pov: pilipinas

21/03/2026

Hi! Due to a few personal reasons, we will be taking a very short break.

24/02/2026

IN OBSERVANCE OF THE ANIVERSARY OF THE EDSA PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTION!

🇵🇭 EDSA PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTION: WHEN THE PEOPLE STOOD UP

In February 1986, the Philippines witnessed something extraordinary: millions of ordinary Filipinos—students, workers, religious leaders, and families—came together at EDSA (Epifanio de los Santos Avenue) to demand change. They did not carry guns; they carried prayers, flowers, and courage.

WHY IT HAPPENED

By the 1980s, the country had endured two decades of Ferdinand Marcos’ rule, including Martial Law (1972–1981). During that time, civil liberties were suppressed, dissent punished, and corruption became entrenched. The assassination of Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. in 1983 shook the nation. People realized that fear alone could not stop their desire for justice.

In 1986, Marcos called a snap presidential election to try to legitimize his rule. Corazon “Cory” Aquino, Ninoy’s widow, became the symbol of hope for Filipinos who longed for freedom. The election was rife with fraud, and tensions erupted nationwide.

THE REVOLUTION

The spark came when key military leaders Juan Ponce Enrile and Fidel Ramos withdrew support from Marcos and called on civilians to protect them. Over four days, from February 22 to 25, EDSA became a sea of people. Soldiers stood side by side with civilians. Families prayed together. Ordinary Filipinos blocked tanks and armed troops with nothing but their presence, showing that courage can be stronger than weapons.

VICTORY FOR DEMOCRACY

On February 25, 1986, Marcos fled the country and went into exile in Hawaii. Cory Aquino was sworn in as president, marking the return of democracy to the Philippines. The revolution was peaceful, powerful, and people-led, proving that ordinary citizens could change the course of history.

WHY IT MATTERS TODAY

EDSA is more than a street in Metro Manila—it’s a reminder that unity, courage, and conviction can overcome fear and oppression. It inspires Filipinos to value democracy, speak out against injustice, and remember that every voice matters.

📌 Fun Facts:

-Millions joined the protest, from all walks of life.

-Yellow ribbons became the symbol of hope.

-The revolution remains one of the largest peaceful uprisings in history.

23/02/2026

This is one of the sad realities in the Philippines. Shout out to Drew Binsky for sharing this!

23/02/2026

I hope this becomes awareness to tell my story. That we are not thieves, nor are we less of a human being. We are children. We deserve better.

I was 11 years old when it happened, about seven years ago. I spent most of my days and nights on the streets. Tarps above me, concrete below me. My backpack had only a notebook, a pencil, and a photo of my brother—my small pieces of home.

I saw children who didn’t have anyone to care for them. Some slept alone, some begged for scraps, some ran from people who could hurt them. Adults hurried past, eyes down, trying not to notice us. Neighbors disappeared quietly. Families whispered. Even the air felt heavy with fear.

Sometimes I would sit in a corner and watch. I wished I could do something for them, even as a child. I wished there had been a place where we could all feel safe—a place where no child would have to sleep on wet concrete, go hungry, or hide in fear. A place where we could learn, play, and just be children again.

I wish now, for all the children who live on the streets, that someone could build small, safe hubs in the neighborhoods we already live in—places with food, books, play areas, and people who care. Not just shelters far away, but spaces where kids could actually feel seen, safe, and part of a community.

Even now, I hope someone listens—not just for me, but for every child who still walks the streets alone, wishing for safety and hope.

— Submitted anonymously

(photos not ours. -povpilipinas)

23/02/2026

BABALA: Ang akdang ito ay naglalaman ng matinding komentaryong politikal, imaheng may kaugnayan sa karahasan, pananamantala, at katiwalian sa lipunan. Hindi ito angkop para sa mga mambabasang sensitibo sa temang pulitikal o sa wika ng galit at paniningil.

Ang Laro ng mga Manika
-Inilikha ni Wynys Sawyer Madrid.

Ilang sinulid ang nakatali sa karayom. Mahigpit na nakabuhol, tila ba itoʼy mapuputol.

Kamay nitong walang kontrol na nanduduro na lamang ng kung sino ang walang laban. Umiling kaʼt isiwalat ang katotohanan, bubunot siya ng isang bagay na wala kang laban at iaanunsiyong ikaw ay nanlaban. Ikaw ang madudungisan habang silaʼy magtatago sa likod ng mga pader ng kasinungalingan. Sa hukay ay dala mo ang kanilang kasinungalingan ngunit walang magagawa dahil hamak na sila rin ay manika ng kataas-taasan.

Lumuhod ka at kumapit sa tuhod nitong matibay. Tulad na lamang kung gaano kalakas ang kanilang pagkakaibigan para sa posisyong hindi idinaan sa tamang prosesyon. Lumuhod ka at pagpapalain ka ng halakhak nilang walang bangis ng pagkamaawa at puro kabusuran. Sapagkat ang batas nila: “Ikaw ang tinuhod, ikaw ang lumuhod.”

Waring ikaw rin ay isang isdang naghahanap lamang ng pagkain sa ilalim ng malamlam na tubig na nahulog sa kanilang pangako na pantay-pantay ngunit nang mabingwit, ang kinabukasan moʼy inihain na lamang sa hapag ng kanilang kadiliman.

“Wala ng katanungan, ibibigay ko ang posisyong nais mo basta dilaan mo ang dinaanan ko.”

Hindi matatalo ang kanilang pagkakaibigan dahil pareho silang nakikinabang. Sila na rin ngayon ang may hawak ng mga puwersa ng batas at ikaw ay walang magawa kung ʼdi tutang sumunod.

Ano nga ba ang laban ng mumo mong tinapay sa pista ng kanilang kasinungalingan? Kahit ilang pawis, ilang kilong dugo, ilang beses mong niluhuran ʼyan, hindi iyon matatalo ng sako-sako nilang ari-arian na kayang bilihin ang hustisya. Kayang bilihin ang buhay ng mga inosente. Kayang bilihin ang buhay ng mga nagsusulong ng katarungan o mga hahadlang sa kanilang kapangyarihan.

Matatahi mo ang kumot ngunit hindi mo mabubunot ang karayom nito— masyadong malalim at ilang sinulid ang nakapalibot dito.

Kahit pa tayo ang ina at sila ang p**a. Sila pa rin ang p**ang ina— walang hiya, walang takot, walang kahihiyan na patuloy na umiinom mula sa sagradong gripo ng kapangyarihan. At ang kanilang walang kabusugan sa kasakiman ay sakit na walang katapusan.

23/02/2026

23/02/2026

🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭‼️

22/02/2026

Devotion to Anthony of Padua is not only expressed through personal prayer or religious practice, but is also reflected in the physical and cultural landscape of Manila.

Anthony of Padua (1195–1231) was a Portuguese Franciscan friar known historically for his preaching and theological scholarship. Over time, traditions associated with him—particularly the story of a recovered psalter that led to his rep**ation as a patron of lost items—spread widely through Catholic communities, including those in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial period.

In Manila, his influence can be observed in the names of several churches and parishes. For example, there is the St. Anthony of Padua Shrine in Manila, as well as parishes such as San Antonio de Padua Parish Church. Beyond the city proper but still within Metro Manila, his name is also carried by the Santuario de San Antonio Parish.

The repetition of his name in different districts shows how religious figures can shape local identity and geography. Churches often become reference points for neighborhoods, influencing place names, annual celebrations, and community activities. In this way, “San Antonio” is not just a religious figure but also part of Manila’s historical and cultural vocabulary.

His representation can also be seen in heritage institutions such as Museo de Intramuros, where sculptures and ecclesiastical art from the Spanish colonial era are preserved. These artistic depictions—typically showing him holding the Child Jesus and a lily—reflect longstanding iconographic traditions.

Viewed from a broader perspective, the widespread use of his name across churches, shrines, and cultural sites illustrates how historical religious figures become embedded in urban development, art, and collective memory, shaping both spiritual life and the built environment of Manila.

22/02/2026

A poem sent to us by a Portuguese man who has been living in poverty and homelessness in the Philippines for 30 years, unjustly caught up in a crime he did not commit and currently held under Philippine law.

TO:
NBI-FFCD
Director Chief P****r M.
Agent Durian

From the vision of Sunday’s Thundering Temple, wherein I saw this from its heights:

The ouroboros of snowball —
a mushroom head of a jellyfish with one metallic nanotube.

There was a strange big eye. No human beauty could behold it. It was ugly and black of eyeball, seemingly dead, open-eyed. I do not think it was staring; I did not sense it staring.

There was also a golden human, made of gold, with its arms raised high.

The shadowed left hand of this shadowed long-haired human took what came out of its tail — the meltdown from the a**s of its nanotube, made of gold tubulars.

Then, by his right hand, he pointed a big black Glock-22 at my ocular sight of eye, wondering who this was.

Then I saw a depiction of me, long-haired, and felt what world structurals felt. It felt awful — more of despise — so alien was the sensation, like a fallen scapegoat.

I consider the raised arms of the molten golden human as the raised scapegoat composition: quantumize me.

There was this machinery of ancient gold — complicate gear rings turning in this majestic verticalus horizon of this mushroom head of a jellyfish entity in the vision.

Sincerely,
H****r N.
Sent from my iPhone

22/02/2026

Did you know?

One of POV: Pilipinas’ initiatives is to showcase the talents of our fellow local artists by featuring their works on our official platforms.

Many of our artists, poets, and authors discover us through online networks and voluntarily share their talents with our community. Because we are digitally connected, our members come from different parts of the country — united not by location, but by purpose.

But POV: Pilipinas is not limited to creatives alone.

We also aim to organize competitions, sports clinics, workshops, and community activities that empower students, youth, and local communities. We want to create opportunities not just for artistic expression, but also for skill-building, leadership, collaboration, and growth.

We may be a small group for now, but we carry a big vision — to expand our reach and become a platform that supports Filipinos in many different fields and passions.

At POV: Pilipinas, our mission remains clear:
✨ To amplify Filipino voices.
✨ To create inclusive spaces for growth and opportunity.
✨ To build a stronger Filipino community together.

Our first round of creatives from our volunteers is launching tomorrow.

Stay tuned. 🇵🇭

20/02/2026

IN OBSERVANCE OF UNESCO'S INTERNATIONAL MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY:

February 21 is International Mother Language Day, proclaimed by UNESCO in 1999 to promote linguistic diversity and multilingual education.

For the Philippines, this day is deeply historical.

📜 Before Colonization

Prior to 1521, many communities in the archipelago already had their own writing systems. One of the most documented is Baybayin, a pre-colonial script used primarily by Tagalogs but also adapted by other ethnolinguistic groups.

Spanish chronicler Antonio de Morga (1609) noted that many natives — both men and women — could read and write in their own script.

Literacy existed before colonization.

⛪ Spanish Period (1565–1898)

When Spain formally colonized the Philippines in 1565, Spanish became the language of governance, religion, and higher education. Missionaries promoted the Latin alphabet, and over time, indigenous scripts like Baybayin declined in everyday use.

Language became tied to power: • Spanish = authority and privilege
• Native languages = local and informal

🇺🇸 American Period (1898–1946)

After Spain ceded the Philippines to the United States in 1898, English was institutionalized as the primary language of public education.

The Thomasites (American teachers) established an English-based school system. English became associated with intelligence, modernity, and upward mobility — a perception that still influences society today.

📊 Present Reality

According to UNESCO, there are over 7,000 languages globally, and many are endangered.

The Philippines has over 170 languages. Yet many indigenous and regional languages face decline due to: • Urban migration
• Media dominance of English and Filipino
• Language shame and colonial mentality

When a language disappears, we lose: • Oral histories
• Indigenous knowledge systems
• Cultural identity

At POV: Pilipinas, we believe youth empowerment includes understanding this history — not to romanticize the past, but to critically examine how language, power, and identity intersect.

Our languages were restrained by systems of colonization.
But they survived through communities.

Today, speaking your mother tongue is not backward.
It is continuity.

💬 What language do you speak at home — and what does it mean to you?

20/02/2026

LEARN MORE ABOUT WW2 HISTORY!

ccto: Jonas Tayaban