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Butterfly Baby

This is Butterfly Baby, a documentary film produced by SubSelfie.com author Edma Remillano about the rare Butterfly Disease. Text by Lian Nami Buan Jhon Ruiz is five years old. But he looks small. At first glance you would guess maybe he’s two years old. He is also covered from head to toe with wounds. His mother Ayra…

Scarborough Shoal: Close Encounters with China

Technically, the place is merely a collection of rocks and reefs. But its numerous names mirror the tension that has engulfed its waters. China believes it is Huangyan Dao based on their historical claims. Filipino fishermen from Zambales refer to it as Kalburo or Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag Shoal — a safe haven against storms. But…

For the Unemployed

Just when there were about 2.6 million jobless Filipinos according to the Philippine Statistics Authority, I chose to leave from my company. I had been working for a well-known production outfit with big clients. Some people said it was a wasted opportunity. But it was not a hasty and easy decision. I thought about it for months,…

Moving On from Martial Law?

“Time and pain are necessary in determining the value of our personal belongings, possessions, and things that make us alive…” That’s my Philosophy professor speaking. I was seated in the last row; as the curtain hindered the sun, we were discussing Axiology or the study of value. He gave us a clearer perspective regarding the topic…

“I Will Not Interfere”

“Kayo lang po ang pag-asa ko (You are my only hope),” an emotional Mary Jane Veloso pleads to newly elected President Rodrigo Duterte. Under the Noynoy Aquino administration, Veloso received a temporary reprieve from execution last April 29, 2015 — the only one to be spared among drug convicts that included leaders of the Bali Nine, an infamous group…

Summary Execution at Temple Drive

On September 10, 2016, at around 1:55am, witnesses said they saw a silver Toyota Fortuner come to a complete stop in a sidewalk along Temple Drive in Barangay Ugong Norte, Quezon City. Afterwards, they heard multiple gunshots. Then the vehicle sped away in the direction of White Plains Subdivision. In a matter of split seconds,…

Presstitutes?

It’s easy to ditch the media, if you think the institution is biased, corrupt and useless. Regardless of whatever pushes you to make such sweeping generalizations, you can just stop watching, reading, and consuming right now. But you won’t. Because whether you like it or not, the media is just as important as you are…

The Davao Explosion: What I Saw Is Our Country’s Nightmare by Fr. Jboy Gonzales, SJ

At four in the morning on the 31st of August 2016, I flew out of Manila; at a quarter before six, we were hovering over the mountains of Mindanao. When a sliver of morning light illumined the serene landscape of Davao del Norte, welcoming me to my new mission, I said to myself, “This is…

Roadkill / Paano Pumatay ng Aso

Editor’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Kapag nakakaramdam ako ng tuwa, may nangyayaring masama. Tatlong oras nang nakaupo si Arturo sa sasakyan, isang sedan na paminsan minsan umuungol kapag umaakyat ng highway, kasabay ng kalampag na parang mahinang tapik, Boss pahinga muna tayo. Pero walang pahinga ngayong araw. Nagmamadali para maabutan pa ang…

Manobo: Dugo sa Lupaing Ninuno

“Mag-ingat kayo sa mga Manobo. Hindi edukado ‘yan. Lolokohin lang kayo ng mga ‘yan.” Iyan ang unang babalang natanggap namin sa muling pagtungtong namin sa Mindanao ngayong Agosto. Isang pa-retirong guro sa bayan ng Hinatuan ang nagpabatid sa amin nito — ang mga Manobo’y wala raw pinag-aralan at mga mandurugas. Hindi raw sila dapat pagkatiwalaan sa aming…

News Hugot 1: Extra Judicial Feelings

After our series Oral Origins wherein we researched the roots of the popular curse words in the Philippines, we welcome you to News Hugot, a new segment that will provide a creative outlet for people to forget the news for a while and to focus on their feelings. Our opening salvo is the series of…

A Day in the Life of a Humanitarian

It was a decent looking boat carrying us to Gigantes. I decided to sit at the forefront to enjoy solitude, while everyone else chitchats while sitting on the wooden bench in the middle. This was more than a two-hour ride on the waves of Panay. The first hour was manageable and the scene was rewarding, until…