inday espina varona Profile picture
Sep 21, 2020 6 tweets 3 min read Read on X
#DefendPressFreedom #FightTyranny Living in the dark. A martial law baby’s story. (Thread)
The newspapers disappeared and the television went on the blink when I was in grade 3. Dad didn’t know how to explain events to kids who had learned early to be news junkies.
Why? we kids asked. How will we know what’s happening?
Dad, a journalist, groped for answers. He said Marcos could be hiding something or wanted to do things he wanted to keep secret.
Something bad? we asked.
Bad things?
We learned anyway from the people who came daily to consult with our parents.
Of people disappearing.
Of men strung up on poles as a warning to others fighting for the right to own land.
Of officials stealing public funds.
Massacres.
Land grabbing.
Hunger. Illness. Dreams crushed by poverty.
Sugarlandia’s dead season lengthening into a year-round time of death. But too many people were left blind and deaf and, as a result, mute.
I wanted to be a doctor but decided the task of fighting that darkness was more important.
The biggest crime dictators visit on their people is blocking their right to the free flow of independent information.
From this, all abuse flow.
Without a free press there can be no genuine free expression.
Without free expression, there can be no defense of rights.
#NeverAgain
#DefendPressFreedom
#DefendYourRight2Know
#FightTyranny
Join the movement.
Get your mask now:
bit.ly/mm-lazada
bit.ly/mm-shopee

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More from @indayevarona

Oct 9, 2022
(Thread) The fetid pus left behind by Duterte's drug war:
Thousands killed from 2016 to 2022. Now the a P6.7 billion drug bust involves a cop from the anti-drug unit of the Philippine National Police.
There is context to the deep roots of illegal drug groups.
Duterte’s war was an obscenity, starting from the top.
He waved sheafs of paper to attack local govt officials and judges allegedly in bed with drug lords - with many getting killed in the aftermath, forced to leave the country, or grovel for the honor of becoming lapdogs.
On the other hand, Duterte defended his boys when they got linked to the narco gangs he claimed to hate.
Then VP Leni Robredo's stint as anti-drug czar ended when she noted the contrast between the thousands of slain poor suspects and the small number of arrested drug lords.
Read 8 tweets
Oct 6, 2022
Families separated as hundreds flee AFP, NPA clash in Himamaylan, Negros Occidental on Thursday, October 6. Near midnight, parents were still looking for children who were on their way to school when fighting started. (Photo courtesy of Aksyon Radyo Bacolod) @rapplerdotcom Image
Where the evacuees are (1) : Aksyon Radyo Bacolod reports more than 450 residents at the regional evacuation center in Sitio Bajay, Barangay 3 near the city proper; 60 fled across the border to Payao, Binalbagan town . @rapplerdotcom
Past midnight, Bombo Radyo reported that 136 individuals remained at the Carabalan gym, 20 at the Sitio Medel daycare center, 296 at the evacuation center of Sitio Tonggo, in Cabadiangan, and 70 in Barangay Talaban. @rapplerdotcom
Read 6 tweets
Apr 1, 2022
(Thread; lalang) Ang paboritong libro ni VP Leni ay kwento ng isang pamilya: ang abogadong ama at ang mga anak na namulat sa pagkilala ng mali at tama habang nagmamasid sa kanilang komunidad. (Panahon ito kung saan namamayagpag ang pagsikil sa mga karapatan ng Black Americans.)
Sinabi ni VP na paulit-ulit nyang nabasa ang "To Kill A Mockingbird."
At sa tuwing pag-basa nya, may nakukuha syang bagong leksyon , o paglalim ng pagunawa sa gawain at buhay ng isang abogado at development worker na nagsusumikap na ma-wasto ang mga problema ng lipunan.
Mahalagang punto ang walang humpay na mag-ara, dahil ang istorya ni Atty Atticus Finch ay kwento din ng pag adjust sa sari-saring hamon at ang walang katapusang tanong:
Lalaban ba tayo para sa iba o mananahimik? At hanggang saan ba tayo lalaban sa harap ng mapanupil na lipunan?
Read 10 tweets
Mar 29, 2022
Police arrested Bayan Iloilo secretary-general Elmer Forro in Cabatuan, Iloilo on March 29, alleging he was part of an ambush in Lambunao, Iloilo on April 7, 2020 - he was already a high-profile activist then, appearing in rallies and interviews.
Forro was also arrested in Iloilo City on May 1, 2020, a day after BAYAN MUNA coordinator Jory Porquia was assassinated, a Bayan statement said.
Bayan said, "Forro had appeared before the Iloilo Prosecutor’s Office to deny the military’s accusations, and also presented witnesses who attested that he was nowhere near Lambunao but was elsewhere before, during, and after the April 7 incident."
Read 4 tweets
Feb 23, 2022
Thread - “hakot”: Poor people in the provinces welcome free rides. Maybe they’re curious, maybe they really support; mostly, they lack resources. Hitching rides on trucks is normal sa amin. Saw that at Leni stationary caravan; not for a moment thought it was hakot, kahit libre.
May substantial delegation of sugar workers nung stationary caravan; di lang na focus kasi attractive ang get up at kamada ng middle class. Naka truck din sila. Ganyan din kalaspag. Am sure we won’t call the volunteer who fed them, na nangsusuhol, bagkus compassionate.
Compassionate not a word for politicians. But hakot is as much as judgement on the person attending a rally than on possibly corrupt organizers. Kung nakatira ka sa bario o hacienda ng Negros, mahirap ang jeep o tricycle (sobrang mahal). Won’t jeer at their getting free rides.
Read 6 tweets
Feb 23, 2022
Sara Duterte speaks at the Bacolod UniTeam rally: says they will pursue two major "reforms" started by the Duterte administration: Build, build, build and the anti-crime program of her father, President Rodrigo Duterte. "Kaya kailangan natin ang unity." @rapplerdotcom
The Davao mayor touts her city's law and order grains, says she has ensured it is not in debt. Adds that she wants "pantay pantay lahat". @rapplerdotcom
Actress Toni Gonzaga entertains crowd before Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Shouts, "BBM-Sara!" and screams for the "Tiger of the North"
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