Prof curates photos for satirical slideshow in Benilde exhibit

Wazzup Pilipinas!


A photographer-educator has collaborated with his students for a collection of photographs that serves as a satirical reply to “red-tagging” in De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde’s ongoing online art exhibition.

Jay Javier’s “Red Tagged!,” which is “an absurdist retort to an absurdist reality epitomized by the current administration,” is part of the exhibit “To Differ Digitally 2: Love and Dissent in the Time of Pandemic.” It literally looks at labeling individuals or groups of being communists “by having real red tags attached to the objects in the photographs.”

Javier, who has been with Benilde since 2010, is one of the faculty members from the New Media Cluster who heeded the call for project proposals of the Center for Campus Art under its director, Architect Gerry Torres, and NMC, which is headed by Associate Dean Maria Sharon Mapa Arriola.

A professional photographer for 35 years and an educator for 30 years, Javier curated the set from photos submitted to his MMA photography classes last academic year. Christian Babista, his fellow photographer and an award-winning experimental filmmaker himself, edited the photo slideshow.

“The project originated as part of their Service Learning requirements. The SL office listed several themes for this requirement, and among these was Human Rights. This brought to mind one of the infamous events which happened during the pandemic: the nefarious red-tagging of the spontaneous, citizen-initiated community pantries by a paranoid and incompetent government,” Javier recalled.

“Red-tagging,” as defined by the International Peace Observers Network and as used by the Commission on Human Rights, refers to the “act of State actors, particularly law enforcement agencies, to publicly brand individuals, groups, or institutions as… affiliated to communist or leftist terrorists.” CHR Spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said this act may have serious consequences on the security of individuals and groups who have been accused of being communists – often without substantial proof.

Reporters Without Borders, an international organization advocating for the right to freedom of information, claimed that the practice exposes these groups or individuals to death threats and violence. Human rights groups stressed “the tagging spree has led to a spate of unlawful detentions and killing.”

“Red-tagging” has been increasingly used not only by anti-communist groups but by government officials as well. Rights groups alleged the tactic has been used against academics, activists, doctors, journalists, and students, among others. Facebook pages reportedly belonging to the military published a list of alumni and academics from the University of the Philippines, claiming they were NPA rebels.

TDD2, a show co-curated by Karen Ocampo-Flores, looks at the digital landscape as a platform to communicate constructive protest based on love and empathy. Aside from photographs, it also features live action films, animation, 2D and 3D models and rigs, texts, audio, applications, software, graphic design, and illustrations. The works are available at CCA’s new website (www.benildecampusart.com).

For more information about the exhibit and other projects, visit CCA’s social media accounts on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/BenildeCampusArt), Twitter (https://twitter.com/csbcampusart), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/benilde.campusart/) and YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/BenildeCampusArt). View the work here: https://youtu.be/U9UxPwuxCVE

Oakwood Living Debuts in the US, Offering Residents Multifamily Living in Key Destinations

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Oakwood, the internationally renowned hospitality brand, announced today the debut of Oakwood Living, a new portfolio offering that delivers on multifamily living in the post-pandemic world with a focus on extended-stay accommodations, select services and amenities that allow residents to live like a local.

Built on the belief that good living can be achieved with the freedom to live life on one’s own terms, Oakwood Living allows guests to live well in an environment that enables them to care for themselves and their environment, while staying rooted in a good community.

With facilities targeted at young families and professionals, whom apart from seeking a convenient address perfectly positioned for both work and play within a community, also want long term leases with flexible terms, Oakwood Living offers up the perfect balance to live well with the option to work remotely or simply experience or explore a new destination. Located in Dallas, Texas; Raleigh, North Carolina; Los Angeles and Redwood City, California; residents can choose from a number of unfurnished residential options situated in engaging communities that offer key amenities including a dedicated resident’s lounge, outdoor BBQ, spacious fitness centers, as well as tech-enabled lifestyle services through Hello, Alfred, an app that provides residents with regular events and experiences that support their lifestyles.

Taking inspiration from the organic shape of roots and a location map indicator, the new brand spots a representative logo that visually tells of its story, in earthy colors of leave and tree that support the call for residents to stay rooted with an Oakwood Living property.

“At Oakwood, we have identified a rising opportunity to augment our positioning in the unfurnished multifamily accommodation sector with long-term lease options that still allow for flexibility. Oakwood Living signifies our dedication to the U.S. market and is a milestone moment in our portfolio’s growth,” said Dean Schreiber, chief executive officer of Oakwood. “We’ve strategically selected our inaugural locations where open palettes are extended to our future residents in the heart of active communities. Not only will they be able to create a personal space that truly inspires, we hope that it will also allow them to live authentically like a local.”

Oakwood Living locations offer a variety of amenities to deliver on their lifestyle commitment to residents including a dedicated pet run, built-in kitchens, in-unit washer and dryers, communal recreational facilities to foster connection, 24/7 package locker access, dedicated lounge with workspaces and more. Each Oakwood Living location offers a tight-knit sense of community, redefining multifamily living.

Resident applications for move-ins to newly rebranded properties Oakwood Living Dallas Uptown, Oakwood Living Miracle Mile, Oakwood Living Raleigh Brier Creek and Oakwood Living Redwood City are now available.

For more information about Oakwood Living, please visit: Oakwood.com/Oakwood-Living

Retired PCG Commandant, CG Admiral George V. Ursabia Jr. appointed as Undersecretary for Maritime of DOTr

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed retired Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant, CG Admiral George V. Ursabia Jr. as Undersecretary for Maritime of the Department of Transportation (DOTr). Ursabia’s appointment was issued by the President on 04 November 2021.

Ursabia, who was born in Polomolok, South Cotabato, retired from his post at the PCG on 08 September 2021. Ursabia spent 38 years in the government service.

While in command, Ursabia managed to boost the presence of the PCG in the West Philippine Sea and the southernmost part of the country through the Task Force Pagsasanay.

Under his command, the PCG also enhanced its recruitment process and made sure that all regions in the country are given a rational quota to ensure inclusivity.

Ursabia, during his term as PCG commandant, also improved the agency’s procurement system to be compliant with Republic Act 9187 or the Procurement Law.

In addition, the PCG’s systems and doctrines also underwent fine-tuning under his watch to make sure that its personnel can effectively deliver needed public service in a timely and cost-efficient manner.

“Our Coast Guardians go beyond the call of duty by providing a people-first approach in these trying times – and they continue to do so. We see them in the frontlines – in checkpoints, seaports, airports, and areas where there are needs to be met – aiding citizens with humility and compassion,” CG Admiral Ursabia said in his retirement speech.

As a humanitarian agency, the PCG under Ursabia’s command also helped deliver aid to the country’s far-flung areas, including Calayan Island, Pag-asa Island, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi amid the COVID-19 pandemic,

“Being a relatively young humanitarian government agency, there is still a lot to be done. The PCG will still face a lot of challenges and reforms, but I hope it will be for the better,” Ursabia added in his retirement speech.

Transportation Secretary Art Tugade meanwhile said Ursabia’s wealth of knowledge and vast experience in the maritime sector will prove most valuable as he takes on new tasks as an undersecretary of the department.

“I am confident that the skills and experience in the maritime sector of my good friend, Usec. Ursabia which were honed, and tested as a long-time commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard will prove most valuable to the DOTr,” said Secretary Tugade.

“There is no doubt that Usec. Ursabia can steer the maritime sector to great lengths given his character, leadership style and experience,” the Secretary added.