Workers of the Cubao-based coffee shop, in Manila, have something in common – they are all relatives of victims of extrajudicial killings.
By Alexandria Magno
In 2021, Redemptorist Brother Jun Santiago set up a small coffee shop with the help of a group of artists and media practitioners to give jobs to the families of victims of extrajudicial killings (EJK) during the pandemic and to provide them an avenue to share their stories as well.
Santiago established Silingan Coffee at the Cubao Expo compound with the help of the Respond and Break the Silence Against the Killings (RESBAK) alliance, which provided the space for the cafe. RESBAK is an alliance of artists and media practitioners who banded together to oppose former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs and human rights abuses.
The name of the coffee shop is the Bisaya-language term for “neighbor,” reflecting the theme of the establishment that has become popular among students and human rights advocates.
“We’re not just selling coffees, we are also telling stories,” Santiago told Rappler.
Since it was founded in 2021, the cafe has not only improved its services ―it now has a mobile kitchen at the Redemptorist Church in Parañaque– some of its staff have also developed the courage to share their experiences as relatives of EJK victims with any customers who wished to hear their stories.
Stories
Nanette Castillo, 54, has been working as a barista at the Silingan mobile kitchen. In 2017, her son, Aldrin, was shot dead by five unidentified gunmen near their house. Authorities classified Aldrin’s case as death under investigation, similar to other incidents of shooting involving unidentified suspects.
“We are happy in Silingan because we are like one family. The staff have been through the same thing, we are all victims of EJK. All of us lost our loved ones and most of us are breadwinners,” she said in Tagalog.
Ann, who lost her son and husband to the drug war, also works as a barista in Silingan. The 49-year-old managed to do this while juggling her studies and other part-time jobs.
She was able to regain hope through the support of the cafe. She said she saw her work as a temporary escape from the horrors brought by Duterte’s war on drugs.
“When I’m on duty, I’m happy because I’m with my fellow victims. This is our chance to catch up, spend time with each other, and make sure they are alright as well – this is where you will draw strength from each other,” she said.
Families of drug war victims continue to face challenges in seeking justice for their loved ones. Through the platform that Silingan has given to them, Castillo hopes to correct the misconceptions about EJK victims.
“Silingan Coffee Shop is not just for the so-called families of ‘drug addicts’ – Silingan Coffee shop is for those who respect human rights, care about people, and enjoy helping people,” she added.
Message to Marcos
As they wait for the investigation of their relatives’ deaths to prosper, the staff at Silingan called on the incumbent Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to show true “unity” by resolving the cases. They were asked what message they wanted to give the President as his first anniversary in his residence and working place, the Malacañang Palace, drew near.
Castillo said: “I want you to act like a president… As you always say, in order to have unity in the country, show us that you are doing the right thing – have the people that committed these killings investigated.”
Castillo added that if the Philippines does not need to rejoin the International Criminal Court, as Marcos had said, he should then pursue all cases of drug war deaths without exception.
“Prove that you do not favor anyone,” he said.
Marcos had said that he would continue Duterte’s war on drugs but in a “slightly” different manner, making prevention and rehabilitation his main priorities instead of focusing on purely law enforcement. Just months after his inauguration in 2022, he also said he does not intend to let the Philippines rejoin the International Criminal Court.
Ann, for her part, said: “My appeal to the President is to pay attention to the victims. We all know the history of the Marcoses but this is a way for him to show that he is different.”
– Rappler.com/ with reports from Alexandria Magno. Alexandria Magno is a Rappler Volunteer from the University of Santo Tomás.
This story was originally published on the Rappler (Philippines) and is republished within the Human Journalism Network program, supported by the ICFJ, International Center for Journalists.