“Sosyal Distancing,” poem about Sitio San Roque, killing of Winston Ragos, a writers’ group’s protest under lockdown

Liga ng Kabataang Propagandista (LKP), a group of writers advocating for the use of Filipino language, information and expression to express aspirations for freedom and democracy, launched their online folio on the ongoing pandemic lockdown.

Aptly named “Sosyal Distancing,” the literary compilation gathered works that tackled the struggles of the various marginalized sectors under the militarized lockdown.

“Nais ng LKP, sa pamamagitan ng sining ay mapukaw ang damdamin ng mga makakakita nito o makakabasa upang sa ganoon ay mamulat sila sa tunay na dinaranas ng sambayanang Pilipino” LKP member and Sining Bugkos Education and Research officer Rafael Mendoza said.

[LKP wants to use arts to arouse the feelings of those who perceive and read them so they will become enlightened with the real situation the Filipino people are suffering.]

The group aims to create content and encourage other writers and aspiring ones to be made aware and voice their opinions of the social and political issues surrounding the almost two-month long lockdown that should have been imposed, designed and implemented for medical interventions amid the COVID-19 pandemic—but still lacking the most basic of medical needs after more than 50 days: sufficient personal protective equipment for health workers on the frontlines and real mass testing.

The group also released poems to give their take no issues or extend solidarity to people who are suffering on various issues connected to the lockdown.

This is the poem one of their members wrote when residents of Sitio San Roque in Barangay Bagong Pag-asa in Quezon City were violently dispersed, arrested and detained when they went out to the street and asked for aid.

Another compelling work of the group is the poem written when Winston Ragos was shot and killed by police near a lockdown checkpoint in Quezon City:

“Para ito sa mga taong nagdurusa ngayon sa ilalim ng pasistang rehimen ni Duterte at sa kinalaunan ay mapakilos ang mga ito at makilahok sa pakikibaka ng masang Pilipino para sa tunay na kalayaan at kaunlaran,” he added.

[These are for people who now suffer under the fascist Duterte regime, at that they will soon mobilize and participate in the struggle for genuine freedom and democracy.]

Their ‘Sosyal Distancing’ collection is growing. You can check out their works on these following links:

Day 1:

Day 2:

Day 3:

Day 4: 

Day 5:

With the current threat of repression towards the people, including ABS-CBN being forced to shut down on May 5, critical voices—even more so critical action—are crucial these days and in these times if we are to get out of quarantine as human beings whose freedoms didn’t diminish further.