The GUIDON

Now 54 years since the declaration of Martial Law, the Philippines stands at a crossroads between remembrance and distortion. As historical revisionism and propaganda fortify the Marcos family’s power to the present day, Filipinos remain plagued by the continued hold of the dictatorship. The GUIDON stands thus firm in its pledge to critical, community-centered reportage—not losing sight of the regime’s atrocities, and staying cognizant of how its injustices permeate today. Read The GUIDON’s Martial Law Special and Issue No. 1 for AY 2026–2027 here: tgdn.co/IssueOne2627

NEWS x INQUIRY: Raising concerns over job security and livelihood support, the Ateneo’s shift from Megaforce Security Services Corporation to Leopard Security and Investigation Agency places the incumbent guards’ work arrangements under uncertainty. tgdn.co/48pawcF

As the Philippines marks National Indigenous Peoples Month this October, The GUIDON features members of Palawan’s Balik-Bugsuk movement to explore and shed light on the realities of Indigenous communities in the Philippines.

NATIONAL UPDATE: Abdulraof “Sammy Gambar” Macacua of the Bangsamoro Federalist Party has been elected as the first Chief Minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) today, October 30, marking a significant development in the region’s political leadership. Macacua secured the position with 51 votes, outnumbering his contender, former interim chief minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party, who received 27 votes. Moreover, one member of parliament abstained during the voting. Prior to his election, Macacua was BARMM’s interim Chief Minister from 2025 to 2026, an acting provincial governor of Maguindanao del Norte, and senior minister of the region. He also held a prominent position within the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, previously serving as Chief-of-Staff of its armed wing, the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces. #BeyondLoyola

NATIONAL UPDATE: Police attempted to break down the physical barricade set up by residents of Paquet, Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya, as part of their Barikada Kontra Mina protest today, October 30. This comes after the Regional Trial Court Branch 30 of Nueva Vizcaya issued a temporary restraining order on October 27 against 56 individuals who set up the barricades, following an injunction complaint from the North Luzon Mineral Resources Corporation (NLMRC) and the Bugkalot Confederation of Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino and Aurora, Inc. The order bars residents from blocking the Paquet-Pao Municipal Road and other public roads in the areas of Pao, Catarawan, Kakiduguen, and Paquet, and from stopping NLMRC’s equipment, personnel, and vehicles from entering these roads and its exploration sites. The Alyansa ng Novo Vizcayano para sa Kalikasan called the order unjust, saying NLMRC should be the one held accountable for violating residents’ rights to land and free expression. The protest traces back to May this year, when residents physically blocked NLMRC’s mineral exploration operations, citing the lack of genuine consultation with the community. Since then, police have arrested at least 16 individuals. #BeyondLoyola

OPINION: I am not a stranger to being the only woman in the media room. Having a seat at the table is something I had to earn the hard way. tgdn.co/4iOL8Db

OBF UPDATE: Eight Ateneans are among the 22 new Certified Materials Engineers who passed the 4th Materials Engineering Certification Examination, held by the Institute of Materials Engineers of the Philippines (IMEP) last September 26 to 27. Notably, four Ateneo alumni made it to the Top 10, with Joachim Drexel Reyno (BS CH-MSE ‘25) emerging as the top examinee. Patric John Pascua (BS APS-MSE ‘26), Angelo Josh Cuaresma (BS CH-MSE ‘25), and Ray Angelo Pulmano (BS APS-MSE ‘26) also placed third, fifth, and eighth, respectively. Rhed Jensi Atienza (BS APS-MSE ‘26), Misha Ong Ching (BS CH-MSE ‘25), Ashley Mae De Castro (BS CH-MSE ‘25), and Caitlyn Elise Go (BS CH-MSE ‘26) were also among the passing Atenean examinees. View the full results here: imep-inc.org/post/official-r….

NATIONAL UPDATE: The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) will reopen voter registration from November 10, 2026 to July 30, 2027, ahead of the 2028 national elections, COMELEC Chairperson George Erwin Garcia announced on October 28. Garcia said the registration period is meant to give the Commission enough time to process applications and cleanse the voter list. COMELEC will also reopen its Register Anywhere and Anytime Program, allowing eligible citizens to register at designated sites outside their intended voting locality without having to return to their intended voter registration area. As of writing, COMELEC has recorded 71 million registered voters ahead of the 2028 elections. It also received 5.4 million applications during the previous registration period, which ran from October 2025 to May 2026. #BeyondLoyola

NEWS: As the nomination period for the next University President comes to a close tomorrow, October 30, members of the Ateneo community describe the kind of leadership they hope to see in the next term.

NATIONAL UPDATE: The Nueva Vizcaya Regional Trial Court Branch 30 has issued a 72-hour temporary restraining order (TRO) directing the clearing of barricades in Barangay Pao, Kasibu, potentially allowing mining exploration activities by the North Luzon Mineral Resources Corporation (NLMRC) to proceed. Executive Judge Paul R. Attolba Jr. issued the order following a injunction complaint filed by NLMRC and the Bugkalot Confederation of Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and Aurora, Inc. The petition argued that the barricades had prevented the company from conducting mining exploration in the area. While the TRO temporarily orders the removal of the existing barricades, it does not constitute a final ruling on the case pertaining to the mining exploration permit of the NLMRC. The order nevertheless raises concerns over the implications of clearing the way for mining exploration while the dispute remains unresolved. Furthermore, unaddressed environmental and ancestral domain issues remain even with the issuance of the TRO. The Alyansa ng Novo Vizcayano para sa Kalikasan calls for the defense of the barricade, stating that doing so is what is just. Moreover, they call for accountability from parties who helped issue the TRO, like the Philippine National Police, local officials, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Mine Geosciences Bureau. Additionally, defendant and environmentalist Florentino Daynos expects the case to eventually result in the suspension or cancellation of NLMRC’s exploration permit, citing similar developments in the Municipality of Dupax del Norte. #BeyondLoyola

In Bugsuk Island, Palawan, residents of Sitio Marihangin have been resisting the aggressive encroachment and displacement brought about by the commercial and ecotourist interests of San Miguel Corporation and Jewelmer Corporation. Despite holding ancestral ties and historical deeds to the land, the community has faced armed surveillance and disruptions that threaten the land that has sustained their community for generations and housed the burial grounds of their ancestors. This National Indigenous Peoples Month, The GUIDON recognizes that the struggle against corporate interest is shared among Indigenous communities nationwide. Amid ongoing conversations regarding development on ancestral lands, the commemoration serves as a reminder that progress does not matter in a country that fails to protect the people who have long safeguarded its lands, resources, and cultural heritage over profit. From our archives: tgdn.co/3BoOdXJ

NATIONAL UPDATE: The Bataan Chapter of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) reiterated its opposition to rehabilitating and operating the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) in Morong, citing financial and safety concerns. LMP Bataan Chapter President and Orion Mayor Antonio Raymundo Jr. reaffirmed the group’s position under a June 2023 resolution. According to him, the mayors’ stand will remain a “no to BNPP operations.” Mayors also raised concerns over rehabilitation plans pursued without prior consultation with local governments. The opposition follows a visit by prospective investors on October 22, 2026, which prompted the Nuclear Free Bataan Movement to rally against the plant’s potential revival. The Department of Energy’s indication that the facility could be sold to nuclear energy investors has further alarmed anti-nuclear advocates. #BeyondLoyola

NATIONAL UPDATE: Senator Bato dela Rosa has once again asked the Supreme Court (SC) to block the enforcement of an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant against him, renewing his bid to shield himself from apprehension despite the court’s earlier rejection of his plea. Dela Rosa, who has remained out of public view since leaving the Senate in May, is facing an ICC warrant over his alleged role as a co-perpetrator in crimes against humanity linked to former president Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war. In a 15-page manifestation dated October 27, his lawyer Israelito Torreon urged the SC to resolve their pending motion for reconsideration filed in June, after the court denied his request for a temporary restraining order (TRO) in May. Dela Rosa’s camp cited the Php 50 million bounty for his arrest, his designation as “armed and dangerous” by the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the creation of a task force to apprehend him. His lawyers argued that these measures ”put his right to life in present and serious danger.” In May, the SC voted 9-5-1 to deny Dela Rosa’s plea, ruling that he had no clear and unmistakable right to protection through a TRO. Despite the SC’s earlier rejection of his plea, Dela Rosa continues to seek judicial intervention to block his arrest under the ICC warrant whilst in hiding. #BeyondLoyola

LOOK: The Sanggunian: Commission on Gender Equality (CGE), in partnership with the University Gender Hub and LoveYourself Inc., are offering free human immunodeficiency virus and sexually transmitted disease (HIV/STD) testing services to the Ateneo community on October 28 and 29, from 10 AM to 6 PM. The testing services are available in the University Gender Hub located at the second floor of Gonzaga Hall. This initiative has been launched as part of One Big Pride: Tungo Abot-Tanaw to encourage sexual health awareness and discuss mental health issues within the queer community. In addition to the testing services, the Sanggunian: CGE will also conduct two talks regarding safe sex practices and sexually transmitted infections, which will be held onsite and online, respectively. Photos by The GUIDON

IN PHOTOS: The Talakayang Alay sa Bayan (TALAB) talks and activities continued from October 14 to 24, following the theme “Forging Solidarity in Diversity.” The events bolstered discussions on relevant issues involving farmers, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, the LGBTQIA+ community, and more. Photos by Marqus Alavazo, Mavic Gregorio, Miguel Manotok, Geri Reyes, and Tracy G. Rodriguez

NATIONAL UPDATE: Political prisoners’ support group KAPATID has urged Congress to investigate plans by Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. to convert 366.7 hectares of New Bilibid Prison (NBP) land in Muntinlupa into a commercial real estate venture projected to generate Php 1 billion to Php 2 billion in annual lease revenues. Yesterday, October 25, KAPATID launched its “Protect Bilibid Lands” campaign, calling for an immediate halt to plans to close NBP by 2028 and lease or privatize its grounds for commercial use. The group said the land should instead be preserved as a permanent national correctional center that upholds prisoners’ rights and rehabilitation. Citing Republic Act No. 10575, or the Bureau of Corrections Act of 2013, KAPATID emphasized BuCor’s responsibilities for the safekeeping and reformation of prisoners, including the provision of hospitals and visiting areas. KAPATID also cited a July 24 petition to the Department of Justice signed by 45 political prisoners, including 12 senior citizens and 18 people with medical conditions, opposing forced transfers to distant penal colonies and seeking safeguards such as prior formal notice and written consent. The group warned that transferring prisoners to remote facilities would burden low-income families and worsen overcrowding in regional prisons. It argued that maintaining a major correctional facility in Metro Manila would allow prisoners to remain close to their families and support their rehabilitation. #BeyondLoyola

OPINION: Seeking accountability becomes a misguided chase when anger clouds one’s judgement of who should be held accountable and how justice must be claimed. tgdn.co/4imY7L6

Keynote speaker Atty. Yvonne Ricaro shared an opening speech for the newly inaugurated student leaders of the Sanggunian and its student arms during “Aguhon: Panunumpa ng mga Lider-Estudyante ng Sanggunian para sa Taong Panuruan 2026–2027,” the annual inauguration ceremony organized by the Ateneo Student Judicial Court (ASJC) on October 25 at the Church of the Gesù. Ricaro reflected on her experiences as a student leader, encouraging the inductees to extend their service beyond the Ateneo and confront the injustices and inequalities faced by the broader Philippine society. She congratulated the student leaders and urged them to recognize the value of every person they serve, as well as carry their commitment to serving others into their future endeavors. Drawing from the Atenean Ignatian values of magis and cura personalis, Ricaro emphasized that leadership entails taking responsibilities beyond one’s obligations while remaining grounded in compassion and care for others. However, she reminded the inductees that their commitment to service should not come at the expense of their well-being. The event began with a thanksgiving mass presided by Robbie D’Lima, SJ, followed by the official oath-taking ceremony of the Sanggunian. Afterwards, the inductees and guests proceeded to the Ricardo and Dr. Rosita G. Leong Roof Deck for the fellowship dinner. Elected officers, representatives, cabinet members, and officials of the Sanggunian Executive Council and their respective cabinets, the Sanggunian sectors, the ASJC, Ateneo Commission on Elections, Ateneo Office of the Ombudsman, and the Ateneo Commission on Audit all took their oath.

IN PHOTOS: A Thanksgiving Mass for the outgoing security guards was held today, October 25, in the Church of the Gesù. Organized by University Residence Halls dormers, the event invited the guards and their families to gather in prayer. During the send-off blessing, the guards faced the community, who honored them with applause for their long-term service in the University. This marks their very first time inside the church for many of them. Photos by Ysabel Aunor

IN PHOTOS: Student leaders of the Sanggunian underwent their inauguration and oath-taking earlier today, October 25, during “Aguhon: Panunumpa ng mga Lider-Estudyante ng Sanggunian para sa Taong Panuruan 2026–2027.” The ceremony was led by the Ateneo Student Judicial Court (ASJC) at the Church of the Gesù. The program began with a thanksgiving mass presided by Robbie D’Lima, SJ, and was followed by a speech by Atty. Yvonne Ricaro, who congratulated the students for taking the next step in leading the student body. The oath-taking of the officers from the ASJC, Ateneo Commission on Elections, Ateneo Office of the Ombudsman, and Ateneo Commission on Audit were led by their respective magistrates. This was then followed by the oath-taking of the representatives and cabinets of the John Gokongwei School of Management, Rosita G. Leong School of Social Sciences, School of Humanities, School of Science and Engineering, as well as that of sectoral representatives and leaders from the Sanggunian Office of the President, and the Office of the Vice President. After the program, attendees moved to the Dr. Ricardo and Dr. Rosita G. Leong Hall roofdeck for a dinner service, followed by the messages of appreciation from alumni and other guests. Photos by RJ Hernandez