidad na edukasyon," he said.

𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬, 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬' 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐞

Several local organizations also highlighted long-standing concerns affecting communities in Benguet.

Geraldine Cacho of Tongtongan ti Umili criticized the environmental impact of mining operations in Benguet and questioned why residents continue to shoulder high electricity costs despite the province hosting major hydropower facilities.

Meanwhile, Raven Mensenas of Innabuyog Metro Baguio criticized deregulation and privatization policies, describing the recent ₱5 minimum wage increase in the Cordillera as insufficient amid rising prices of goods and services.

𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞

The demonstration also drew support from senior citizens, who said the responsibility of seeking reforms should not rest solely on younger generations.

Jeannette Cawiding, a member of Convener Metro-Baguio Seniors Kontra Kurakot, cited long-standing corruption and the lack of quality public services as reasons for participating in the demonstration. She also stressed that sustained collective action remains essential.

"Hindi ka naman pwedeng makapagpahinga at sabihing ipaubaya mo na lang sa mga bata ‘yong pakikibaka. Kaya kailangan paramihin pa natin, kasi sa pagpapakita natin ng bilang, doon sila natatakot... Nakukuha talaga ito sa paglaban," Cawiding said.

𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐬 𝐩𝐮𝐬𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐬

Protesters also called for political accountability, including the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte over the alleged misuse of confidential funds.

The Baguio Youth for Good Governance presented a petition with over 4,000 signatures, urging the passage of a stronger anti-political dynasty law and rejecting House Bill No. 8389, which they argued contains loopholes.

The program concluded with the tearing of an Uncle Sam effigy, a symbol of the United States, as organizers renewed calls against foreign intervention, corruption, and neglect while urging collective action for accountability and reforms.

by Jeffrey Kyle Paje
Photos by Zoie Austria

29/07/2026

𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊: Driven by calls for government accountability and sweeping policy reforms, hundreds of protesters marched from Commonwealth Avenue to the Batasang Pambansa as Pres. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. prepared to deliver his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), pressing the government to confront issues they said continue to weigh heavily on the lives of ordinary Filipinos.

Opening the four-part program, speakers criticized what they described as the Marcos administration's growing alignment with United States (US) imperialism through the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), and other agreements they argued compromise the country's sovereignty. Framing these policies as threats extending beyond foreign affairs, they warned that decisions made at the national level ultimately leave Filipinos to bear the consequences.

The discussion then turned to neoliberal policies—including privatization, liberalization, deregulation, labor flexibilization, low-wage employment, trade union repression, restrictions on education, attacks on culture, and the proposed Pax Silica framework—which protesters said deepen economic hardship by placing foreign and corporate interests ahead of workers, students, and other marginalized sectors.

Attention later shifted to what organizers identified as bureaucratic capitalism, which they claimed perpetuates systemic corruption by protecting the interests of the ruling class, sustaining ineffective land reform, an export-oriented and import-dependent economy, and the absence of national industrialization, while renewing calls for stronger labor protections, an end to contractualization, and greater protection of workers' rights to organize.

Closing the program, demonstrators appealed to government leaders to end fascist attacks, state terrorism, militarization, red-tagging, and the suppression of democratic mass movements, arguing that these practices continue to foster fear and discourage civic participation.

Representatives from various progressive organizations addressed the gathering, including Alliance of Concerned Teachers Party-list Representative Antonio Tinio, Gabriela Women's Party Representative Sarah Elago, Kabataan Party-list Representative Renee Co, and League of Filipino Students Chairperson Gabriel Magtibay, among others.

Meanwhile, Marcos delivered his SONA at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City, outlining his Eight-Point Socioeconomic Agenda, which presented both near-term and medium-term priorities aimed at addressing challenges such as corruption, the economic crisis, and other pressing national concerns.

Photos by Rouize Pancho

29/07/2026

𝐁𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐨-𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐭 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞'𝐬 𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐀, 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥, 𝐧𝐚𝐭’𝐥 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐬

Hours before the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., Baguio-Benguet civil organizations and stakeholders conducted a People's SONA at Malcolm Square, Baguio City, this Monday, July 27.

Participants highlighted their frustrations with several issues surrounding the country, from government corruption to socioeconomic and environmental issues, and demanded accountability.

Speakers highlighted the states of the municipalities in Benguet that have been mined, its indigenous peoples (IPs), and the education sector. They likewise questioned the Philippines’ status as an upper-middle-income country and the government's proposed Pax Silica project.

In her speech, Tongtongan ti Umili representative Geraldine Cacho stated, “Kalpasan ti maysa nga century nga panagminas ti Benguet Corporation iti Itogon, nabati ti Itogon nga kasla disyerto. Awan ti danum, haan dan a makatalon. Awanen ti minerales.”

(After a century of mining by the Benguet Corporation in Itogon, Itogon was left like a desert. No water, they cannot farm. Minerals are gone.)

She was talking about the century-long dispute between the 123-year-old mining giant Benguet Corporation and the local IPs in Itogon on their ancestral domain rights.

According to the International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL), these mining operations led to landslides, deforestation, and destruction of the water resources.

To conclude her speech, she urged the participants to reclaim and protect what they have.

“Dapat isubli ti Benguet Mining Corporations dagiti dagdaga kadagiti ancestral claimants nga Ibaloi dita Itogon… Kakailyan, pangaasi tayo, daytoy nga kasasaad, kasapulan nga i-reclaim iti kontrol iti natural resources,” Cacho appealed.

(Benguet Mining Corporation must return all the lands to the Ibaloi ancestral claimants in Itogon… Kakailyan, I’m begging you, in this situation, we have to reclaim our control over our natural resources.)

From the education sector, Association of Concerned Teachers-Cordillera Administrative Region (ACT-CAR) Union President Joel Capulong expressed his concern on the overlapping issues of the country’s education and natural resources.

“Tinatanggal ng DepEd at CHEd ang subjects na nagtuturo ng critical thinking gaya ng humanities at social sciences, samantalang pinapaboran ang technical courses at nagbibigay ng dahilan sa pagpasok at pagpapatuloy ng mga export processing zones at ng mga data centers kagaya ng Pax Silica,” he said.

The Pax Silica project is a United States-led international venture that aimed to build a 1620-hectare tech and industrial hub in New Clark City, Tarlac, and secure the artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor supply chain globally.

However, the project received backlash, especially on social media, over concerns on the depletion of electricity, minerals, and water resources, the bypassing of land rights of IPs and locals, and the geopolitical implications of the project to the Philippines.

Despite the criticisms, the Malacañáng Palace remained committed to the project, and even the president plugged it in his own SONA.

In order to counteract the SONA, Gabriel Siscar from Baguio-Benguet Laban sa Korapsyon lambasted the president, vice president, and other government officials.

“Kayo ang mahiya sa sambayanang Pilipino. Kayo ang mahiya sa mga kabataang ninanakawan ninyo ng kinabukasan,” he said.

He also expressed his dismay and distrust of the current administration’s response to the crises the country is facing.

“Sinabi pa nila nang nakaraang linggo na upper-middle-income country na raw ang Pilipinas. Naniniwala ba tayo riyan? Nararanasan naman natin sa pang-araw-araw na malayong-malayo pa ang kabuhayang kanilang sinasabi,” Siscar stated.

This July, the World Bank reclassified the Philippines as an upper-middle-income country; however, data from the IBON Foundation estimates that only 4% or 4.8 million are upper-middle class and above, while the top 0.1% earns more than Php 17 million per month.

Meanwhile, in an interview, member of Metro Baguio’s Senior Laban sa Korap Jeanette Cawiding remained doubtful of the president’s SONA.

“Mahirap paniwalaan, ‘no? Kung meron man ngang galansiya, utang nila yan sa atin. At kung meron man silang gagawin, kailangan nating bantayan para maipatupad,” she responded when asked about the SONA.

Cawiding also rated the president’s performance as a failure, “Bagsak na bagsak. Sasabihin natin sa kaniya, mahiya ka.”

The said action protest was also joined by church leaders, youth groups, and local artists, who also had to express their dissent to the government leaders.

𝘣𝘺 𝘏𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘚𝘢𝘮 𝘞. 𝘛𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘣𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘈𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘢 𝘋. 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘨
𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴 𝘣𝘺 𝘗𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘑𝘰𝘴𝘩 𝘎𝘢𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘭 𝘗. 𝘙𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘪𝘵𝘰 𝘝. 𝘚𝘢𝘯𝘲𝘶𝘪, 𝘑𝘳.

27/07/2026

𝗜𝗖𝗬𝗠𝗜 | 𝗩𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗕𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗼 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲’𝘀 𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗔 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗮𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗺 𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗲

BAGUIO CITY — A coalition of local organizations, cultural groups, and youth alliances held the Baguio People’s SONA 2026 at Malcolm Square on July 27, 2026.

Before the President’s State of the Nation Address, the people of Baguio already gathered to air their grievances on corruption, the economic crisis, and political dynasties. The program opened with a call to unity from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Baguio, setting the tone for a morning mixed with protest speeches and cultural performances from groups such as Sulong Likha, Dap-ayan ti Kultura iti Kordilyera, and Ebkas Waya.

Speakers took turns tackling both the national and local situations. Gabriel Siscar of BBLK addressed the country’s current state, while Joel Capulong, president of ACT-CAR, spoke on national sovereignty. Geraldo Cacho, chair of Tongtongan ti Umili, brought the discussion closer to home, raising local issues affecting the Baguio-Benguet residents.

The tone of the morning protest intensified as attention turned to economic concerns, with the crowd rallying behind the call “Ibalik and lahat ng ninakaw! Lutasin ang krisis sa ekonomya!” Raven Mesena of Innabuyog Metro Baguio linked the deepening economic crisis to the experiences of ordinary families in the country, while Beng Garcia of BBLK ties the crisis to what she described as rampant, continuing corruption in the current administration.

The program’s final push turned to political reform, with Mark Montes of Baguio Youth for Good Governance calling out political dynasties, urging the audience to challenge entrenched political families and push for more accountable local leadership. His message tapped into a broader sentiment shared throughout the gathering — that meaningful change would require citizens to speak up and organize, rather than wait for reforms to come from those already in power. Jeof Larua, secretary general of Tongtongan ti Umili, ended the speeches by weaving the day’s various issues into a unified message, calling on the crowd to translate their grievances into sustained collective action.

Representatives from various local groups held their spears, stabbing and destroying an effigy of "Uncle Sam" — a symbol for the US government. The act was accompanied by the singing of "Tumured," as organizers positioned the gathering as a space for citizens of Baguio-Benguet to voice their concerns ahead of the President's fifth SONA.

College Editors Guild of the Philippines - Cordillera

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