UPTC Batch Bahandi

𝙆𝘼𝘽𝘼𝙏𝘼𝘼𝙉, 𝘿𝙐𝙈𝘼𝙇𝙐𝙔𝙊𝙉𝙂! 𝙇𝘼𝙃𝘼𝙏 𝙉𝙂 𝙎𝘼𝙉𝙂𝙆𝙊𝙏 𝘿𝘼𝙋𝘼𝙏 𝙈𝘼𝙉𝘼𝙂𝙊𝙏!

Sa panahong sinusubok ang ating paninindigan sa lumalalang krisis panlipunan, muli nating pag-alabin ang diwa ng EDSA o ang People Power Uprising.

Ang EDSA ay hindi lamang alaala ng nakaraan kundi paalala ng kapangyarihan ng nagkakaisang mamamayan laban sa diktadurya at korapsiyon. Ang kalayaan, karapatan, at demokrasiya na tinatamasa natin ngayon ay bunga ng tapang at militanteng pakikibaka ng mga Pilipino noon na ipinaglaban ang ating bansa. Ngunit, unti-unting umuulit ang nakaraan, at may mga pagtatangkang burahin ang kasaysayan at supilin ang tinig ng nagkakaisang mamamayan. Sa harap ng mga hamon at isyung panlipunan, mahalagang ipakita natin na tayo ay mulat, may pakialam, at handang manindigan para sa katotohanan at pananagutan.

Kaya mamayang 𝟭:𝟬𝟬 𝗣𝗠, sama-sama tayong tumindig at lumaban ulit sa kalsada! Ipakita ang militanteng diwa ng kabataan para sa pagbabagong panlipunan!

𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐅𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐒.
𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐄 𝐅𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒.

Local farmers in Macarthur, Leyte are again facing struggles on land rights and livelihood due to black sand mining under the operations of Macarthur Ironsand Project Corp. (MIPC). The residents openly situated their positions that this operation threatens rice fields and irrigation systems.

The mining company’s alleged failure to rehabilitate mined areas since 2012 reveals the deep structural inequality farmers endure, despite documented formal agreements. The harassment experienced by some residents add layer to the severity of this situation. Compromise is deliberately forced in this built-in coercive environment that government allows to operate.

Hence, UPTC Batch Bahandi stands by the residents of Macarthur, Leyte in their call to stop black sand mining in the area. We urge the local government to recognize the grievances of its people and to back up their voices in this challenging matter, as is required of them.

Mining is never justified when grassroot workers are forced to compromise for barren farmlands and stripped of their livelihood. This local mining is not merely mineral extraction—it is explicit exploitation of the very people who feeds the people, whose survival is anchored to the land. Beyond livelihood, this issue extends to the irreversible ecological damage in the local community which might lead to biodiversity loss and water pollution.

𝙏𝙧𝙪𝙚 𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙘 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙩𝙝 𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙫𝙪𝙡𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙤𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙮, 𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙙𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙚 𝙚𝙭𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙙𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙙𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙥𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙧𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙚𝙨.

𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗔 𝗣𝗢! 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗔 𝗦𝗔 𝗕𝗔𝗬𝗔𝗡! ✊

𝗕𝗔𝗥𝗬𝗔 𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗚 𝗔𝗡𝗚 𝗡𝗔𝗦𝗔 𝗕𝗨𝗟𝗦𝗔, 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗢 𝗠𝗔𝗬 𝗧𝗔𝗣𝗔𝗧 𝗡𝗔 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗕𝗜𝗦𝗬𝗢 𝗦𝗔 𝗕𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗧 𝗣𝗔𝗦𝗔𝗗𝗔! ✨

In the bustling streets of the city, you will find 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗕𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶. Kami ay nasa kalsada, taas-kamaong nakikibaka, lumalaban at tumitindig kasama ang masa.

Handa nang pumarada at haharurot na, we are proud to introduce this year's Batch Executives and Program Representatives. Like a familiar face at the corner of the street, we are ready to serve and offer a helping hand—because for us, true wealth is not measured in the physical, but in the collective progress of our batch because we believe that every student we represent is simply a diamond in the rough. 💎

We aren't just your batch officers, we are your co-passengers in this long ride. Isang "para!" mo lang at handa kaming makinig, rumesponde, at kumilos. 𝙎𝙖 𝙧𝙪𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙤 𝙨𝙖 𝙥𝙖𝙜𝙗𝙖𝙗𝙖𝙜𝙤, 𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙖𝙞𝙞𝙬𝙖𝙣 𝙨𝙖 𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙗𝙞𝙨𝙮𝙤. ✊🏽✨

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗕𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶. 💛




Photos by Ella Adorra, Marianne Catuday
Editing by Riri, Marianne, Airon, MJ, Khayenne
Caption by Kyril Moslares

𝟭 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗕𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶! 💛🚦

In just one short day, we will step into the spotlight! However, while we count down, the cost of living continues to rise and we continue to be blinded…

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the country’s year-on-year inflation increased to 2% in January 2026, from 1.8% in December 2025. This means that basic goods like food, transportation, and daily needs are becoming more and more expensive for ordinary Filipinos. For many families, this adds to an already heavy load. Wages stay the same, jobs remain uncertain, and unpaid bills continue to pile up everyday. And as the value of the peso lessens, Filipinos must find a way to stretch it further just to get through the day.

This is where we, as Iskolars ng Bayan, must step forward. Our education is funded by the very people who bear these rising costs, and with this privilege comes great responsibility. We must use the voices and platforms we have to push for a more transparent government, one that focuses on solving these issues instead of feeding into corruption. For the real question behind this inflation rate is not whether Filipinos can endure, but how long should they have to? And who will stand with them until real change is actualized?

𝟮 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗕𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶! 💛🚦

As excitement grows to see our “Reyna ng Quezon City” inspired outfits, we ask again— who is the King of the Road? For which king serves the streets of Tacloban, a memory seems to linger…

After the implementation of the Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP) under Ordinance No. 2024-15-19, routes like Tacloban–Campetic & V.V. were rerouted, switching the routes of these multicabs straight to the Abucay New Bus Terminal. This has resulted not only in commuters needing more rides, but also more exhaustion for commuters who are already tired from surviving long hours every day.

The government promised efficiency with this ordinance, but the everyday commute tells a different story. When policies continue to burden the very citizens they are meant to serve, it becomes clear that these measures must be revisited and reshaped to truly make commuting more efficient and convenient for the people.

ANIM NA TAON NG PATULOY NA PAKIKIBAKA!

Sa ika-anim na anibersaryo ng pagkakakulong ng Tacloban 5, sama-sama tayo para paigtingin pa lalo ang panawagang palayain na ang mga bilanggong politikal sa gitna ng mas lumalalang pasismo. Sa isang bansang may demokrasya, dapat walang lugar ang panunupil sa ating mga aktibista at mamahayag at sa pamamagitan ng musika, ipakita natin ang nagkakaisang lakas ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan na tutol sa sistemang pinapanatili ang kawalan ng hustisya para sa malawak na masang api.

Magkita-kita tayo ngayong ika-6 ng Pebrero, 4 PM, sa Centennial Garden, AS Grounds para sa isang gabing puno ng kanta, pakikiisa, at militanteng pakikibaka dahil ang laban ng Tacloban 5 ay laban nating lahat.

Palayain ang Tacloban 5! Palayain ang lahat ng Bilanggong Politikal!

ANIM NA TAON NG PATULOY NA PAKIKIBAKA!

Sa ika-anim na anibersaryo ng pagkakakulong ng Tacloban 5, sama-sama tayo para paigtingin pa lalo ang panawagang palayain na ang mga bilanggong politikal sa gitna ng mas lumalalang pasismo. Sa isang bansang may demokrasya, dapat walang lugar ang panunupil sa ating mga aktibista at mamahayag at sa pamamagitan ng musika, ipakita natin ang nagkakaisang lakas ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan na tutol sa sistemang pinapanatili ang kawalan ng hustisya para sa malawak na masang api.

Magkita-kita tayo ngayong ika-6 ng Pebrero, 4 PM, sa Centennial Garden, AS Grounds para sa isang gabing puno ng kanta, pakikiisa, at militanteng pakikibaka dahil ang laban ng Tacloban 5 ay laban nating lahat.

Palayain ang Tacloban 5! Palayain ang lahat ng Bilanggong Politikal!

Kasama ang mga organisasyon:
UP Tacloban Student Council
Bahaghari - UP Tacloban Chapter
UPTC Batch Bahandii

Isang mahalagang kaganapan ang magmamarka bukas, Enero 22, 2026, para sa promulgation hearing ng dalawang miyembro ng Tacloban 5 na sina Frenchie Mae Cumpio at Marielle Domequil. Para sa kasong gawa-gawa at sadya, nararapat na manaig ang katotohanan, pananagutan, at hustisya.

Hustisya. Ang nararanasan ng Tacloban 5 ay isa lamang sa napakaraming kaso ng hindi makatarungang paggamit ng mga opisyal sa kapangyarihan at batas. Kung mananaig man ang hustisya bukas, hindi ibig sabihin nito na progresibo ang sistema; subalit ipinapakita nito ang mismong kahinaan ng sistema na maging makatarungan sa mamamayang Pilipino.

Hindi mga mamamahayag at mga tanggol karapatan ang kalaban, kundi ang mga tao na nasa likod ng paglabag sa karapatang pantao sa ating lipunan. Ikinokondena ng UPTC Batch Bahandi ang hindi makatarungang pagpataw ng kaso sa mga mamamahayag, human rights worker at ang patuloy na atake sa mga aktibista at mag-aaral.

Mahabang taon ng dagok man ang nagdaan ngunit hindi tayo makalilimot. Kahit kailan ay kapuri-puri ang mga taong nilalabanan ang kakulangan, korapsyon, at ‘di makatarungang pagpapalakad sa sariling bayan.

Kung kaya’t naninindigan ang UPTC Batch Bahandi na mapalaya ang mga mamamahayag na nanindigan din sa mga pinaglalaban at pangangatwiran natin bilang ordinaryong mamamayan.

Para sa pagkamit ng hustisya sa malayang pagpapahayag—acquit Frenchie Mae Cumpio and Marielle Domequil!

𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁, 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁... 🌟

𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗺, 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁... 𝙠𝙖𝙨𝙞 𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙖 𝙣𝙖 𝙖𝙠𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨!😝

Finally, our LMS has gone silent and our weeks ahead will be filled with (hopefully) rest. As Bahandi finishes its first semester, we can finally loosen up a bit and enjoy a well-deserved break. Whether you will spend the upcoming nights attending Simbang Gabi with perfect attendance, going out to enjoy street food, or still continuing to work for your future— we would like to commend you for a job well done in surviving the past five months!

In spite of it all, you still survived.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗕𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶! ✨