Youth and Student Groups to Stage Nationwide Protest Against President’s ‘Fake News SONA’, Killing Spree

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Shibby de Guzman is a 13-year old Grade 9 student of St. Scholastica’s College-Manila who once faced backlash on social media for speaking out against extrajudicial killings borne out of the President’s war-on-drugs. On Tuesday, she announced the plans of the movement she is co-building: #YouthResist.


“Fake News SONA”

#YouthResist, a movement formed by youth groups Millennials Against Dictators [MAD], Student Council Alliance of the Philippines [SCAP], Akbayan! Youth [A!Y], and numerous campus- and community-based youth groups, will stage a nationwide ‘alt-SONA’ on July 18 to counter the ‘Fake News SONA’ of the President and his ‘killing spree’.

“Today, we are announcing that we are continuing to resist and that we are to constantly fight and struggle for this country’s future. We refuse to stop asking for a say into our officials decisions. We reject the notion that the loss of lives can be simplified as collateral damage”, Shibby said as she announced the group’s nationwide protest on what she called “the killing spree” of the President, citing the more than 12,000 homicide cases, including at least 7,000 deaths due to the war-on-drugs, as reported by the Philippine National Police.

The youth groups’ alt-SONA will be held at St. Scholastica’s College-Manila on July 18, 7:30AM-12:00NN and will be attended by thousands of young people from different backgrounds in Metro Manila.



Duterte killed more than Marcos

Karla Yu, co-convener of MAD and one of the complainants against Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre before the Ombudsman tagging him as “Fake News King”, expressed concern over the PNP’s downplaying of the statistics on extrajudicial killings.

“Duterte managed to accomplish more in one year than the dictator Marcos in terms of death toll”, Yu explained. “Marcos extrajudicially-killed more than 3,000 in his 20-year regime. Duterte killed more than 7,000 due to the brutal and corrupt war-on-drugs a year into office”, she pointed out.



Nationwide protest

Shamah Bulangis of A!Y explained that mobilizations will also happen in General Santos City and Cebu City. “There is a growing discontent among young people. This discontent is greater than our fear”, Bulangis mentioned.

“Together, young people are a formidable force”, she continued.



How many and how young?

“The all-out war on drugs also kills the youth and our capacity to dream. The more it kills young and innocent people, the more it kills the hope for a better future for our country,” added Jeza Rodriguez of SCAP.

Rodriguez cited the case of Danica (5 years old) and Althea (4 years old), as the youngest collateral damages of the President’s war-on-drugs. “How young and how many before we become outraged by this President’s killing spree?” Rodriguez asked.

“The 18th of July marks the day that this movement is born. 45 years ago, a dictator was toppled down with the help of a youth movement. Today, any emerging dictator will be stopped”, added Shibby.

The group called on their fellow youth to join the nationwide protest on July 18. “Kung hindi tayo ang lalaban, sino ang lalaban?”, Shibby urged.

Miss Philippines Earth 2017 Swim Wear and Resorts Wear Competition Winners

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Here to take on the part two of Ms. Philippines Earth 2017 is none other than Wazzup Pilipinas’ Sarah Muyco, getting the latest happenings last July 6, 2017, which was held in Versailles Palace, Alabang.

Wazzup Pilipinas had the first look on the gorgeous ladies during the dashing Swimsuit and Resorts Wear Competition. The night shone not only of beauty, but the game was played with brains as well, as the representatives made their insights known to public as to how to educate---the youth, in particular---and to inspire the hearts of many in our world in order to the tackle the deteriorating parts of our planet, as well as to preserve the mass beauty that is still among the Earth. 

The additional challenge to the contestants were to represent the unfamiliar five R’s into the world. Rather than the typical; Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, Ms. Earth would like to deliver the message of the five R’s (Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Respect) through these dedicated women. 

As to end the first half of the night, the winners of the Swimsuit Competition were announced to Ms. Olongapo City (Kim De Guzman) taking home the Bronze award, Ms. Puerto Princessa (Sandrine Stoelzed) for Silver, and bringing home the champion title was Ms. Cagayan De Oro (Sherlyn Doloriel). 

The second half of the night was then devoted to the Resorts Wear Competition, wherein their advocacies were being presented while wearing their fabulous resorts wear. One of the ingenious fashion designers, Angela Taloza, appeared in the event, supporting the ambassadors wearing exclusive Angela Taloza designed pieces; namely, Ms. Taguig, Ms. San Miguel, Bulacan and last but not the least, Ms. Dasmarinas City. 

The whooping audience impact on the stunning ladies gave quite a hint as to who would take home the Champion title in the Resorts Wear Competition. Going on third is Ms. Mandaluyong City (Shane Tormes), the Silver award was grabbed by none other than Ms. Pulilan, Bulacan (Samantha Acosta), and finally, the star of the night, the grand winner in the Resorts Wear competition is Ms. Caloocan City (Jessica Marasigan).

Miss Caloocan was asked how she could represent her city by injecting the five R’s. Jessica says to an exclusive post pageant interview with Wazzup Pilipinas; “I just want to represent Caloocan that we can make a difference with the five R’s. I do want to inform and educate them with the five R’s. We can help change the world, we can also make a difference into helping the environment as well.”

2017 Miss Philippines Earth Swim Wear Competition winners:
GOLD: Miss Cagayan De Oro City, Sherlyn Doloriel
SILVER: Miss Puerto Princesa City, Sandrine Stoelzed
BRONZE: Miss Olongapo City, Kim De Guzman


2017 Miss Philippines Earth Resorts Wear Competition winners:
GOLD: Miss Caloocan City Jessica Marasigan
SILVER: Miss Pulilan, Bulacan Samantha Acosta
BRONZE: Miss Mandaluyong City Shane Tormes


Cover Photo:
Sarah Muyco with 2017 Miss Philippines Earth Resorts Wear Competition winners

Written By Sarah Muyco (Millennial Momshie) and Breanna Muyco

Miss Scuba Philippines 2017 Media Launch

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Philippines is composed of 7,600+ islands and surrounded by several bodies of water, so it is but natural that we should have ambassadors that would help preserve and protect the marine biodiversity. Since the beauty of these waters are not only found above the oceans but also deep within and below the depths, we should also take a closer look into even the creatures and other living things where man could not easily see.

Our country is rich in marine life of all forms that it is being visited by many underwater photojournalists so they could capture rarely found creatures of which many could only be found in the Philippines. These makes our country a frequently visited place for divers who also take photos and videos deep down below.

I once escorted a few professional divers who are also photojournalists by profession and is amazed of what they were able to capture with their cameras after diving in the seas of Bohol. If only there was an opportunity to learn while they were here in the country, I could have grabbed it. Unfortunately, their stay is but limited to only a few days so they were here to maximize their diving opportunity.

I could imagine how many living creatures exists down below based on their photographs and stories. It is but wondrous to learn that not all are able to witness such a beauty down below. Most of us could only see these creatures in photos and videos from documentaries. They are lucky to be able to get up close and personal with these rarely seen creatures.

After that experience, it is but fitting that we should also have passionate advocates geared toward saving the oceans and its marine life, not only for our lifetime, but also for future generations.

Thus, the Miss Scuba Philippines beauty pageant or search not only looks for beauty, talent and intellect but also the heart and determination to protect and preserve marine biodiversity.

We are in luck because, Cindy Madduma, the very first Filipino to win Miss Scuba International back in 2015 is now the National Director for the Philippine search.