Karlo Mongaya teaches Philippine Studies courses at the Department of Filipino and Philippine Literature, University of the Philippines-Diliman.
Latest posts by Karlo Mongaya
Philippine independent bookshops become targets of red-tagging
The red-tagging of Popular Bookstore and Solidaridad is the latest in a long history of state repression of dissent and critical thinking in the Philippines.
Tropical storm Megi causes deadly landslides and floods on Leyte Island in the Philippines
Aside from the landslide in Leyte, the tropical storm also caused floods in other parts of the Visayas Islands in the central Philippines.
Philippines’s new vaccine mandate decried as punitive and anti-poor
"This measure is punitive. The low vaccination rate should not be blamed on the people especially if supplies are not always available."
Typhoon Rai aftermath highlights Duterte’s sluggish disaster response
Duterte and his officials have failed to respond to the crisis, deflecting blame with excuses such as depleted governmental funds, media underreporting, and impassable roads.
Typhoon Rai overwhelms the Philippines’ Queen City of the South
A month after Typhoon Rai rampaged through the Philippines, residents of Metro Cebu continue to struggle to overcome the devastation brought by the storm on December 16, 2021.
#HandsOffOurLibraries: Scholars protest removal of ‘subversive’ books from Philippine universities
"An attack on the library is an attack on the very heart of the University itself."
Netflix animation “Trese” brings Filipino supernatural beings to our screens
"It’s so inspiring and hopeful to think about how Trese is going to open so many doors for other local artists who are dreaming to get their works published."
Filipino weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz makes history for winning the Philippines’ first ever Olympic gold medal
"A woman unfairly included in the drug matrix wins the first Olympic gold medal for the Philippines. Coincidence or a foretelling? The last man standing is a woman."
Community pantries inspire hope amid pandemic and economic crisis in the Philippines
In a span of less than three weeks, around 800 community pantries have been set up nationwide to help those in need amidst worsening COVID-hit economy, sparking government backlash.
Virtual exhibit commemorates 1971 ‘Diliman Commune’ protests in The Philippines
A virtual exhibit features a student-led uprising at The Philippines' top university 50 years ago that has become a symbol of resistance to dictatorial rule and oppression.
Christmas in the Philippines in the time of Duterte and COVID-19
The government has discouraged family reunions, church gatherings and even prohibited the holding of Christmas parties.
Shooting of mother and son highlights institutionalized police violence in the Philippines
"This is what happens when we have leaders who consent and encourage such behavior from policemen."
Crackdown against journalist and activists mars Human Rights Day in the Philippines
"We were forced to turn our backs for one hour while evidence was being planted."
Student protests in Philippine universities hit government for bungled Typhoon disaster response
"We halt our classes and academic work to amplify our call for justice and for the ouster of Duterte."
After back-to-back typhoons, Filipinos criticize President Duterte's absence from public eye
#NasaanAngPangulo (#WhereIsThePresident) and #OustDuterteNow trended on Twitter as Filipinos criticized the absence of President Rodrigo Duterte amid the successive typhoons that hit the Philippines this month.
#JusticeForZaraAlvarez: Filipino activists protest worsening impunity under President Duterte
"Saddened by Zara Alvarez's murder in Bacolod. Her daughter is now an orphan. The communities she served as a health worker and human rights advocate are orphaned too."
Amid threats of mass arrest, Filipino protesters rally during Duterte’s State of the Nation Address
Defying threats of arrests, thousands protested President Rodrigo Duterte’s State of the Nation Address to condemn the slow, incompetent and militarist government response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Philippines media faces ‘eternal threat of punishment’ after cyber libel convictions
"If we can’t hold power to account, we can’t do anything," Rappler CEO Maria Ressa said after her conviction.
#OustDuterte trends as Filipinos criticize government's response to the coronavirus
"How to prevent Corona Virus? 1. Proper hygiene 2. Stay indoors as much as possible 3. Use face masks daily 4. #OustDuterte"
University of the Philippines unveils new subject on the Marcos dictatorship to counter historical revisionism
The new subject can be a platform for the “conscientization” of young Filipinos on the importance of human rights, social justice and the continuing struggle for genuine freedom and democracy.
‘Everything is destroyed': Inside the ruins of Marawi City in the Philippines
"Despite the scale of the destruction, almost no clearing has been done yet. Bombed homes and establishments, plazas, churches, and mosques — everything is destroyed."
