Pressenza IPA

“Nuclear weapons exist as a tool of power, inequality, and destruction. They have no place in the lives of future generations.” Dr. Vinay Jindal, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, Canada On Tuesday, August 9 at 7:00pm, the…

By Perfecto Caparas The Philippine Department of Education recently issued a policy adopting “rights-based education” as its basic framework for kindergarten to high school students. Titled “Child Rights Policy: Adopting The Rights-Based Education Framework In Philippine Basic Education,” the DepEd…

By Perfecto Caparas     Besieged journalists persevere and persist with their critical reporting amid the government’s clampdown in the guise of anti-communism and anti-terrorism. Cyber libel and anti-terrorism laws hang like Damocles’ sword over the head of independent and…

Interview by Perfecto Caparas   As a sequel to “A Dialogue with Edicio dela Torre: On Democratization,” Pressenza journalist Perfecto Caparas interviews Edicio delaTorre about the civil society challenges posed by the ascent to power of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. following…

POEM AND A PIECE OF MUSIC       by Trudi Lee Richards   This mini-episode consists of a poem called “Unleash Peace” and a piano composition called “Heart of Hearts,” both inspired by a daily meditation for peace and…

by Perfecto Caparas On June 30, 2022, Rodrigo Roa Duterte ended his six-year term as Philippine president facing prospects of a resumed investigation and prosecution by the International Criminal Court prosecutor for crimes against humanity. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. succeeded Duterte.…

PART 3: A PERSONAL JOURNEY FROM YANGON TO MATUPI, CHIN    by PEN   The author traveled to Matupi, Chin state (native land) from Yangon on January 1, 2022. It was not safe to travel across the country since the…

 PART TWO: MYANMAR AFTER THE COUP   By PEN Post-Coup Political Crisis The civil war and military rule have negatively impacted the public health system and socio-economic development. Hospitals and other health care facilities have been occupied, raided, and shot…

As founder and president of the Education for Life Foundation, Edicio dela Torre synthesizes and applies Paulo Freire’s dialogical and problem-posing approaches, N.F.S. Grundtvig’s folk school, and Filipino psychology and traditions towards grassroots empowerment for social justice, human rights, and…

PART ONE: MYANMAR BEFORE AND DURING THE 2021 COUP     By PEN Background Since the coup seized power in 2021, the military announced a state of emergency for one year, extended it up to 2023 and established the so-called…