UP Center for Women's and Gender Studies

Content warning: violence, drug war, and police brutality.

What does survival look like when the system itself is violent?

In Julie E. Prescott’s reading of BuyBust, Nina Manigan is not treated as a simple “strong female character.” She becomes a figure moving through worlds built around masculine power: the Philippine drug war, action cinema, and Filipino Martial Arts.

What makes Nina compelling is not that she becomes like the men around her, but that she survives differently. Her femininity, instinct, vulnerability, and refusal to simply obey become part of how she navigates violence.

Through Nina, BuyBust asks us to think about women’s agency in systems that do not leave them with clean choices. Sometimes survival is not pure, heroic, or easy. Sometimes, it is strategic, complicated, and morally messy.

Based on the journal article entitled The Cosmopolitical Consciousness of the Female Action Heroine in Buybust and Her Disruption of Drug War Masculine Narratives, the Action Film Genre, and Filipino Martial Arts by Julie E. Prescott

Read more in the Review of Women’s Studies Journal Volume 34, Number 2
The Review of Women’s Studies can be read or purchased at the UPCWGS Library. The library is at the UP Center for Women’s and Gender Studies, Magsaysay Avenue corner Ylanan Street, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines.

For inquiries, email [email protected] or call +63.2.89818500 local 4229.

The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the official policies or positions of the UP Center for Women’s and Gender Studies

All photos and characters belong to Reality Entertainment and Viva Films.

Photos were obtained from the following sources:
Google Play – https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/Buybust?id=qwUTH8QXc68&hl=en_ZA
The New York Times – https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/09/movies/buybust-review.html
IMDb – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5938084/mediaviewer/rm2833093633/
IMDb – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5938084/mediaviewer/rm2967311361/
Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/BuyBust-Brandon-Vera/dp/B07FDVGWG9
Far East Films – https://fareastfilms.com/review/buybust/
Pilipinas Popcorn – https://pilipinaspopcorn.com/buybust-movie-review-drugs-political-cover-ups-strong-social-statement/

Pubmat and caption by Jeremae Estella, UPCWGS Intern

Deputy Director for Research, Publication, and Resource Collection of UPCWGS Dr. Frances Antoinette C. Cruz is one of the speakers of the UPLB Gender Center's Gender-Responsive Teaching in Higher Education: Integrating Gender Equality, Disability, Equity, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) in Teaching, Learning, and Academic Practice. This was a training done for the UPLB General Education (GE) faculty members and coordinators on 3–4 August 2026 at the Development Academy of the Philippines, Tagaytay City.

According to UPLB Gender Center, this two-day training aimed to strengthen participants' understanding and application of GEDSI principles in teaching, learning, and academic practice. Through interactive discussions and activities, participants explored strategies for fostering more inclusive classrooms

This is the poster entitled Visibiliq***r! Application of q***r space theory in designing a q***r socio-cultural hub in Luneta Park using the phenomenological study of SOGIESC narratives by Calvin Jigs O. Centeno and Holly Marie Cyril C. Garcia. It was presented at the 2026 Philippine Q***r Studies Conference. The description reads: "The research explores how gender, identity, and s*xuality influence perceptions of space in terms of both functionality and aesthetics. It aims to distinguish the architectural elements, both tangible and intangible, that shape q***r spatial experiences, compared to those of cis-hetero individuals. Using a qualitative phenomenological design, the study utilizes semi-structured interviews, literature review, and spatial mapping."

2026 PQSC Poster 35 - UP Rainbow Research Hub This work has not been peer reviewed by the University of the Philippines Rainbow Research Hub or its project members. The views expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the Hub or its project members. 2026 Philippine Q***r Studies ConferencePOSTER PRESENTA...

This is the poster entitled Wish i could be part of your world: The q***r coding in independent film by Ann Louise C. De Leon. It was presented at the 2026 Philippine Q***r Studies Conference. The description reads: "This study analyzes two independent films that tackle relevant issues like coming out. First is the film Baka Bukas a Cinema One film by Samantha Lee (2016) starring Jasmine Curtis Smith and Louise De Los Reyes about a closeted gay girl who struggles to come out in her closeted creative world of social media and production design world. Second is the indie film called Hello Dracula a (2020) a Korean film by Kim Da-Ye starring Seohyun of Girls Generation who plays the role Anna a grade schoolteacher who tries to live her life according to her mother’s wishes."

2026 PQSC Poster 36 - UP Rainbow Research Hub This work has not been peer reviewed by the University of the Philippines Rainbow Research Hub or its project members. The views expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the Hub or its project members. 2026 Philippine Q***r Studies ConferencePOSTER PRESENTA...

This is the poster entitled Early Philippine cinema flyers as q***r archives by Melanio L. Martinez Jr.. It was presented at the 2026 Philippine Q***r Studies Conference. The description reads: "This rare and underpublicized collection of 195 printed cinema flyers from Malolos, Bulacan, published between 1911 and 1913, documents the early circulation of international films in the Philippines during the American colonial period. Featuring multilingual translations in Tagalog, Spanish, and English, the flyers advertised productions from France, Italy, Germany, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The collection shows how colonial Philippine cinemas became vital nodes in the global circulation of film while also nurturing the foundations of a national cinematic identity."

2026 PQSC Poster 37 - UP Rainbow Research Hub This work has not been peer reviewed by the University of the Philippines Rainbow Research Hub or its project members. The views expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the Hub or its project members. 2026 Philippine Q***r Studies ConferencePOSTER PRESENTA...

UPDATE: As per FriendlyCare Clinic, this event has been postponed due to extreme weather conditions.

Kindly standby for further updates.

[UPDATE: POSTPONED] **Due to inclement weather, this event has been postponed. We will announce the new date and time soon. Thank you for your understanding.**

From 4th-year BS Psychology students from the University of Caloocan City:

We are currently conducting our thesis on how young Filipinas navigate cultural expectations to take charge of their s*xual health, negotiate safe s*x, and set boundaries.

Your experience can help shape the future of women's health research and destigmatize s*xual healthcare in the Philippines!

You are eligible to participate if you are:
- Assigned Female at Birth
- 18 to 30 years old
- Currently residing in Metro Manila
- Sexually active
- Diagnosed with an STI within the past 2 years

How it works:
Click the link below to start a quick pre-screening questionnaire to determine your eligibility. Note: Based on screening results, some participants may be asked to securely submit a completely redacted/censored clinical document purely to verify eligibility. All data is strictly confidential under the Data Privacy Act of 2012.

Time Commitment: Roughly 15–20 minutes.

Tokens of Appreciation:
To honor the time and effort required to complete this:
- Early Bird Guarantee: The first three (3) respondents with verified, valid submissions will automatically receive ₱200 GCash.
- Raffle Draw: All succeeding verified respondents will be entered into a draw where nine (9) winners will receive ₱100 GCash.

Ready to begin?
Click here to access the screening form: https://form.jotform.com/262100788896468?utm_id=97757_v0_s00_e0_tv0

Thank you so much for supporting student research! Help us redefine what it means to be an empowered Filipina. If you have any questions, feel free to comment below or email us at: [email protected]

Call for Abstracts!

🌐 International Sociological Association’s XXI World Congress of Sociology
🗓️ July 4-10, 2027
📍Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
🔎 Reimagining Transgender Health, Medicine, and Care: Centering Global South Perspectives, Approaches, and Implications

UPCWGS Fellow Luis Abesamis is organizing a panel on transgender health, medicine, and care in the Global South at the upcoming International Sociological Association’s XXI World Congress of Sociology, which will be held at Chonnam National University in Gwangju, South Korea from July 4-10, 2027.

Interested researchers, community members, and practitioners are invited to submit their abstracts until October 14, 2026. The complete call for abstracts and the submission site can be accessed via this link: https://isaconf.confex.com/isaconf/wc2027/webprogrampreliminary/Session24737.html

For further information about the conference, please head to the https://www.isa-sociology.org/isa-events/xxi-world-congress-of-sociology. Inquiries and clarifications about this panel may be sent directly to Luis Abesamis via email at [email protected].