Vital Signs - UPCN

40 taon na ang nakalipas.

Ngayong Pebrero 25, ginugunita natin ang pagkakaisa ng mga Filipino sa rebolusyon laban sa rehimeng Marcos. Nawa’y magsilbi itong paalala na ang laban para sa hustisya at pagbabago ay patuloy na umiiral, at tungkulin nating manindigan laban sa pang-aapi at kawalang-katarungan.

[FEATURES] It’s Written in the Stars: Batch Sinagtala’s Pinning and Candle Lighting Ceremony

by Jasmine Chuatoco and Joseinne Gatchalian

When the spark of passion within every nursing student is nurtured in diligence and fueled by grit, it ignites into a radiant flame. Heralding the theme, “Ningning: Kislap ng Silakbong Panata”, the Class of 2028 officially affirms their commitment and dedication to the nursing profession through their Pinning and Candle Lighting Ceremony last January 22, 2026, at the UP College of Nursing Auditorium. United as Batch Sinagtala, this milestone marked not only a rite of passage but a solemn vow to serve with compassion, dedication, and purpose.

READ HERE: https://medium.com/.vitalsigns/its-written-in-the-stars-batch-sinagtala-s-pinning-and-candle-lighting-ceremony-024d0d3ca24b

HINDI BIBITAW! IMMEDIATE ACQUITTAL FOR FRENCHIE MAE CUMPIO AND MARIELLE DOMEQUIL! DROP ALL TRUMPED-UP CHARGES AGAINST TACLOBAN 5! ABOLISH NTF-ELCAC!

The College Editors Guild of the Philippines, together with the press and human rights community, calls for the immediate acquittal of community journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio and lay worker Marielle ‘Maye’ Domequil from all trumped-up charges the state has hurled against them.

Six years in jail stands as an inhumane and detestable punishment. Duterte’s terror laws, alongside Marcos Jr’s proliferation of them, have robbed Frenchie and Maye of their proactive youth. No financial restitution or acquittal can compensate for those stolen years, which could have fueled productive service to marginalized communities. This ordeal concretely manifests a corrupt justice system that sustains state violence for its own benefit.

Frenchie and Maye’s resolute choice to serve the Filipino people—bolstering their activism from the academic spaces to the repressed communities of Eastern Visayas—directly dismantles the state's distorted narrative of red-tagging, coercion, and sham ‘anti-terrorism’ campaign. Depraved social realities of rampant corruption, development aggression, militarization, and injustice mobilized today’s youth even further, drawing inspiration from the likes of the Tacloban 5.

We then demand that the Marcos Jr. government end all forms of lawfare against citizens and watchdogs who simply upholding their responsibilities. It must acknowledge their vital contributions to nation-building, rather than relentless persecution that ultimately fails to address systemic failures and only accelerates the regime’s evasion of accountability.

The state must also provide human rights defender Alexander ‘Chakoy’ Abinguna, one of the Tacloban 5, unconditional access to a speedy and fair trial. He must not languish in jail any longer.

Furthermore, we assert the total abolition of NTF-ELCAC and its entire machinery, lulling the nation into a false sense of security under the pretext of counter-insurgency. Its ‘terror-tagging’ endangers journalists' press freedom and Filipinos at large through harassment and fabricated threats. No apparatus, established by executive order or law, must threaten our freedom of expression essential for young leaders forging a just nation.

We challenge the Marcos administration–should it truly commit to protecting press freedom and prioritizing education—to end all forms of attacks against student journalists and youth leaders. No compromises exist in unleashing their full potential through fearless sociopolitical engagement and critical discourse.

The Guild enjoins all student journalists, press freedom advocates, and human rights defenders to demand justice and accountability for the Tacloban 5 and all victims of human rights violations.

The times call upon us to persistently expose state terrorism and disinformation targeting legitimate dissent and community reportage. That we must uphold, without hesitation.

We must not let impunity in this generation threaten the future we and all generations deserve.

Drop all charges against Tacloban 5!
Free all political prisoners!
Defend press freedom!

UNITY STATEMENT
January 22, 2026



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PUBLICATION SIGNATORIES

LUZON
The Torch Publications - Philippine Normal University Manila
NCPAG-Umalohokan - University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration and Governance
The Current - City of Malabon University
The Manila Collegian - University of the Philippines Manila
Vital Signs - University of the Philippines Manila - College of Nursing
Ang Tagamasid - University of the Philippines Manila - College of Arts and Sciences
FEU Advocate - Far Eastern University Manila
The Warden Publication - Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa
Philippine Collegian - University of the Philippines Diliman
Tinig ng Plaridel - University of the Philippines Diliman
Sigla - University of the Philippines Diliman - College of Home Economics
The Staple - University of the Philippines Los Baños - College of Economics and Management
Tanglaw - University of the Philippines Los Baños - College of Development Communication
UP Baguio Outcrop - University of the Philippines Baguio
Frontliner - University of the Philippines Diliman Extension Program in Pampanga and Olongapo
UPLB Perspective - University of the Philippines Los Baños
SINAG - University of the Philippines Diliman - College of Social Sciences and Philosophy
UP Solidaridad - University of the Philippines System
Fiat Lux - National Teachers College
The Voice of UPLB DevComSoc - University of the Philippines Los Baños - College of Development Communication
The Catalyst - Polytechnic University of the Philippines
Alyansa ng Kabataang Mamamahayag ng PUP (AKM-PUP)
The Standard- Arellano University Manila
ThePILLARS Publication - Ateneo de Naga University
The Lourdenian - Our Lady of Lourdes College Foundation
TheDEMOCRAT - University of Nueva Caceres
CaSSiPi - Bicol University College of Social Sciences and Philosophy
The CatSU Statesman - Catanduanes State University
The Angelite - Holy Angel University
The Sentinel - City College of Calamba
The Wisdom - Partido State University - College of Education
The Probe - Bicol University Gubat Campus
Breakthrough Publication - Camarines Norte State College
Heraldo Filipino - De La Salle University – Dasmariñas
The Gazette- Cavite State University Main Campus
The Vital Signs - Bicol University College of Nursing
The Seafarers’ Gazette - Mariners’ Polytechnic Colleges Foundation of Canaman (Cam. Sur), Inc.
TomasinoWeb - University of Santo Tomas
Thomasian Engineer - University of Santo Tomas, Faculty of Engineering
Scientia - Bicol University College of Science
Scientia - UP Diliman College of Science
Aquinian Herald- University of Santo Tomas-Legazpi
Union of Journalists of the Philippines-UP
The Mentor - Bicol University College of Education
The Mariner - Mariners’ Polytechnic Colleges Inc.
Krokis - Bicol University Institute of Design and Architecture
The Seedling - Bicol University Guinobatan
PUP Campus Journalists - Polytechnic University of the Philippines
The College Artisans Bulletin - Central Bicol State University of Agriculture -Sipocot

VISAYAS
The Pillar - University of Eastern Philippines–Main Campus
The Noumena - University of Eastern Philippines Laoang Campus
Tug-ani - University of the of the Philippines Cebu
FORWARD Publications - University of San Jose-Recoletos
Lanog - University of the Philippines Cebu College of Communication, Art, and Design
Pagbutlak - University of the Philippines Visayas
The Accounts - University of the Philippines Visayas, College of Management
Today’s Carolinian - University of San Carlos
The Westimes - STI West Negros University
UP VISTA - UP Tacloban College

MINDANAO
Atenews - Ateneo de Davao University
HIMATI - University of the Philippines Mindanao
The Lamp - Brokenshire College Inc.

NEWS: Students of UP Manila partook in a lightning rally in the midst of the Lantern Parade event held at the UP-PGH oblation to criticize and condemn the corruption that the Philippine government is built on with the confidential fund scandals, flood control ghost projects, and the sustained neglect for many public sectors, demanding integrity and justice to be served.