UP Aperture

26/01/2019

Students, faculty and staff, as well as residents facing demolition welcomed around 150 Lumad community members upon their arrival in UP Diliman On Saturday, January 26. The 'Salubungan' coincides with the 49th anniversary of the First Quarter Storm student protest movement, with student groups accusing President Rodrigo Duterte of going down the same dictatorial path as disgraced strongman Ferdinand Marcos.

12/09/2018

UPCAT this weekend is postponed due to the expected impact of Typhoon Ompong.

BREAKING: UP postpones UPCAT 2019.

Official announcement regarding the postponement of , which was originally scheduled on September 15-16, 2018, as forwarded by University of the Philippines Vice President for Public Affairs Dr. Jose Dalisay, Jr.:

"The UP Office of Admissions will be postponing the administration of the UPCAT 2019 nationwide.

This decision is based on consultation with UP System officials and weather experts on the latest forecasts on Typhoon Ompong and its expected impact on Northern Luzon and the Eastern Seaboard including Western Visayas, and in consideration of the nationwide scope of the exam that entails synchronized travel arrangements among others which pose undue risks to both UPCAT examinees and UPCAT personnel.

The Office will announce a new date as soon as possible and provide instructions to all examinees."

10/01/2018

Millions of devotees participate in the annual Traslacion procession of the Black Nazarene image from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo in Manila. The 'andas' or carriage which carries the Black Nazarene image often takes around 22 hours to make its way to the Minor Basilica that carries the same name, pulled by thousands of 'Hijos de Nazareno' through the procession's winding route in the streets of Binondo and Quiapo.

In his homily during the Mass held on the eve of the Traslacion, Manila Archbishop Antonio Cardinal Tagle called on devotees to link their Nazareno experience to the plight of Filipinos elsewhere in the country who have been affected by disasters and war.

Click here to see the photos featured on this video: http://bit.ly/2ErtGPm

09/01/2018

Millions of devotees flock to the annual procession of the Black Nazarene image, which winds its way from Quirino Grandstand, through the streets of Manila, and finally into the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo.

The procession, a commemoration of the 'traslacion' or transfer of the Black Nazarene image from Intramuros to Quiapo, is a powerful display of the tension between steadfast devotion and palpable desperation - two of the defining characteristics of Filipino religiosity.

Photos by Bryan Gonzales.

24/04/2017

EARLIER: Around 500 farmers and their supporters demolished a large section of the perimeter wall built by RCBC to fence off hectares of land meant for distribution to tenants of Hacienda Luisita. One of the largest land holdings in Central Luzon, Hacienda Luisita had been slated for distribution to at least 6,000 farmer-beneficiaries through a landmark Supreme Court ruling in 2013. Today's assertion is part of the activities for the 5th anniversary of that high court decision. The farmers have not yet received titles to their land.

28/03/2017

HAPPENING NOW: Faculty opposed to the proposal to reduce the minimum number of GE units to 21 from the current 45 units are holding a press briefing at the AS Steps. The University Council voted last week to reduce the number of GE units for UP students starting 2018, a move which multisectoral group UP Sagip GE denounces as backward and counter-productive for students.

19/03/2017

Alamin ang mga kwento ng mga buhay na ngayon ay umookupa na sa mga bahay na dating nakatiwangwang lang.

08/03/2017

Hundreds of women's rights advocates assemble at Bonifacio Shrine near Manila City Hall Wednesday afternoon to mark International Women's Day before marching to Mendiola. Various mass organizations are using the March 8 activities to call for the continuation of suspended peace talks, the release of all women political prisoners, and an end to state fascism.

02/03/2017

In a second straight week of protests, students in UP Diliman are manifesting their indignation in the wake of the Lower House's approval of the death penalty bill at the second reading this week. In their protest Thursday, student activists called for an end to state fascism and extrajudicial killings, the defense of human rights, and the non-passage of the aforementioned death penalty bill.

23/02/2017

HAPPENING NOW: Walkout Protest for Free Education and Just, Lasting Peace @ AS Lobby

09/02/2017

Students argue with security personnel outside the Institute of Biology, where a farewell program for outgoing UP President Alfredo Pascual is being held today. The students and a number of staff massed outside the institute are holding a separate program denouncing what they see as six years of anti-student and anti-worker policies under Pres. Pascual. His presidency oversaw the rise of average tuition levels in the UP System, the botched launch of student records management system SAIS in key campuses, and a continuing policy of labor contractualization in many of UP's constituent units.

21/12/2016

Whenever shoes are talked about, the word “Marikina” is always a staple currency. Whether its sports footwear, formal, or just plain casual shoes, the humble city is always either suggested or plugged into the conversation. Its popularity even reaches our grandparents’ memories.

But regardless of its popularity or impact to the economy in the country, little do many know that the shoe-making industry is still fitting its perfect pair of shoes before it eventually runs.

“Dati silong-silong lang. Dati ganun lang ang Marikina. Dun nagpapagawa ng sapatos," Rosita Padayao, former owner of Kim Rose Shoes, recalls from memory.
The mother of six now lets her 23-year old son Kenneth manage the family business only under a new name, Padz Shuz, after a crisis back in 2012. Kenneth was one of the youngest entrepreneurs and shoe-makers way back after he decided to join the industry over finishing college. He wanted to finish his education, but tuition fees skyrocketed, pushing him to instead continue the family business.

In order to keep production profitable, they needed to shave down the labor force. “Ang tao namin noon more than 100. Marami. Kung baga, different departments; merong division of labor,” she said.

Despite being a giant in the domestic shoe industry, Marikina is still fueled by small-scale business owners like Rosita and Kenneth who rely mainly on their own capital and confidence from their trusted customers. After a shoe is made, their makers are forgotten whenever its label is replaced by a reseller or outlet.

“Hindi na lumalabas name namin [shoe-makers]. Kung sino umorder, kanila na yung box, yung shoe.” She said.

Although steps are made by the local government such as providing seminars on shoe-making and starting a business, the true dilemma starts with what lays in front of a shoe buyer.

Jun Maputi, a shoe-maker for 20 years, says the industry doesn’t receive much attention from the government ever since he started out.

“Bumagsak [ang shoe industry] noong 2000. Merong mga bumabalik [ngayon] pero hirap kasi… kailangan talaga dito, itigil ang pag-smuggle mula sa China, na kakompitensya ng Marikina shoes,” he said.

He also owns a shoe shop where he teaches and passes down his craft to the younger generation. Unlike the seminars conducted by the local government and vocational courses offered, his are more hands on.

“Nagte-training ako ng tao. Maliit lang na bahay. 20 kami nandun. Meron akong tinuturuan [at sila yung] mga hindi nakapag-high school,” he said.

“Ang kailangan dito itigil yung mga smuggle. Mga fake na galing sa China at iba't ibang bansa. Sa totoo niyan, ang mga na-smuggle, Starex, luxury car, na declared synthetic na sapatos, pero ang nasa loob, sasakyan," Maputi adds.

"Kaya mabigat ang kumpitensya, basta maibenta ang Starex, yun ang nangyari, kaya ang mga Marikina, bumagsak,” he explains.

Marikina supplies nearly 50% of shoes we find in malls and outlets. But with smuggling, that share can go down to 20%, replacing local shoes with imports from around the world.

Sold alongside Marikina local leather shoes, knock-off imports are presented in bulk and given at a lower price.

However, being in the industry for many years, Rosita is still confident in Marikina shoes. “Bina-bargain [nila] P100-150, di namin kaya ibigay. Pero natutuwa kami ngayon na naa-appreciate nila yung made in Marikina over China shoes. Bumabalik trust nila dito sa Marikina,” she said.

To keep things interesting on the shelf, designs are revisited and flared up. Kenneth explains how the Casual, Top-sider, and Boots styles are all encores and redesigns of the classic 20th-century shoes. “Nagugulat pa rin sila may mga ganung style kaya napapabili sila. Yung trend naman paulit-ulit lang yan. Kung ano yung lumabas, konting flaring lang and adjustment sa kulay."

Even Jun is hopeful, despite all the obstacles he sees that hinder the industry’s growth. “Bumabalik siya [Marikina shoe industry] ngayon, para sa akin. Malakas loob ko mangutang kasi alam kong may pambayad ako sa isang taon,” he said, knowing his capital would return after his sure sales.

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A photo essay contribution by Gabriel Sante from J123 Photojournalism class under Sir Jimmy Domingo.