As we all know, education is the key in order to be successful in life. Even though we see this as part to change our lives, the Lumad see education as a weapon to resist against the oppressive and unjust system towards national democracy.
COVID-19 pandemic exposed the rotten colonial, commercialized, and anti-democractic system of education.
And the state isn't making a comprehensive plan in order to help the students and the rest of the academe to continue education amidst pandemic without compromising the physical, emotional, and mental health of the community.
Contrary to the claim of the reactionary forces of the state, the Lumad Bakwit School is a legitimate institution for Lumads promoting a curriculum inclined to a 'nationalist, scientific, and mass-oriented' education system.
This July 17, despite the relentless attacks of the state to the Lumads and its negligence to the masses because of the pandemic, the Lumad Bakwit School will commence its moving up ceremony as they proudly presents the new batch of Lumad graduates.
Join us in this remarkable ceremony together with the Lumad graduates. Stay tuned for the updates.
Continue supporting Lumad students and the Lumad Bakwit School. For donations, please refer to this post: facebook.com/saveourschools…
LUMAD BAKWIT SCHOOL STUDENTS LOSE SCHOOL AGAIN IN BUKIDNON
On June 5, 2021, the 72nd Infantry Battalion Philippine Army coerced residents, mostly Lumad, to demolish the Lumad school facilitated by Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation Inc in Barangay Sagundanon, Bukidnon.
According to Lumad students here in the Bakwit School, their parents called them a week earlier saying they were being forced by soldiers to participate in the demolition or else they will face trumped up charges and arrest if they fail to cooperate.
“Natatakot kami para sa aming pamilya doon dahil palagi daw sila binabantayan ng mga sundalo. Kahit nga sa pagtawag sa amin, kailangan pa nilang magtago dahil natatakot din sila para sa amin.” Chricelyn, a Grade 12 student said.
ALERT: COVID-19 HEALTH PROTOCOLS USED TO JUSTIFY ISOLATION OF DATU BENITO, DATU SEGUNDO, JOMAR, ESME, AND MODDIE TO DIFFERENT EQUALLY CROWDED POLICE STATIONS
The SOS Network has uncovered the PNP's malicious intent in the transfer of the 2 Lumad datu and 3 Lumad students —
because the other police stations are crowded, with poor jail conditions, and with some of the other detainees still not tested for COVID-19, even though PRO-7 reasoned that they were transferred to different police stations due to the PRO-7 being full and a COVID-19 health risk.
Cebu City Police Station 1 refused to provide the transfer order for Jomar to SOS Network even though this is a public document. When SOS Network asserted to sign the log book just to document their visit, they were denied, were made to write on a blank sheet of paper instead.
The SOS Network staged a quick protest in front of PRO-7 denouncing the irregularities of the PNP in handling Teacher Roshelle Porcadilla. Porcadilla was brought to the PRO-7 from the CCPO w/o the knowledge of her relatives or her legal counsel under orders of Debold Sinas.
It also took 24 hrs after her arrest before her legal counsel was able to meet her as the PNP attempted to hide her from her family & colleagues. She was also made to sign a statement in an affidavit even w/o her counsel & faced intimidation by the people holding her in custody.
During the mobilization, PCol. Robert Limbawan threatened to arrest protestors, who were assailing the lies and irregularities of the PNP. The PNP, for one, has baselessly claimed that NUPL-Cebu is not the legal counsel of Porcadilla, when Porcadilla has signed -