By Gabriela Baron
The Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) ordered the banning of five books in libraries and schools for being “subversive” and “anti-government.”
On Aug. 9, KWF Commissioners Carmelita Abdurahman and Benjamin Mendillo issued a memorandum to cease printing of creative literary works with “political and subversive” themes and those with “subliminal ideologies that encourage to fight the government.”
The five books are “Teatro Politikal Dos” by Malou Jacob, “Kalatas: Mga Kuwentong Bayan at Kuwentong Buhay” by Rommel Rodriguez, “Tawid-diwa sa Pananagisas ni Bienvenido Lumbera: Ang Bayan, ang Manunulat, at ang Magasing Sagisag sa Imahinatibong Yugto ng Batas Militar 1975-1975” by Dexter Cayanes, “May Hadlang ang Umaga” by Don Pagusara, and “Labas: Mga Palabas sa Labas ng Sentro” by Reuel Aguila.
“Pinapayuhan din ang lahat ng [Sentro ng Wika at Kultura] Direkto sa pamamagitan ng tagapag-ugnay nito na huwag ipamigay ang mga tukoy na aklat sa ibaba upang hindi tayo managot sa RA 11479 particular sa seksiyon 9, inciting to commit terrorism,” the memorandum read.
What is literature for?
The KWF’s move was denounced by authors as “a form of terrorism.”
“Marami at masalimuot ang mga karanasan ng tao at ng lipunan. Alin man sa mga danas na iyan ay maaaring isulat. Ito ang bukal na pinagsasalukan naming lima kasama ang iba pang mga manunulat para sa aming mga akda,” the statement of the five authors read.
“Isinusulat ang mga iyan upang ipagbunyi ang buhay, maitala ang mga pangyayari, at makita ang katotohanan,” it further read.
Some KWF commissioners, the authors claimed, have labeled their books as “subversive, anti-Marcos, and anti-Duterte” and associated their works with the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army.
The authors slammed the allegations as “harmful.”
“Naniniwala kaming isang uri ng karahasan ang pigilang maipakita ang iba’t ibang danas ng mga Pilipino. Naniniwala kaming isang uri ng terorismo ang magtakda kung ano lamang ang maaaring isulat at paano isulat ang mga ito.”
Book purging
In September last year, removal of books and documents published by the National Democratic Front of the Philippines were removed in at least three state university libraries to supposedly “protect” the youth and students from insurgent ideology.
Books, including the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Human Law, were pulled out from Kalinga State University, Isabela State University, and Aklan State University.
Similarly, two bookshops, one in Tomas, Morato in Quezon City and one in Padre Faura, Manila were defaced with anti-communist graffiti.-ngs
