One of the members of Amihan in the area reached out to Cello, informing her that their former barangay captain told them to wear a white t-shirt for a gift-giving ceremony.

Serving as proof of attendance during the rally is a list of names of 25 residents written on a bond paper without any letterhead. Two days later, Cello said that a local radio station reported a press release, stating that the 25 residents are NPA guerrillas who surrendered to the authorities.

“The 25 (persons) were not (real NPA) surrenderers,” said Cello.

...

Karapatan-Bikol documented other cases of military units using barangay halls, chapels, day care centers, and other civilian homes, facilities, and properties as camps for months.

...

In 2019, [Karapatan-Bikol] documented seven forced surrenderers in barangay Rizal, Sorsogon City. Six of them were members of the National Network of Agrarian Reform Advocates (NNARA) – Youth who were taken by the soldiers.

"The youth reached out to me and told me that they were forced to surrender [to the authorities]. They were forced to sign a document stating they were NPA. They were brought to the military camp where pictures of them were taken,” said Regina Barbacena, a neighbor of the six and a leader of local peasant group Samahan ng mga Magsasaka sa Sorsogon (SAMASOR).

...

The NTF-ELCAC and the AFP are found dangling economic benefits as another tactic at bloating the number of surrenderers.

Stephannie Marcaida, one of the elected officers of the [Samahan ng Kababaihang Magsasaka ng Concepcion Grande, formed by Civil Military Operations], recalled, “It really started when Roselle told us that there was a meeting for those who would be given the livelihood from DOLE [Department of Labor and Employment] at the barangay hall of Conception Grande. So we went there, 47 (residents) of us attended the meeting. When we got there, there was no one from DOLE but there were soldiers. We also didn’t know that there would be an election of officers for the organization.”

...

The NTF-ELCAC’s counter-protests [against activists], according to Jen Nagrampa of BAYAN Bicol, were participated in by CAFGU as well as fake surrenderers. They wore white shirts and held placards denouncing the CPP, NPA and NDF.

...

2023 Dec. 30

“alone, you’ll go quicker. together, you’ll go farther.”

[gif isn’t mine. retrieved from https://gph.is/1njFwhm]  I chose a blooming cherry blossom tree which had falling petals as a symbol of where I am and where I aspire to be. Like a cherry blossom, I know that like all people, I have the capacity to be good -- there is the best version of myself inside of me that can be developed through grit, rigor, and forming good habits. The cherry blossom tree is where I am now. How it blooms, how it’s petals fall from its branches, how it’s goodness attracts people all over the world to come see it -- is how I wish to be in the future. Like its falling petals, I would like to one day give parts of myself to people -- I want to take the goodness I have developed and I want to share it to the world that helped nurture me. Like how it attracts people through its beauty, I want to be that adult that one day inspires people because of the goodness of who they are. And like the symbol’s form -- a gif, rather than a still moving photo, I want to constantly be in the process of moving -- of becoming -- perhaps I will never truly commit and stay with one thing -- because the world is a bit too big to say yes to one thing (other than goodness) for forever.

Identity Formation With regards to my identity formation, I’d say that much of my identity has gone through some sort of crisis at one point. Growing up, I always had these strict definitions of what I should be -- even if these weren’t in line with what I actually wanted. Abiding by these defined rules because I thought they were “right” made me a generally principled person, but it became negative when I started bringing these “shoulds” to things like hobbies, interests, career, and friends -- among other things that are better based off of preference and genuine delight, rather than the idea of societally defined standard. Now that I’m older, I hope to learn from that mistake. I am now fond of the thought that what I might become is better than what I had initially planned. Thus, I think that a lot of my identity is in the stage of moratorium -- and I’m actually quite happy with that. When we first discussed this lesson, I used to think that Identity Achieved was the ideal state, but reflecting on it now, I’ve come to realize that while commitment is admirable, there is also still something to admire in the unknown and the openness of oneself to that. As Gretchen Ruben once said in her book, The Happiness Project, “the days are long but the years are short” -- sometimes, life can pass you by pretty quickly, yet it’s still a pretty long journey ahead. And to know that this journey is filled with spontaneous side stops and unexpected turns excites me. While there are certain things that I know that I want -- like my love for dance and performance, like movement, like my bisexuality, and like my desire to enact social change -- I know that the only real non-negotiable, the only real aspect I want to commit to is love and happiness. And I like to think that everything else will follow. I’d say that my ego identity is someone that’s constantly optimistic, shares a lot of her thoughts and ideas, and is generally bubbly. On the other hand, I think that my personal identity was me trying to fight off stereotypes in my adolescence, since my personality just really wasn’t linear. For example, something I often thought is: was I the typical responsible student with good grades that recited a lot? or was I the pasaway student that liked to crack jokes and sometimes played the devil’s advocate in class debates? Apparently, they aren’t mutually exclusive. The fun part is that I could be both. Lastly, with regards to my social identity, I tend to be the leader when it comes to group projects because I have a certain standard. However, when it comes to me with my group of friends, I tend to be the more childlike friend that my friends find irresponsible that needs to be taken care of, and is kind of dumb. Whether I actually am like that, or whether it’s actually a brand -- I don’t really know. But both are examples of how I function or act, depending on the social setting. 

Psychosocial stage In terms of my psychosocial stage, I am in the Young Adult stage, since the stage fits my age bracket and describes how I feel in terms of my social interactions with others. Although my values and ideologies are constantly in development, I think that I have a good sense of what they are, and am now more focused on how I relate with others. In the past, I was more preoccupied with a lot of my individual goals and generally trying to figure out who I was and what I wanted. I focused on myself more when I was younger because there were things that needed fine tuning, and now that that’s done, I think I’m better equipped to give more of my attention to others. Whereas I could have gone not talking to people or not valuing my friendships as much before, I now give more importance to the relationships I have with other people. Growing up has also made me a bit more mature, and has improved my relationships with my family members as well. The manifestations of this stage can be seen through how I hang out with my friends more often, spend more quality time with my family, and admittedly, in the longing for intimacy -- have had a few more intense crushes.

Psychosexual stage With regards to my psychosexual stage, I am in the genital stage, which begins in adolescence. I don’t think I really feel much of the sexual desires that Freud described in this stage -- or at least not in the intensity of the way he described it. While the occasional thought of being intimate with a girl crosses my mind from time to time, I wouldn’t really say that it’s as intense as Freud makes it out to be. Either that, or maybe it’s because I’m still figuring out my identity. I know that I can fall for a guy or girl, but when it comes to actual intimacy -- I think I’m either asexual or I’d only ever be intimate with a girl. Honestly, it’s still kind of grosses me out. That aside however, I do agree that it’s in this stage where the conflict between my ego and superego occurs. While I am still idealistic (as represented by the superego) and assertive (as represented by the id) with regards to the things I want, through experience, I’ve come to realize that I need to balance these two aspects of myself (as represented by the ego) in order to effectively function -- or in simpler terms, in order to be truly happy. While there isn’t anything wrong with idealism or assertion, to allow both to run unmitigated has usually resulted in overscheduling or biting off more than I could chew -- to let both rule my life makes me unrealistic and unreasonable with my schedule because I don’t let myself rest. As I grew older, I’ve started to realize the importance of still balancing those two aspects with realism -- and so when I plan my life out, I’m now in the process of learning to give myself some breathing room -- room to make mistakes, to process a day’s events, and to just rest and be.

Issues of emerging adulthood In terms of learning “how to adult”, I’ve seen this manifest through how I’m becoming more conscious with my spending habits, as well as how I’m trying to learn how to commute -- although little by little. I’m also starting to take more initiative with regards to the things that I enjoy doing. For example, when I was a kid, my mom would be the one to enroll me in my ballet lessons -- or any set of extracurricular classes for that matter. She’d be the one to find a studio, to inquire about their rates and schedules, to ask about trial classes so we could compare between places or teachers, and to make the overall final decision of where I’d go. Now that we don’t live together anymore and now that I’m older and further exploring, I’m the one that calls places and asks about those things. Although it’s just for hobbies and interests, in a way it gives me a sense of control over my own life. I feel like I’m starting to become more independent, and although it comes with more responsibility, I like the fact that I’m the one accountable for these things because it’s something within my control.

Like all positives however, this also comes with its own set of negatives. Being accountable means making my own decisions, and having to stick through and live with them. For instance, I have to choose what tracks to take since I’m an AB Interdisciplinary Studies major. It isn’t a choice my parents can make for me anymore -- nor is it something I can just keep ignoring in the hopes that it would one day go away. Since I do recognize how important it is though, in line with me generally being in the moratorium stage, I think that I’m letting myself explore too, and I acknowledge that what I choose doesn’t have to be final (although it’d be beneficial if it is). Thankfully, I’m in a course where we can keep changing our minds.

Aspirations for adulthood Although quite abstract, when I grow up, I have this vague idea of me being financially stable, having some pretty cool stuff, maybe teaching a bit, doing some sort of creative job that I’m passionate about and made good friends through, and on the weekends, I’d be doing some sort of volunteer work. I’d balance that weekend alongside with catching up with family and friends from high school or college. Maybe I’d be living in my own place too -- I’m not entirely sure though -- but I do want to be with my parents regardless. I wasn’t able to spend much time with them growing up, and I’d like to do that now and when I get older. I like the idea of growing up to be someone that generally has a sunshine glow and positive aura -- that knows her morals and stands up for what’s right. Someone that’s politically aware, too, and kind to everyone. I really just want to be happy, fulfilled, loving, and healthy. It isn’t only an aspiration for adulthood though -- but really something I want for the rest of my life.

Central Champs! 🏆🏀#RunsInTheBlood #Nagrampa (at Labores Extension Pandacan Manila)

"This is my #sister Trisha and myself when I was four. She was so good to me when I was young. These pictures made me feel a little emotional because this represents a part of my life, which has truly been like a huge transition from the #Philippines to #America." - Duke Nagrampa 🌎 #MyAPALife #APAHM #APAHM2018 #AAPI #Asian #philipino #filipino #AsianAmerican #philipinoamerican #oldphoto #familyhistory #familypictures #photooftheday #diaspora #stories #storytelling #memories #childhood #photography #family(Brooklyn College에서)

Real Men: Don’t Play Games

Real Men: Don’t Play Games

(Photo by Jayvee Nagrampa)

“A real man doesn’t love the most beautiful girl in the world, he loves the girl who can make his world the most beautiful.”

Far across the ocean’s distance and the spaces that part us, I can tell you, me too, I have been swayed away by that beautiful talking, it is indeed an amiable music to every woman’s ear.

Hearts are never to be played, emotions are never to be…

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naks idol ko tlga to <3

harmonious tensions

Composed of Western and Filipino elements, my visual presentation aims to show how I am a Filipina with a propensity for Western culture yet I simultaneously, consciously strive to support my local community. My preference towards American services and entertainment can be seen through my collage’s Netflix logo and Gossip Girl screenshot, while my support for Filipino companies and culture can be seen through the Papemelroti logo and Orions correction tape – 2 brands which manufacture their products in the Philippines. The Cinema ’76 logo and screenshot from Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral also serve as additional examples for my support of Filipino companies and culture, since I usually enjoy watching independent Filipino films, and these are the types of films that Cinema ’76 shows in their cinemas. Meanwhile, the remaining pictures: the Mary Grace logo, the ice skates, the Philippine flag, and the speech bubble with “parang like” – are all meant to represent the interfaces in which these two cultures (Filipino and American/Western) merge in my personal life. I included the Mary Grace logo because the restaurant met both my preference towards Italian cuisine (which they also add Filipino twists to, as seen with their Spanish Sardines Pasta), and my desire to support a Filipino-owned company. On the other hand, the ice skates and the Philippine flag were meant to show my hybridity: a girl from a tropical country that has no natural ice or winter season, loving a winter sport. Lastly, the phrase “parang like” was meant to show how I primarily speak in English, and in the instances in which I’ve conversationally spoken in Filipino, it has often sounded conyo. Admittedly, I am ashamed of my propensity towards Western culture. Admittedly, I’m not as fond of OPM or Filipino teleseryes to the extent that other people are. Nevertheless, this does not lessen the love I have for my local community. My preferences may be primarily based on global aspects, but I am constantly in the process of trying to shift these preferences so that I can better respond to the needs of my local context. I think this shows the tensions that at times exist within those that live amongst two cultures. We constantly shuttle between both cultures, and we try to find a balance such that one doesn’t overpower the other. Personally, I’m constantly asking the question: “Which is better: to be a nationalist? Or a cosmopolitan?” With globalization and localization, homophily and heterophily, there truly is no black and white. Perhaps I am asking the wrong question. Perhaps it is not a question of which is better, but a question of if there should be a “better” in the first place. As the reading stated, the cultures do not consume one another, they respond to each other – and within a person, the same phenomenon happens. Our cultures respond to each other, and maybe we should never have to choose between being cosmopolitans or nationalists. They say home is where the heart is, but if we have two or more homes, maybe we don’t need to choose one place – maybe we can love and be a part of multiple places all at once. 

how to internet: 6 guidelines for safe & optimal navigation of digital spaces

1. think before you click. 

really cliche piece of advice, but remember that in a world of screenshots and edit history, every move you make on the internet is archived. 

2. remember that your words can be read in different tones. 

as multimodal as communication has been on the internet, remember that words have different connotations and can be read differently. what may seem normal to you may seem offensive to another person. do not think in absolutes, provide context, and always thoroughly explain why you think the way you do. 

3. know that the world is so much bigger than it seems. 

the internet has made the world so much smaller because of the connection that it enables between people from different places all over the globe. at the same time however, this means that people of different cultures are now given access to whatever you say. take this into consideration. be empathetic in all that you do. 

4. and at the same time, remember that the internet is a big place, too. 

life can get scary. and in a time where things are constantly changing, it can sometimes be difficult to find a place that feels like home. this is where the internet can help -- use it constructively, and you can use it as a tool to find like-minded people for all types of interests and discussions. 

5. you reap what you sow -- so, sow good seeds. 

the internet is a double-edged sword; it is capable of both distracting you and fostering your vices -- but at the same time, it can also give you the tools you need to learn and to become the best version of yourself. with how it links multiple cultures and interests together, it allows you to explore your identity to know more of who you are. it all depends on the communities you choose to follow and the content you choose to engage with.

6.  you control what you consume. 

the beauty of new media lies in the change of its power dynamics -- we are no longer limited to whatever channels our television had and whatever content that channels shows us. new media democratizes a vast amount of information. as we are freer than ever to publish our own content, we are also freer than ever to control the content we consume -- and to find more content if we find that what we currently have does not satisfy us. 

the internet has brought about many new opportunities -- in information, exploration, and human connection. and with this great strength, it becomes a weapon. we must recognize the power and downfalls that this entails, and as all weapons should be treated, must always choose to wield it well. 

who am i?

According to AISIS, I’m 183427. In high school, I was 0400073. To my parents, I’m anak or Sofia – with the accents and stresses of the latter differing depending on their tone and current frustrations. To my friends or any casual acquaintance, I go by Nagrampa, Gramps, Grampa, Rampa, or any other variation. Apparently, there are too many Sofias in the places that I go, and no Nagrampas – to be called Sofia then becomes a rare occurrence.

I am Sof to one friend, klutz to another, and gago (although said in a loving way) to a few. To my family, I am the typical type-A overachiever that sets high standards for herself and always has some extra-curricular on the side. My dad’s side thinks I never spend enough time with them. My mother’s side knows me a bit better, and has seen the lazier days. Nevertheless, both sides are true.

My high school friends know me as the girl that got hospitalized in 11th grade due to overwork, back when school hours were from 7am to 4pm and we were all adjusting to the Senior High curriculum. That same year, I was juggling my correspondence with the school’s official publication and a spot on the Philippine National Figure Skating Team. It was a year that’d look successful on paper, but those that knew me personally knew better.

To my teachers in Senior High back then, I was a bit all over the place. I had good grades, but would be absent or would come late to school often. I was participative in class, but also had a bad habit of submitting requirements late. They would admit that they were creative and done well but that tardiness diminished its quality. They’re still choices I regret to this day, and choices I vow to never repeat.

On a more personal end, my friends generally think that I’m enthusiastic and light-hearted. They think I make bad jokes and puns. Some have told me that my light demeanor has made them see life in a different way. I’m blessed to have had that ability. One friend has told me that I should become a psychiatrist one day – you can save lives, she said. Another said that my creativity and ideas would suit a career in entrepreneurship. In spite of these suggestions, I’m not entirely sure of what I want. Currently, my course is AB Interdisciplinary Studies, which I think says a lot about my indecisiveness.

I am many different things to many different people. I am scatterbrained to some, organized to others. I am graceful on the ice, but kind of clumsy on a regular cement floor. I can be loud and brash with a few, and silent and gentle with another handful – my personality is never really consistent, and it’s something I don’t quite get either. It doesn’t help that when I search up the definition of identity, it’s defined as who you are. When I search up the word “who”, it is defined as “what.” What then, constitutes me? Who am I in relation to nothing? I can tell you all my quirks and flaws and achievements and mannerisms – like how I tend to end my sentences and awkward silences with “so there” or how I can be painfully oblivious when it comes to social situations that I didn’t know a date was actually well, a date – but is it these things that make me who I am? Do my actions define me? And if they do, will we list all of what we’ve done, assign numeric values to each of them, and weigh it on the morality scale to see if we’re good or bad people?

I think that identity is complex. I don’t think I’d ever be able to put it down on a page. So for now, I’ll tell you about how I’ve only ever worn Converse sneakers since 5th grade because I have a hard time choosing things and you can never go wrong with the classics. I’ll tell you about how for the same reason, I hate having to change my glasses and always go with white or black stuff if I have a say in them. I’ll tell you about how I’m the most undisciplined ambitious person I know – it’s almost as if I love my passions so intensely that I need breaks from it (I do recognize that it is a character flaw and I am working on it). And I’ll tell you about how it was Nietzsche’s writings that helped me get through the peak of my depression, and it’s his same words that get me through life when things are tough.

In my dictionary search, I found that the word “who” is defined as “what”, and vice versa. I don’t know how to look into my DNA to tell you my exact code, but I’m a string of adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine. About 18 years ago, my parents made me. One cell became a lot, and then I was born. I started existing, and then I started doing. And if action is essence, then at some point, I started becoming someone.

Until now, I continue to do. I continue to become. Perhaps I will only know my identity once my life has finished.

According to my birth certificate, I’m Sofia Isabella Rome C. Nagrampa. I generally like to maintain a positive countenance, although I am constantly in a state of flux. I like living and loving and believe that happiness is success and is what we’re meant to strive for. I become and then constantly change. I am in a state of becoming. I am. 

kabuuan ng loob

Based on my understanding of loob in Alejo’s article, I’ve come to realize that the more local aspects of my personality (i.e. the fact that I consciously try to support more local goods and services rather than imported ones) correspond more to the concept of loob rather than labas. Alejo described loob, as well as its other related concepts, to be related to a form of commitment; it is the embodying of our intentions. Therefore, I can say that the local aspect of my personality (i.e. local-oriented consumerism) is an example of what Alejo described in relation to loob. 

On the other hand, I can say that the more global aspects of my personality (i.e. those which I have a more natural propensity towards) correspond to the concept of labas. Alejo described labas to be something that we can understand the loob in relation to. In contrast to the loob, it isn’t necessarily a commitment (or kabuuan ng loob) to truly do or embody something. With this, the more global aspects of my personality, albeit a bit more natural for me, correspond to the concept of labas since I do not commit to them (or have kabuuan ng loob towards them), and they are elements that one can see in order to further understand me. 

In relation to what Alejo mentioned however, although these parts of myself may seem distinct, they are all actually interrelated once we dive deep and look beneath the surface. Although both ma be contradictory and different, they are still both relevant aspects that must be taken into account kapag may aabot, or when one will extend their hand and try to reach me.

nakaka-inlove talaga yung boses niya <3

HAHAHAHA~ keep on stalking her souncloud profile SSSHHH :P