Analyzing the discussion of gregorio murder on twitter using text mining approach

Being dubbed as the “social media capital of the world”, the impact of social media among Filipinos went beyond information dissemination. Filipinos also used social media to call out authorities and revolutionize political systems. Using text mining approach, this study explored the common themes surrounding the social media users\u27 discussions regarding the recent killing of Sonya and Frank Gregorio which sparked conversation on Twitter in the Philippines. Using keywords from the trending hashtags #StopKillingsPH and #JusticeforSonyaGregorio, tweets were extracted via Python program. A total of 1045 tweets from December 21 to December 28, 2020 were collected and analyzed in terms of frequency, sentiment, subjectivity, and surrounding themes. Results show that discussions regarding the Gregorio murder revolved on the netizen\u27s call for justice, demand that the suspect be charged with murder, and an online petition and a louder plea to stop killings and end police brutality in the country. Results of this study are discussed in evidence on how social media can be influential in mobilizing the authorities to act against injustices in the Philippines and in affecting change in the society

A Foucauldian discourse analysis of president Duterte’s constructions of community quarantine during COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) first hit the Philippines in January 2020 and by March, more suspected cases were reported, compelling the national government to create measures to secure public health and fight the pandemic. In order to mitigate the spread of the virus, a community quarantine in the Philippine’s National Capital Region began on March 15, 2020. This study utilized Foucauldian Discourse Analysis in understanding President Rodrigo Roa–Duterte’s discourses about community quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines. Two of his press conferences served as texts for discourse analysis: (1) on March 12, 2020 when he announced measures against COVID-19 threat, and (2) on March 16, 2020 when enhanced community quarantine was imposed. Results showed four wider discourses: (1) Community Quarantine as a Political Device, (2) Community Quarantine as a Protection of Public Health, (3) Community Quarantine as an Act against Resistance, and (4) Community Quarantine as an Opportunity for Bayanihan (spirit of Communal Unity) and an Expression of Damayan (Giving Compassion and Support). Results showed how the discourses transitioned from community quarantine to enhanced community quarantine. The results are discussed in relation to power and social change