Monday, January 30, 2023
manilastandard.net
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Others
    • Pets
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Technology
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • MS ON THE ROAD
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Others
    • Pets
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Technology
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • MS ON THE ROAD
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
manilastandard.net
No Result
View All Result
Home Opinion Editorial

Book burning is what it is

Manila StandardbyManila Standard
August 18, 2022, 12:15 am
in Editorial, Opinion
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Email

You would think that book burning is something that’s already part of history, as it conjures images of crowds gathered in frenzy before a huge pile of books up in flames deemed as contrary to Adolf Hitler’s vision of a superior Aryan race.

That vision, as we know, led to the extermination of some six million Jews during the Second World War.

Something akin to book-burning is what’s taking place here, more than eight decades later, as certain quarters try to whip up an anti-Red hysteria and purge libraries of books considered “subversive” or pro-communist or tending to incite rebellion against the government.

Last week, the Komisyon ng Wikang Pambansa (KWP) stopped the printing of five books written by Malou Jacob, Bienvenido Lumbera, Dexter Cayanes, Rommel Rodriguez, Don Pagusara and Reuel Aguila supposedly for being “subversive.”

These authors, however, are unfazed by the agency’s move to ban their books.

ADVERTISEMENT

Rommel Rodriguez, a professor at the University of the Philippines Diliman’s Filipino and Philippine literature department, said the KWF’s decision only emboldened him further to write stories about the Filipino people.

“Censorship is my muse. The more an artist or writer is prevented from writing, the more enthusiastic we become and the more we want to write,” he said.

Don Pagusara, for his part, said the parts of the book considered subversive by the KWF were not even meant to be historical accounts. “It was fictional but based on true events that happened inside a maximum security prison at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City.

In a joint statement, the five authors demanded that the KWF commissioners, as well as the hosts of pro-government media network SMNI who called their works subversive, recant their allegations. “What is this travesty? Their claims are libelous and would put our lives in grave danger,” they said.

National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario, a former chair of the KWF, called on the commissioners not to involve the arts in their squabble.

“The vigor of the national language and literary freedom are among the nation’s sacred aspirations. Leave them out of the power struggle within KWF and its rotten bureaucracy,” he said in Filipino.

Arthur Casanova, the current KWF chair, defended the five books, saying they had all passed the commission’s review process.

A renowned author, educator, linguist and theater director, he said the claim the books were subversive “is a dangerous accusation which may already be stepping on the boundaries of freedom of expression and academic freedom.”

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III also decried the KWF’s move. “This is not good. Filipinos should have access to different kinds of ideas, including those of Karl Marx.”

Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel said the KWF’s order only proved the “chilling effect” of the anti-terrorism law, which the Supreme Court had affirmed as constitutional except for two provisions.

Project Gunita, a group that has been archiving materials on the Marcos administration, said only cowards and liars were frightened by the truth.

This is not the first time the government has cracked down on books deemed subversive.

During the previous administration, several state colleges also pulled out books they said were anti-government.

The Adarna publishing house was also recently identified as an outlet of children’s books that tended to put the government in a negative light.

The National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) claimed Adarna was attempting to “subtly radicalize” Filipino children with its books touching on the martial law era.

The virtual book-burning by the government runs counter to the freedom of expression guaranteed by the 1987 Constitution.

This must stop if we want to preserve our democratic rights and prevent our democracy from being undermined by forces opposed to contrary views and meaningful change.

Tags: Adolf Hitlerbook burningKomisyon ng Wikang PambansaSecond World War
ADVERTISEMENT
Manila Standard

Manila Standard

Related Posts

Recovering

byLito Banayo
January 30, 2023, 12:10 am
0
8
A crisis president

"Though it is a congressional initiative, and the presidential hand is yet to be seen, this is very welcome news"...

Read more

Only bad drivers don’t like NCAP

byOrlando Oxales
January 30, 2023, 12:05 am
0
8
Denying Villafuerte justice

"If they don’t want to suffer the consequences of their actions then obey the traffic rules, that’s it" The traffic...

Read more

‘Bulacan airport will boost tourism industry’

byMelandrew Velasco
January 30, 2023, 12:00 am
0
8
RSA: Mr. Malasakit, the environmentalist

"SMC has always been at the forefront in initiating projects without cost to the government to help grow the economy"...

Read more

More opportunities for Pinoy boxers

byManila Standard
January 28, 2023, 12:20 am
0
8
More opportunities for Pinoy boxers

Games and Amusement Board chairman Richard Clarin recently visited Thailand to watch Filipino boxers fight for regional titles. It provided...

Read more

Why POGOs must be banned

byEmil Jurado
January 28, 2023, 12:15 am
0
8
A tribute to Bob Garon

"It would do well for BBM to get advice from veteran AFP generals, since they have been there and done...

Read more

Justice delayed is justice denied (Part 2)

byTony La Viña
January 28, 2023, 12:10 am
0
8
Christmas path to peace

"The basic principle is that no one should be deprived of liberty unless there has been a trial and final...

Read more

Print Edition

View More

Recent Posts

  • Recovering
  • Only bad drivers don’t like NCAP
  • ‘Bulacan airport will boost tourism industry’
  • A Pinoy culinary heaven in Portland
  • Run your own milk tea shop with the new interactive Google Doodle
  • Disney-inspired desserts for all seasons
  • Obiena secures 2nd gold for season in French meet
  • Gan sisters, De Guzman, Macasaet lead JGFP winners

Advertisement

Latest News

Disney-inspired desserts for all seasons

byManila Standard Lifestyle
January 29, 2023, 9:30 pm
0
8
Disney-inspired desserts for all seasons

Sugarplum Pastries’ Chef Lovely Jiao, known for her scene-stealing desserts, has unveiled her fairytale-themed collection – which consists of eight-foot...

Read more

Obiena secures 2nd gold for season in French meet

byPeter Atencio
January 29, 2023, 9:20 pm
0
8
Strong Group picks up 2nd win with rout of Libya’s Al Nasr

Filipino pole vault star Ernest John Obiena may have fallen below the expectations of fans in Europe. Ernest John Obiena...

Read more

Gan sisters, De Guzman, Macasaet lead JGFP winners

byManila Standard Sports
January 29, 2023, 9:15 pm
0
8
Strong Group picks up 2nd win with rout of Libya’s Al Nasr

Cagayan de Oro—Hometown bet Ralph Rian Batican and Davao leg champions Nicole and Stephanie Gan, Lucas de Guzman and Brianna...

Read more

Starting ’em young

byManila Standard Sports
January 29, 2023, 9:12 pm
0
8
Strong Group picks up 2nd win with rout of Libya’s Al Nasr

Close to a hundred young golfers aged 9-17 and bracketed into four categories take the big step to their respective...

Read more

Army Navy supports Club200 Endurance Race

byManila Standard Sports
January 29, 2023, 9:10 pm
0
8
Strong Group picks up 2nd win with rout of Libya’s Al Nasr

Food chain giant Army Navy formalized its support to the Club200 200/50 Endurance Race—the Philippines’ biggest motorsports spectacle of 2023...

Read more

Advertisement

ADVERTISEMENT
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube

ABOUT US

Manila Standard

Manila Standard website (manilastandard.net), launched in August 2002, extends the newspaper’s reach beyond its traditional readers and makes its brand of Philippine news and opinion available to a much wider and geographically diverse readership here and overseas.

Digital Edition

In tone and content, the online edition mirrors the editorial thrust of the newspaper. While hewing to the traditional precepts of fairness and objectivity, MS believes the news of the day need not be staid, overly long or dry. Stories are succinct, readable and written in a lively style that has become a hallmark of the newspaper.

Download – Today’s Paper

Search

No Result
View All Result

6th Floor Universal Re Bldg., 106 Paseo De Roxas cor. Perea Street, Legaspi Village, 1226 Makati City Philippines

Trunklines: 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Pop.Life
    • Newsmakers
    • Hangouts
    • A-Pop
    • Post Its
    • Performances
    • Malls & Bazaars
    • Hobbies & Collections
  • Technology
    • Gadgets
    • Computers
    • Business
    • Tech Plus
  • MS ON THE ROAD
    • Sedan
    • SUV
    • Truck
    • Bike
    • Accessories
    • Motoring Plus
    • Commuter’s Corner
  • Home & Design
    • Residential
    • Commercial
    • Construction
    • Interior
  • Spotlight
  • Gallery
    • Photos
    • Videos
  • Events
    • Seminars
    • Exhibits
    • Community
  • Biyahero
    • Travel Features
    • Travel Reels
    • Travel Logs
  • Pets
  • Advertise with Us

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Install Manila Standard Web App

Install App