Ang Pamantasan Vol. 40 Issue 2

The Official Student Publication of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Volume 40, Issue 2 • October - November 2019

Read Ang Pamantasan Issues on Issuu:

Gusaling Atienza welcomes back students, faculty Amiel Rose AQUINO

A

fter almost four years of vacancy, the three-story building, Gusaling “Don Pepe” Atienza (GA), formally reopens its door to students and faculty last October 28, 2019.

The establishment underwent a retrofitting project since its closure last 2017. For almost four years, it remained vacant for being structurally unstable and unsound.

The 16 year-old building was named after Jose J. Atienza Sr, the late father of Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza, in honor of his commitment and undying support for the City of Manila.

Due to its rehabilitation, numerous Colleges and Offices had vacated and had been transferred to different buildings. It was only last October 21, 2019 when the City Government of Manila released the Occupancy Permit.

Classes held in Gusaling Corazon Aquino (GCA) and The College of Architecture and Urban Planning office have been moved to the newly rehabilitated building.

Meanwhile, GCA will now be used for Offices of The Administration.

According to Engr. Karen L. Leviste, of the Physical Facilities Management Office, another aim of the 2020 Project of this Administration is the replacement of new inverter air conditioners to GA. “Ang sinasabi lamang din naming sa inyo, tulungan ninyo kaming mag-maintain ng mga facilities kasi hindi namin mababantayan ‘yan ng araw-araw.” Engr. Leyson requested the students to be more responsible in using the facilities.

Ongoing projects also include the renovation of the hallway between Justo Alberto Auditorium and Gymnasium, and addition of new lighting in the University Gym. On the other hand, upcoming projects will be the opening of Gusaling Lacson’s roof deck which was once dubbed as “Seven in Heaven” as well as the fixation of the elevator located in the building.

Formerly, GA is the home of the College of Medicine-Library, Office of the University President, Office of the Graduate School of Nursing, as well as Graduate School of Engineering.

Volunteer from Love Yourself collects blood sample from a student to test using HIV Testing Kit. Photo by: Raven Khate Villaluna

CSSC, CNSC administer free HIV/AIDS testing Marella PALCES

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LM students get tested for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) at the President Ramon Magsaysay Entrepreneurial Center as part of “First AIDS: Taking the Lead by Saving Lives”, a collaboration project by the College of Science-Student Council (CSSC) and College of Nursing-Student Council (CNSC) in commemoration of World AIDS Day 2019 last November 28, 2019.

In partnership with Love Yourself Philippines, a non-profit organization of volunteers whose mission is to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS as well as providing testing, counseling, and treatment services, the CSSC and CNSC were able to provide such services to the student body, who previously had no opportunity to do so.

“This [First AIDS] project was created to respond to the alarming issues of HIV/AIDS or the increase in the number of victims each day,” Edwin Karl Basa, President of the CSSC, said.

He said that early detection and prevention for AIDS is more important than just being aware of it, pertaining to the significance of the HIV/AIDS testing presented to the students. “Yes, the students need to know the basics of HIV/AIDS but getting tested gives an opportunity for the patients and the health care provider to fight the disease itself,” he added.

NEWS

Mayor Isko challenges new PLM President Leyco READ ON P2

According to the CSSC, a total of 60 students were able to get tested for HIV/AIDS, with the whole process handled by The Love Yourself Philippines volunteers.

Students who signed up and filed up a form consisting of relevant information for testing were called according to their birthdays in order to ensure the confidentiality of their identity.

Due to the sheer number of students who came to the testing however, the volunteers were not able to accommodate all of them as the number of attending students exceeded the original estimate. Instead, they gave referrals to the exceeding number of students to come to their office located in Pasay.

In a seminar held by Love Yourself Philippines in the Justo Alberto Auditorium, Republic Act 11166 or the “Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act of 2018” was discussed, as well as the state of HIV/AIDS in the Philippines.

The statistics cited from the Department of Health (as of July 2019) shows how an average of 35 people are diagnosed with HIV/AIDS daily and is only increasing every year. Part of the seminar also discussed how a social “stigma” prevails among the Filipinos that prevent them from availing HIV/AIDS-related services, which in turn increases the number of people who are possible hosts of the virus going unchecked.

FEATURES

SPORTS

How Filipinos resort to syndi-courts as a means of obtaining justice

PLM alumna helps raise the bar for Philippine Arnis

READ ON P6

READ ON P10

The Official Student Publication of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Volume 40, Issue 2 • October - November 2019

news 02

READ MORE

Corruption allegations VS PHISGOC • P3

ORDINANCE #7971 is the City of Manila’s existing decree against vandalism.

EDITOR: Jerome Tresvalles

READ MORE

“Isko” threatens Anti-vandalism violators • P3

IN NUMBERS

₱ 6BILLION

was the approved budget, handled by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), for the 30th Southeast Asian Games authorized by both the Congress and the President.

ISKO PRIDE Dwight Justley ULEP

PLM ranks 2nd in the October 2019 BLEPP Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) ranks second after obtaining a performance rate of 96.84% with 92 passers out of 95 examinees in the recent Board Licensure Examination for Psychologists and Psychometrician (BLEPP) with a rating of 85.60% last October 2019.

PLM graduate Rea Alexis Dolores placed fifth among 6,800 passers nationwide.

The examination took place from October 27-30, 2019 and the results were posted six days after, on November 5, 2019.

PLM aces ChE Licensure Exam Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) obtains 100% passing rate from the 2019 Chemical Engineering Licensure Examination.

15 out of 15 PLMayers took and passed the examination last November 23-25, 2019.

899 of 1,259 examinees in the country successfully made the cut as announced by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

PLM scores 100% rate in November 2019 CE Board Exam Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) recognizes 100% performance rate of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) in November 2019 Civil Engineering Licensure Examination.

A total of 27 PLMayer examinees successfully passed the board as announced last November 15, 2019.

6,510 out of 15,075 takers nationwide made the cut.

Newly inaugurated President Emmanuel A. Leyco shakes hands with Hon. Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso at the investiture ceremony after he was sworn in as the 10th President of PLM. Photo by: Ibanica Dionisio

“Make PLM greater than it is today”

Mayor Isko challenges new PLM President Leyco Mauren MERCA

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onorable Manila City Mayor “Isko” Moreno Domagoso challenges former Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Usec. Emmanuel A. Leyco to make PLM greater than it is today, during Leyco’s inauguration and Oath of Office as the 10th Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) President, last October 18, 2019 at the University Activity Center (UAC).

Mayor Domagoso led Leyco’s Oath of Office in which the newly inaugurated President then received the University Mace and Academic Collars, the symbol of Presidency, given by Regent Wilma Galvante and Regent Jose Ngaw.

According to the Manila Mayor, PLM is the “north star of all government units in tertiary education” and challenges the new University President “to make PLM greater than it is today,” stressing the responsibility Leyco holds both for the University and the City of Manila on his salutations.

He also emphasized that the academic field should be governed by academicians and not politicians thus Sec. Leyco was assigned as the President of the University who is a product of public school education, as he understands more the struggles of the students of the University.

Apart from being a former DSWD Undersecretary, Pres.

Leyco was also a professor at the Asian Institute of Management.

He earned his Master’s in Public Administration at Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Master of Arts in Organizational Psychology at Columbia University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Behavioral Sciences at De La Salle University.

Similar with Mayor Domagoso, Leyco is a true-blue Manileno, he completed his elementary education at Dr. Alejandro Albert Elementary School and continued his secondary education at Ramon Magsaysay High School and Claro M. Recto High School respectively.

“Leyco is the right man at the right time for PLM,” Dr. Soledad A. Hernando, a retired professor from Asian Institute of Management, said in her speech.

Before the program reached its end, the University President himself delivered his own speech saying that “as a public university, marami pang dapat gawin.” He aspires the University to pursue greater proficiency for business and government as it became a training ground of public servants.

Currently PLM remains as one of the preferred schools by employers for its reputation for quality graduates.

The ceremony commenced with a procession composed of the university faculty members, student leaders, representatives from different academic and government committees, and the Manila City mayor himself at the University Activity Center.

news

The Official Student Publication of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Volume 40, Issue 2 • October - November 2019

03

Corruption allegations VS PHISGOC

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Jerome TRESVALLES

n a recent press conference, President Rodrigo Duterte firmly stands by his staunch confederate Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano in his dismissal of corruption allegations against Cayetano relating to funding for the 30th SEA Games.

Earlier in the year, the President claimed that the Philippine Sea Games Organizational Committee known as PHISGOC should be stripped of its duties in preference to the national government for alleged corruption.

According to his speaker Salvador Panelo, “He (Duterte) said that he doesn’t want the foundation, gusto niya gobyerno. Sabi niya maraming korapsyon diyan sa private kaya nasisira yung mga diskarte ng andiyan, kaya gusto niya gobyerno.”

Panelo however, guaranteed Speaker Cayetano’s continued support and trust from the President although Cayetano may be taken off the SEA games project altogether.

A clarification was made days later by Ramon “Tats” Suzara, the chief executive officer of PHISGOC, to the allegations of the President, stating that all funds including the P5-billion budget approved by the Congress and the P1-Billion augmentation fund approved by the President are in the hands of the Philippine Sports Commission.

"All government funds are duly accounted for, and are being disbursed in accordance with government procurement procedures performed either by the PSC or the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), as proposed by PHISGOC chairman, Congressman Alan Peter Cayetano, to ensure that every peso allotted for the SEA Games are wisely and properly spent," said Suzara.

No further action was made by the government and PHISGOC as well as Speaker Cayetano remained in the 30th SEA games project.

In the month of November, the PHISGOC came under even more fire when photos circulated in social media regarding the logistical failures and hasty preparation work whilst nearing the 30th.

They were attacked from evidence of slap-dash work such as the cubicle in the Rizal Memorial Stadium featuring two toilets in one cubicle, and in the same stadium also had makeshift press conference areas that were bareboned and unfinished.

But the issue most netizens were livid about was the PHISGOC’s inability to justify most of where the billions of funds go, more so the fact that Cayetano still effectively has control of the P6-Billion lodged within the PSC. This is due to the agreement signed on the 14th of August by PHISGOC, PSC, and POC for the country's hosting of the SEA Games.

The agreement states that the PSC is mandated to train Filipino athletes and relinquish public funds to PHISGOC so it can organize, prepare and execute the events for the SEA Games. The POC as it is a franchise holder of the games, were tasked to monitor PHISGCC’s activities and ensure its strict compliance with their contract.

Despite this, Cayetano remains adamant that he did not earn a single centavo in his hand at hosting of the SEA games and states that he is more than willing to undergo a probe by the Commission of Audit.

PAINTED IN RED. Words of protest that greeted the City of Manila. Photo courtesy: Johnson Manabat, ABS-CBN News

Moreno threatens Anti-vandalism violators

“

PRESYO IBABA! SAHOD, ITAAS! – PS”; “DIGMAANG BAYAN SAGOT SA MARTIAL LAW – PS” and “ATIN ANG PINAS! US-CHINA LAYAS! – PS” were the words painted in red that greeted the Lawton underpass last November 12, 2019, after a week since the newly painted Lagusnilad underpass was launched.

Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso furiously calls out the people behind vandalism, in a statement wherein he said “Kapag nahuli ko kayo, ipadidila ko sa inyo ito.”

“Ang ganda ganda na eh. Ang linis na. It took 15 years for that underpass to be attended. Nobody attended to that underpass,” Mayor Isko also added, expressing his disappointment with the turnout of events after his campaigns to

revive the City’s former glory.

According to GMA News, Panday Sining, a progressive cultural youth group, were the ones behind the act.

As claimed by the group, it was a form of “protest art” which is a way to express their sentiments against the government.

In a Facebook post, Panday Sining apologized for the writings but said they will continue a series of “Graffiesta” as a response to the worsening state of the nation’s economic and political sector.

They also added that they are willing to have a talk with the city Mayor “as he shares the same sentiment about wanting just and lasting peace”.

Furthermore, following the incident, in an online segment in Ang Pamantasan’s official Facebook page, “Iskwestyunan,”

Amiel Rose AQUINO

students of the PLM community have been asked to choose if they deemed the incident either as a protest art or a form of vandalism.

Many students viewed the act as a legitimate form of protest art meant to spark the reality of what is really happening in our society. Meanwhile some condemned and considered the act as vandalism, as such forms of arts have a designated place to take place.

Moreover, in a statement by the Manila Tourism & Cultural Affairs Bureau (MTCAB), they expressed their disappointment on the act and could have used other means to present their suggestions.

The City of Manila has an existing ordinance against vandalism, also known as Ordinance No. 7971 or the AntiVandalism Law of 1999.

Alleged red-tagging on NSTP-ROTC seminar draws flak Mecaela Mae GUMADE

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rogressive organizations in the university condemn an alleged red-tagging incident on Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila National Service Training Program-Reserve Officers Training Corps’ (PLM NSTP-ROTC) drug and terrorism awareness seminar at Justo Alberto Auditorium last November 17.

Anakbayan PLM and Gabriela Youth PLM call out the PLM NSTP-ROTC for the blunt branding of their organizations as "communist recruitment fronts" which was on the video presentation viewed at the unit's seminar titled "Kabataan Kontra Droga at Terorismo."

A statement released by Anakbayan PLM on their Facebook page said that such increasing acts of red-tagging and silencing vocal dissenters further put the ordinary people at risk.

"Ang kasalukuyang tumataas na kaso ng

EJKs, red-tagging, pagsampa ng gawa-gawang kaso, pandarakip, atbp, ay manipestasyon lamang ng kanilang pagpapatahimik sa mga kritiko imbis na tugunan ang dahilan ng kung bakit may lumalaban."

Anakbayan PLM also urged the university's administration to not allow such forums that might cause harm to the increasing number of students engaging in progressive societal discourse.

Consequently, Gabriela Youth PLM insists the group's legitimacy and advocacy on protecting women and children's rights.

Aside from the aforementioned organizations, the shown animated narrative named the League of the Filipino Students and Student Christian Movement of the Philippines as conduits of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's ArmyNational Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

In response to these allegations, the

PLM NSTP-ROTC stated in a Facebook post that the department "supports activism but condemns terrorism" and claimed that the progressive organizations in PLM "took the opportunity to perceive themselves as victims to gain sympathy."

"Our unit is not against any progressive groups but wants the students to be aware of the deceptive recruitment methods," they said.

Additionally, the unit posted the video itself on its page, firmly reiterating that they "don't label activists as terrorists and activism is not a crime." Furthermore, they repeated that they are open to criticisms and any feedback.

Guest speakers of the seminar were from the Philippine National Police Mobile District Battalion, led by Police Senior Master Sergeant Dennis Bento.

It was attended by ROTC and CWTS students in compliance with the requirement of the NSTP Common Module.

The Official Student Publication of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Volume 40, Issue 1 • August - September 2019

opinion 04

EDITOR: Raven Khate Villaluna

The Official Student Publication of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila

Read Ang Pamantasan Issues on Issuu:

EDITORIAL BOARD AND STAFF RAVEN KHATE VILLALUNA Editor-in-Chief MECAELA MAE GUMADE Associate Editor NICOLE ANNE MENDOZA Managing Editor JEROME TRESVALLES News Editor AMIEL ROSE AQUINO Assistant News Editor KEANE ANDRE ESCOBAR Features Editor INA FRANCESCA GONZALES Filipino Editor ANNE NICOLE CARIG Literary Editor KENT MARVIN MOJICA Sports Editor DWIGHT JUSTLEY ULEP Online Editor SHARMAINE MARARAC Board Secretary ARISTOTLE CASTRONUEVO Circulations Manager NISHA HERNANDEZ Business Manager MAUREN DOROTHY MERCA MARELLA IRIS PALCES News Staff ALAIZA ELAINE MANANSALA ART CEDRIK ROMERO Features Staff FLORIANNE KHAYE GONZALES ELECYL CABALQUINTO Filipino Staff PATRICIA GABRIELLE MARQUEZ PHOEBE STACEY ALMARIO Literary Staff JOHN DENZEL CASTILLO Sports Staff FATIMA RAYYAN SALABI JESSA YUKI DAVID KEITH KENDRICK DIONISIO Online Staff IBANICA DIONISIO Photojournalist JUNNINE MARIE TUPAZ PRINCESS FAITH CACNIO ASHLEY MAY HERNANDEZ CARL JUSTINE MOGOL Illustrators KIM ANGELO NAVAJA JHON BERT PAYOS Layout Artists PROF. NORLIZA NORDAN Technical Adviser

Ease the gunpoint A

seminar conducted by the PLM National Service Training Program-Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (NSTP-ROTC) in partnership with Philippine National Police District Mobile Force Battalion discussing drug dependency and terrorism drew flak from progressive groups in the university after an incident of alleged red-tagging from one of their presentations. Branding any organizations as “communist recruitment fronts” without concrete evidence, especially coming from a recognized authority, poses grave danger towards the lives of students who are active in such groups because such baseless “terrorist” allegations further feed the harmful stereotype against activists and critical individuals.

In an already dangerous political climate for vocal critics and human rights advocates in our country, a narrative shown by the NSTP-ROTC that blatantly accused Anakbayan, Gabriela Youth, League of Filipino Students, and other progressive groups as “communist recruitment fronts” that instills false nationalistic ideals can cause more harm to student-activists than give actual benefit on the state forces’ campaign against terrorism. For the past years since the start of the Duterte administration, human rights organization Karapatan recorded 155 rights defenders’ deaths and over 2,370 charges were filed against activists. Despite such alarming and questionable iron-fisted approach of the current administration to its dissenters, the country is still inflicted with terror bombings from extremist groups, including the twin blasts in Sulu claimed to be done by the international terror group Islamic State (ISIS) last June 28, which killed at least 7 people, and wherein the first Filipino suicide bomber was identified.

There’s a solid line that differentiates between critical individuals and organizations with advocacies that aim for the betterment of the marginalized from extremist groups such as ISIS that sow terror to impose their beliefs and attain their agenda. State forces such as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) should invest their allocations and time on intelligence and research-based evidence to effectively mitigate the threat of terrorism in the country instead of tagging progressive individuals and organizations.

Labeling every critical individual and group as terrorists or state enemies without any basis says enough about the nature of their governance.

The current administration has to stop treating every criticism as a head-on attack or threat to its authority. Inputs and contradictions from the people are necessary to curb any attempts of abuse in power and stop repressive policies to be passed. Blind obedience from the Filipino people is way more detrimental and won’t solve the issues at hand but may further make them vulnerable for fascism.

Moreover, educational forums and activities in the university must aim to encourage critical thinking among the students regarding societal issues and urge them to be involved in proactive discourse. Instances such as the alleged red-tagging undermine the movement and desire of the students to advance changes in forwarding beneficial advocacies. The ROTC program, which aims to instill nationalism and patriotism, appears to be a paradox. The students must freely exercise their right to organize towards proactive causes and not be condemned as subversives when they don’t always nod in approval.

The university plays an essential role in honing its students to be responsible and functioning members of society. If being critical inside the walls of the Pamantasan isn’t strengthened, then what more can we expect outside it?

The Official Student Publication of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Volume 40, Issue 1 • August - September 2019

opinion

05

The torch of fame or shame?

L

ON GUNS AND PAPERS

Aristotle CASTRONUEVO

“

We don’t deserve to have anyone’s overpriced kaldero boiling us in our own fat.

ast November 30, 2019, the 30th edition of the Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) opened and all these discussions about a 50-meterhigh, 3-meter-wide, overpriced, SEAG cauldron, and hosting faults took a backseat as we give support for our Philippine team.

But when the games are over, let us not forget: There was hurriedness in the planning and that some crooked officials may have secretly siphoned a “good share” of the funds.

The budget for the ₱50 million cauldron, which was taken from the DBM-approved budget. It was a creative idea of National Artist Francisco “Bobby” Mañosa, who died in February 2019. Hence, the public has all the right to pursue proper explanation on the definite cost of this “work of art.”

“There can never be corruption in that situation because you commissioned a national artist,” President Rodrigo Duterte told reporters about his interview.

“That’s like a painting,” Duterte said. “You cannot debate with the painter.”

The government seems to twist that fact by firmly pointing out that it’s costly because it is a work of art. There isn’t enough information on the structural integrity of this concrete torch and as to how honest it is to Mañosa’s design. The artist established his name for uniting indigenous materials into modern design, and that much we may discover the final version that

Nisha HERNANDEZ

TIPPING POINT

A

fter pulling off “Commute Challenge,” a oneday, one-way stunt, Spokesperson Salvador Panelo still claims that the mass transportation crisis does not exist. However, millions of Filipino people who are facing the “challenge” everyday, and probably, for the rest of their lives, disagree.

Last, October 11, 2019, Panelo commuted his way to Malacanang Palace, taking 4 jeepneys and a motor bike ride. He left New Manila at 5:15 o’ clock in the morning and arrived at 8:46, taking him nearly 4-hours.

Most of filipino workers experience much more this challenge, leaving their homes two to three hours before their actual working schedule to be able to get to work on time. The moment commuters step their feet right outside of their respective houses, the “quest” begins— long train queue, standing in the middle of a moving bus, the race towards a jeepney with an extra space, and add the fear of holdapers, snatchers, and sexual predators along the way. It is an exhausting experience and the worst part is that they have to do it everyday .

No matter how the government denies it and takes challenges that they don’t fully understand, mass transportation exists even if commuters can reach their destination, because the real deal is the time that they allot for it that could be allotted for rest and other productive stuff.

Emphasizing “creativity” and praising commuters’ time and effort would never help. Panelo’s one-day experience as a commuter should bring urgency to the government in dealing with mass transportation and traffic, something that is long past due, or else, this “challenge” is a mere photo opportunity and publicity stunt.

After the event, the tower will just remain there, untouched for the next few years, gathering the dust and grime the winds will blow its way.

I believe that our officials discontinue labelling the cauldron as art. It’s a tall tower designed to burn gas. And I don’t see any of our athletes kowtowing before this tower and saying it stirred their good performance.

Is it worth hosting this event at all? Well, one thing was observable. As the country host for the SEAG, we already won lots of gold, with some of it going straight into private pockets. I think it is the time to take Drilon’s advice: Conduct a professional accounting of the billions spent after the Games.

On a closing note, we are paying for the Games and have a right to know where and how our officials are burning our taxes. And remember, we don’t deserve to have anyone’s overpriced kaldero boiling us in our own fat.

The Philippines had two years to prepare for the 30th SEA Games. Two years to come up with an appropriately designed logo. Two years to establish a system to ensure the smooth operation of the games. Two years to properly rehabilitate, construct, and renovate venues. Over two years to properly plan the games. Did they prepare enough?

What were they all doing with the people’s money in the last two years? But, who knows?

Short-lived stint

Crisis denied CORNELIA

Cayetano wants to sell.

“Imeldific,” this is how Rep. Joey Salceda (Albay) described the cost which pertained to the obscenity of the spending.

“A classroom costs P1 million, so we could have built 56 classrooms if the money of the people was not abused,” as stated by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon.

The artist behind the Tandang Sora National Shrine and Andres Bonifacio Shrine, Visual artist Toym Imao, shared his opinions on the cauldron, saying the price is simply not moral, most especially in the “light of the current administration’s budget cuts in education, health, and very poor record in supporting our sports programs and athletes.” “No amount of justification that ‘it is a work of art’ would make it right to spend that much for a public art installation,” he said in a social media post.

It is a disgrace if some investigation later will confirm a suspicion that there is corruption underneath all this towering orchestration about art and pride in the SEA Games even if it is a monument for national pride.

Aside from the cauldron, the SEA Games budget has also faced questions from the Philippines’ Congress, over questions over why its 1.5 billionpeso budget spend did not undergo public bidding, as well as other “impractical” spending.

Sharmaine MARARAC

“

What seemed to have started only as a taunt became serious talk as Robredo accepted the position of cochairperson of the ICAD.

V

ice President Leni Robredo’s stint as co-chair of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD) lasted only 19 days. But what looked like a setup for Robredo may have bothered its instigators more than it did her instead.

After the Vice President described the administration’s campaign against drugs as “not working”, President Rodrigo Duterte said he would “surrender” law enforcement powers to her for about six months. He later clarified that he is not surrendering anything, but he could “commission her to be drug czar”.

“Ngayon mas marunong ka man sa akin, I’ll hand in to you full powers sa drugs. I’ll give you six months. Tignan natin kung kaya mo,” the President said, addressing Robredo.

He was daring her to try solving the country’s drug problem for half a year. But it just feels like he was setting her up to fail. What seemed to have started only as a taunt became serious talk as Robredo accepted the position of cochairperson of the ICAD. On November 6, 2019, Robredo accepted the ICAD post she’d share with Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Chief Aaron Aquino. On whether she’d be given access to documents and intelligence reports related to the administration’s campaign against illegal drugs, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that she would, and yet by November 19, he stated that one of the reasons she had lost her Cabinet position is her “insistence on getting access to classified information”. PDEA Chief Aquino questioned why Robredo would need to obtain a list of high-value drug targets when she requested it, saying “wala naman sa mandates namin ’yun”.

How is the co-chair expected to perform her duties and make informed decisions without

information on who the war is mainly pursuing in the first place? It seems some people don’t want the Vice President to get her hands on such information. Could they be hiding something?

Duterte’s anti-drug campaign is associated with a large number of deaths, at least 5,000 from police operations, which is why it’s important that it is reassessed. Robredo called on ICAD to stop the senseless killings associated with the government’s campaign against illegal narcotics. As the ICAD co-chair she had stated that it’s necessary for law enforcement officers to wear body cameras during anti-drug busts, consulted with foreign and local officials, and visited drug-infested communities. She seemed presidential to some, but perhaps her rise to an image of a responsible leader registered as a threat to others.

The ICAD was established by Executive Order No. 15, s. 2017, which does not mention a co-chair position. OVP Spokesperson Atty.

Barry Gutierrez said the position has no power.

With her functions not clarified, Robredo was stuck. Not long after Duterte expressed distrust of Robredo, she eventually stated that if the President wanted her out of the ICAD, he should just say so. Then she was fired. But sacking her raised suspicions that the administration might’ve had something to hide.

To appoint someone with responsibilities and then admit you don’t trust her is quite a logic. Why Duterte was quick to remove Robredo from her position in the ICAD is enough to raise eyebrows. Might that be in an attempt to keep her from digging further? With all the talks of state secrets and backtracking, one’s imagination could go so far as to what’s in one list that it can’t be shared to the Vice President. It’s as if there is more to unravel here.

The Official Student Publication of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Volume 40, Issue 2 • October - November 2019

DEFINING GENERATIONS

Which generat

06

features EDITOR: Keane Andre Escobar

Society of the Spectacle: How Filipinos resort to syndi-courts as a means of obtaining justice Keane ESCOBAR

R

affy Tulfo is, yet again, in hot waters because of his intervention in a case that went viral on social media. The said case was of teacher Melita Limjuco, who made her student stay outside of their classroom as punishment. Because of this, the student’s relatives went on the program to speak out about the alleged maltreatment of the child, which then made Tulfo urge the teacher to revoke her license, making her lose credibility on-air. This disproportionate response to the issue prompted general outrage, with the hashtag #JusticeForTeachers and the Tulfo topic trending on major social media platforms.

These TV shows with tendencies towards trial by publicity and using methods following the “barangay hall model” of conflict resolution have always existed in the Filipino cultural psyche. Who could forget tuning in every noon to TV5’s timeless classic Face-to-Face, where personal problems are meted out in front of a live studio audience, and resolutions were handed down via color coded signs (thus the iconic “Sa Pula, Sa Puti” jingle). These shows provide a platform for resolving disputes, usually at the expense of the “losing” party that will also be receiving hateful commentary from the show’s wide audience.

Shows like Raffy Tulfo in Action and Face-to-Face all follow the same blueprint of Western tabloid talk shows like Judge Judy, with Face-to-Face even named as the Filipino Jerry Springer Show. Dubbed as “syndi-courts” (syndicated talk show courts), these shows are built upon an audience avatar acting as a judge between fights. Technically speaking, these talk shows do not hold any judiciary power since these shows are only supposed to act as an alternative platform to mitigate disputes between two parties. However, with their social reach, being handed a verdict from these syndi-courts is almost synonymous to that of a real court, which makes them all the more dangerous.

In these shows, even the due process is commodified, sold as a spectacle. Life and death situations for the parties involved are turned into entertainment fodder for the show’s wide audience. The popularity of syndi-courts illustrate a shift in our view of human rights, as they promote the neoliberal notion of putting the responsibility of protecting oneself against social risks (i.e. conflict) on the individual, instead to having safeguards supposedly set by the state (i.e. through the legal system).

These shows also send out the harmful rhetoric that “justice” is swiftly achieved outside the justice system, which may lead to problematic justification of extrajudicial actions once unpacked.

In a time where access to quality legal assistance is close to none, actors like Raffy Tulfo with their syndi-courts hold a dangerously high influence. To their audience, they represent the justice that was cruelly kept from them their whole lives. It also doesn’t help that the current judicial system promotes impunity, and no one gets to be heard/justly represented. This harmful cycle of gatekeeping justice to the affluent few while the poor bear the heaviest brunt of the law is what enables individuals such as Raffy Tulfo and their profiteering off of the due process, even making a caricature out of legal protection and representation.

Lest we start to compromise the integrity of our justice system, maybe it’s time to reconsider the platform we give to these individuals. Maybe the solution to the problem that is “Tulfo justice” isn’t limited to short-term actions like free legal assistance, but rather answering the question of who gets to have representation under the law, or ultimately: who does the law get to serve?

Alliance of Concerned Teachers rally behind Melita Limjuco to denounce Tulfo’s urge to have her license revoked.

Photo courtesy: Manila Times

BABY BOOMERS 1946 - 1964

GENERATION X 1965 - 1979

They care about health, wealth, and quality.

They are anti, busy, and cynical.

OK, Boom Fatima SALABI Keith DIONISIO

Y

ou don’t think that the world is warming? OK, boomer. The world is falling apart all because of the lazy, undisciplined young’uns? OK, boomer. Depression isn’t real? OK, I give up, boomer.

“OK, Boomer” has spread like wildfire in social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter, and has been used as an ultimate retort of choice among exasperated and fed-up youth. With ageistic jibes like this proliferating the Internet, it seems like we are putting more effort than ever to draw a line between generations.

One similar retort used before the “OK, boomer” trend is the use of the literal name of the generation ‘millennial’ as a stereotype to paint the youth of today, no matter if they’re generation X, Y or Z, as fickle, irresponsible, and entitled. Older people using the term utilize their declared wisdom due to longevity and superiority in experience as justification to criticize and generalize all the young ones into a single label. Funny enough, that is also what the young people are doing, only this time the reasons are “times are changing” and “modernity”.

Since January 2019, “OK, boomer” has been used to end seemingly unproductive discussions with anyone older who is imposing and is rigid on their traditional view on gender-sensitive issues, issues on economy and politics, and environmental problems. In fact, Filipino millennials were using this on Twitter, especially on Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Locsin, Jr.’s feed as he made dishonorable remarks on an Inquirer reporter, consequently, people exposing his past controversial tweets on gender-

Rise and fall:

Secret File Pages and F I

Art Cedrik ROMERO

t started summer of 2019, the PLM Freedom Wall quickly caught the attention of incoming freshmen and sophomores, whom upon discovering this medium, filled it with various commentaries, stories, opinions and the most prominent, lots of romantic exclamations and I'm-searching-for-this-person-I-met-for-five-seconds-and-I'm-ready-toget-married kind of announcements. Freedom Wall posts dominated our timelines recently, being borne out of its precedent, Secret File pages, changing its name but having the same concept. Oblique posts with underlying messages but oftentimes about their crushes, and stories that can be inspirational and if not, rage you with emotions became abundant within these pages.

Before the established and well-known Far Eastern University (FEU) Secret Files who've gathered millions of followers, back in September 2013, the Diliman Files is created with the original concept and idea. The page became open for different confessions, often roguish acts or shocking revelations, attracting the social media community. But as of this writing, The Diliman Files and FEU Secret Files are both unpublished pages already.

Since then, different pages of the same idea cropped out from different universities following the precedent, Diliman Files. Years later, Freedom Wall pages emerged and now it’s as ubiquitous as ever, everyone seems to have it now: UP, Ateneo, UST—literally everyone.

Looking beyond the humor and romantic confessions, and at the other side of the coin, these pages have also been the courier of hate posts, scandalous statements and accounts of condescendence. Although somehow

tion are you from?

GENERATION Y (MILLENNIALS) 1980 - 1996 They’re grown up with technology.

GENERATION Z 1997 - 2015 They are born digital.

mer sensitive and political issues.

There are bound to be differences among thoughts, abilities, and needs among each generation caused by age gap and distinct historical context.

One underlying ground in generational identity is something that you call “collective memories” shared by communities, nations, or generations.

Critical memories shared by certain groups of people on certain social and historical events can result to specific norms, attitudes, standards and behaviors, thus defining the generation labels which now cause the generational divide we see.

Another reason for generations’ cycle of constant disputes may also be due to generational competition for jobs, authority, attention, and power among others that lead to conflicts on our takes on political and environmental issues. Arrival of new cohorts signals a clear-cut threat for resources, more especially since we’re about to hit an 8-billion world population.

However, despite these factors that divides the generations one can’t just ignore the pleas of the other and dismiss their proposals while labeling them disrespectful and liberal just as the other can’t blame senility and conservativeness as retort.

To stereotype and to generalize a group of people born in a certain time frame as if we’re talking to an alien in a different planet with a different language who can never ever understand our perspective and our feelings, only ends any attempt, if any at all, to understand the generations we’ve labeled our parents, grandparents, children, and grandchildren.

Freedom Wall the point of these anonymous posts is to see students in a different light free from the constraints of social appropriation, some really crossed the line—obliterated the line even. Freedom Wall pages pose some problems for the students in PLM whose always hidden behind the veneer of hiya. Firstly, the call-out culture intensified with PLM FW being the haven of the resentful and the bitter. Second, in our academically competitive environment, courses are always clashed against each other in a nonsensical hierarchy of who’s better giving the illusion of greatness. Posts attacking the reputation of other students, degrading over-generalizations about other courses and objectifying posts prompted many students to question how the posts are being filtered and even requested for the page to be turned down.

Other universities also face the same problem where on an interview made by Rappler's resident news writer Apa Agbayani, on some of the administrators of the country's well-known university secret files—the UST Secret Files, for instance—the admin had trouble aligning the nature of the page with the university’s identity. “We were not able to consider that UST is a Catholic university and putting up stories with mature content would not be nice for the reputation of the said university,” explained the page admin.

In PLM, some posts sparked controversies to the point that student council pages were urged to release statements in condemnation of aforementioned posts. Amidst these problems, the PLM Freedom Wall is still open to submissions and anonymous requests. Through its rise and fall, these pages continue to strive and reshape academic communities through a mass exchange of revelatory messages.

Arabella Francesca Racelis (aka “ThatsBella”) from her vlog on how it’s like to be a student vlogger.

Practicality over dreams Alaiza Elaine MANANSALA

W

hat used to be a wallflower in the social media scene is now creating noise with over 1.9 billion users worldwide. Outperforming Instagram and Twitter with the number of users, YouTube is now recognized as 2nd most visited site in the world. In line with this, Vishal Sarin, director of YouTube content partnerships in Southeast Asia, said the Philippines is one of the video-sharing site’s most vibrant and fastest-growing markets. The number of creator channels in the local scene with more than 100,000 subscribers has grown by 20 times from 2016 to 2019.

With the continuous growth of YouTube in the country, it springs more opportunities for existing and new content creators. These endeavors translate into more profit for vloggers. While YouTube vlogging started as a mere hobby for some, it slowly became a full-time job for a few Filipinos. They earn not only through the monetization of their videos on YouTube but also through brand sponsorships. Vloggers, nowadays, are not only limited to making videos—they are already considered as content creators and social media influencers.

The profit seems enticing especially for students who have no other means of obtaining money but from the allowances their parents are giving them. While the idea of earning money through YouTube alongside studying looks good, a not-so healthy mindset of quitting school and being a vlogger instead, started on Twitter. The infamous phrase "Ayoko nang mag-aral, magiging YouTuber na lang ako." is being passed along social media sites by students who seem to be exhausted of studying. It began as a trend when the number of student-vloggers earning a stable profit from YouTube increased. One well-known student-vlogger is Arabella Francesca Racelis or known as “ThatsBella” with a whopping 970,000 subscribers. Approximately, she earns Php 2,860,000 a year if she will be uploading videos regularly. In addition, she also gets income from her brand sponsorships like Canon, Huawei, Globe, Bench, and more. Here in Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, an alumnus from the College of Medicine, Dra. Aura Azarcon serves as a guide in YouTube for aspiring Filipino doctors. As of date, her channel has reached 161,000 subscribers. Also, from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Chrysel Bonilla is a beauty vlogger with approximately 75,000 subscribers.

However, being a content creator is not as easy as it appears to be. It is not just smiling and talking in front of the camera—it is more of a one-man production from thinking of ideas, planning out the content, shooting the actual video, and finally editing it. Noah Taitano, a student-vlogger with 5.58 million subscribers said that managing both class work and YouTube channel comes at cost, “Sometimes we have to let the grades sacrifice, which means putting in a little bit less effort than the teachers probably expect from us. In that way we can spend more time doing the videos we know are going to get us instant feedback and we get paid for.”

Twenty years ago, if students will be asked what they want to be when they grow up, their usual answers would be to become a doctor, an accountant, teacher, engineer and lawyer. Nonetheless, one answer we wouldn’t have heard years ago is “to be a YouTube vlogger”. Though the question is, is a YouTube career stable enough to become one’s full-time work? Is it worth sacrificing your dream of obtaining a college diploma in a field of your expertise, and instead, choose to earn money now?

The Official Student Publication of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Volume 40, Issue 1 • August - September 2019

08

literary EDITOR: Anne Nicole Carig

Avenue of

Anne Nicole CARIG

s r a t S

ILLUS TRAT

“And for a short while, time felt infinite…”

ION B Y JUS TINE

MOG

OL

— words that used to stray in my head; I have always tried to relieve the plight of my fear of derision and worked passionately to score my goal toward the pedestal, until the world shifted a little, and I found my simple repose.

It was never about the physical proximity, but the weight of the melodies that pitched our ears, the magnitude of the lyrics that stroke our hearts, as though the composition was meant to knot our lives.

As I entered the halls of the populous complex, the crowd’s boisterous chants echoed like sirens.

Caught in standstill, body at rest, I stared in vacancy.

Everything seemed motionless, except for my pounding heart.

The words we hum in perfect chorus magnificently filled the entire arena.

Hours, momentarily, seemed to have stopped,

The beats of the best part started, and my dear friends, holding their respective weapons, strings, drums, and keys— played the music of my invincible youth.

By the time the sparkling lights gradually faded into hues of neon red that illuminate the signs, I have once again gazed upon the empty elevated platform —an avenue of stars that I had at least captured in photographs.

Coffee and better days Anne Nicole CARIG

but the repose was finite— like inevitable finales.

A cup of coffee sits nimbly on the table, the redolent scent of the books’ pages emanates while some bygone music plays at a near distance; all seems well but it is not at all fine.

Time is progressing in a fast pace, the world is moving just fine and everybody else seems to be doing alright but I remain stuck in the good old ways.

Gone are the days when on the streets we went astray, when we played tag until the sun sets, nights when we watched the stars stretch to infinity and all the beautiful moments of our youth.

Stickers on the refrigerator turned bills, scenic shorelines turned deadlines, hellos to goodbyes, smiles to sighs, and weekends with friends aged well.

The last sip makes it all the more bittersweet; only if I could go back to the last page, the old music, the good friends, I would have.

ILLU

STRA TION

BY J U

STIN E

MOG

OL

The Official Student Publication of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Volume 40, Issue 2 • October - November 2019

literary

09

exist

Perfect does not Phoebe Stacey ALMARIO

Surrounded was I with unfamiliar faces, Attempting to shoot the breeze as my heart races.

My end has begun— Bidding farewell to friends full of fun.

UPAZ

INE T

NN Y JU ION B

TRAT ILLUS

Impatiently waiting for hours to end, Concluded the first day of school without a single friend.

"Was I wide off the mark, perhaps just today?," "Shall I keep diffidence at bay?"

Contemplating thoughts I mumble, Came across friends; indeed humble.

Gems found without looking, Deceived by the non-existence of a perfect thing.

Fewer is better, As long as we stay together.

Learning to easily clear the air, A crying shoulder in times of despair.

My end has begun— The end of being alone as I run.

With the best I am surrounded, A perfect friendship I was granted.

Vorfreude Patricia MARQUEZ

This altruistic heart never fails To wish for love and fairy tales That seem to beget and escape The future we desperately reshape.

Courage is the fiery red in cowardly and reckless thread; wrapping it up in elegant sophrosyne lest it gets caught in unfortunate chagrin.

But being good isn’t just being right— To be displayed with our feigned might, For how shall we be our own virtuoso If we cannot challenge our status quo?

For after each and every downpour In every path we try to explore: Thank you, all moral exemplars Who, in habituation, would heal our scars.

ILLUSTRATION BY FAITH CACNIO

“Virtue is a skill, a way of living” To grow fruits that are so captivating— “a life of eudaimonia is a life of striving” for a life well-lived, in human flourishing.

The Official Student Publication of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Volume 40, Issue 2 • October - November 2019

sports 10

IN NUMBERS

18-0 Naoya Inoue

CURRENT

VS

40-5

RECORD

Nonito Donaire

EDITOR: Kent Marvin Mojica

SEA Games hosting leads off to horrible start Kent Marvin MOJICA

T

he 2019 SEA Games was the talk of the town after several issues thrown against the Philippine Asian Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) for being ‘unprepared’ as the mostawaited sports event of the year was about to begin. This fiasco was contrary to what PHISGOC chair and House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said during an interview that they were ready for the games.

“Handang-handa na tayo,” Cayetano told CNN Philippines on November 11.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo reiterated the lack of “creativity” from the SEA Games organizers leading to the logistics problems experienced by local and foreign athletes. It can be traced back that several international football teams from Myanmar, Timor-Leste, and Cambodia encountered trouble with their transportation and accommodation. They aired concerns over logistics problems upon arriving in the Philippines for their respective competitions. “Creativity lang ‘yon. Doon siguro sila nagkulang pero baka nataranta lang,” Panelo said in a media briefing from South Korea.

Amid news of delayed transportation services, subpar accommodations, and mismanaged funds, Filipinos were still taking matters into their own, stepping in to fix it. Some have taken it upon themselves to solve problems, taking over where the government obviously failed. In transportation and logistics, Ceres Bus line, which owns the country’s top football team, offered 18 of its newest buses to service football teams to and from their matches.

Food had also been a problem after a complaint from the Philippines’ women football team coach was raised.

Consequently, the Philippine Football Federation started distributing food funds for its players. “Even the parents of some of the players are helping out in making sure that we get enough food for the women’s team,” Araneta, PFF’s president said during an interview.

The SEA Games opening ceremony is on November 30 and will run until December 11. House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said that he is ready to be held accountable for the issues hounding the country’s hosting of the biennial meet. He also added that he will present himself to the Senate as soon as the SEA Games ends in a few weeks.

STAND PROUD: Coloyan brings home gold and silver in both Live Stick and Padded Even. Photo courtesy: Jenina Coloyan

PLM alumna helps raise the bar for Philippine Arnis Kent Marvin MOJICA

P

amantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila’s (PLM) AlumnaAthlete completed a victorious run and brought home the most coveted gold and silver for the Philippines in Arnis International Competition held on October 16, 2019 at Wunna Theikdi Indoor Stadium, Myanmar.

Jenina Ernestine Coloyan, a Bachelor of Physical EducationSchool of Physical Education graduate of PLMbagged Gold in Padded Event and Silver in both Live Stick and another Padded Event, defeating two equally tough Myanmar national athletes.

“There’s a lot of preparation. [We] invest our whole time for the training and we’ve been training for almost five months before the dual meet competition,” Coloyan said during an interview. “It was a hard training but all you need is to dedicate yourself for all the Filipinos. We are all representing our country, we raised our flag high and also for the victory and pride”, she added.

Coloyan started playing arnis in her second year in PLM where she first competed in the annual intramurals before heading into interschool competition like Association of Local Colleges and Universities (ALCU), which is now Local Colleges and Universities Athletic Association. It is now her fifth year playing and competing with her sport that served as her training ground

not only to show her skills but to serve and represent the country in international stadium.

She did mention their coach, James Botoampo who used to be his trainer since college. Botoampo was PLM’s coach during ALCU but now continues his teaching profession at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela.

Coloyan and her team are expected to compete in the World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (WEKAF) next year in Cebu where they are going to fight for victory against foreign athletes. While preparing for this, they are still waiting for invitations in another international competition as well.

This is Coloyan’s and the Philippine Arnis Team’s first time competing in Myanmar and it serves as pre-training for the upcoming SEA Games in December.

Coloyan and the Philippine Arnis Team are now on intensive training for the upcoming SEA Games 2019 in December where they are expecting tougher contenders yet a louder and more supportive crowd.

“We are here to raise our flag and to fight for our country. If you fall, get up and train harder. In order to succeed you must endure failure until you get what you are aiming for.”

The Official Student Publication of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Volume 40, Issue 2 • October - November 2019

sports

11

‘The Filipino Flash’ falls to ‘The Monster from Japan’ Denzel CASTILLO

N

onito Donaire falls to Naoya Inoue in the World Boxing Super Series Bantamweight Division Championship held at Saitama, Japan last November 7, 2019.

The younger Naoya, holding a record of 18-0, bested the experienced “Filipino Flash” who was 40-5, in a 12-round match via unanimous decision. In spite of Donaire’s experience and dexterity, he failed to close out the gap that Naoya had built throughout the rounds, as the consistency of the Monster proved to be his best asset in their bout.

Body shots proved to be the weapon of choice for the younger Naoya, aiming for the abdomen of Donaire with a consistent barrage of straights. Donaire failed to anticipate a few straight jabs from Naoya, seen by how most of his right hook counters missed his opponent. However, near the end of the first round, the Filipino managed to land a few good straights and hooks in to the head of Naoya, whose nimble footwork managed to keep him out of tight spots for a majority of the round. The first round finished off uneventfully for both fighters.

At the start of the second round, Donaire began his attack on Naoya with a flurry of jabs towards the abdomen as he dodged the hooks of his Japanese opponent, switching the scene in round one. Inoue retaliated by landing left hooks to the cheek of Donaire,

eyebrow, began to play on the defensive in rounds three, four, and five as a repeat of round two. However, with Donaire being countered left and right by the solid hooks of Inoue, his barrage of punches began to wane in power and was eventually forced on the defensive as the fancy footwork of the Monster proved to be the menace of the out-traded Donaire, who was staggered and

with one staggering the Filipino fighter.

Near the final minute of round two, the Filipino Flash clipped the eyebrow of Inoue with a solid left hook, forcing the Japanese fighter to clinch after being staggered and cut by the punch.

Inoue, now with a wound on his right

pinned to the ropes in the end of round six.

The bout now seemed to shift to Inoue’s favour at the start of round six, as he began to launch the offensive against Donaire. Left straights directed to the cheek and body shots wore out the Filipino fighter who was forced to play defensively and fight with

Donaire (left) caught off-guard by an uppercut from Inoue (right). Photo courtesy: AFP

counters. Round seven and eight saw Donaire landing decent counters and solid straights to the eyebrow of Inoue, whose wound began to bleed because of the hits. In spite of his efforts, though, he remains to be out-traded

by Naoya with his brutal bodyshots and jabs to the chest and stomach.

Inoue saw himself at the receiving end of a brutal right hook at the beginning minute of round nine, staggering him and forcing him to clinch for a few moments to avoid the fury of an exhausted and arguably desperate Donaire, who continued to throw heavy uppercuts and hooks in an attempt to close out the match as soon as possible. The livelier Inoue was able to dodge and counter

most of the shots.

Round ten came and saw Inoue taking the helm of the fight once again, as he landed more and more hits that now began to stagger and force the Filipino Flash to a defensive. The penultimate round saw Nonito fall on his knees in exhaustion from the continuous onslaught, with the crowd beginning to cheer for the hometown fighter as the championship fight drew to a close.

The final round eventually saw Inoue besting Donaire, closing out the fight with him forcing the Filipino to a final and desperate defence. The final scorecards were 116-111, 117-109 and 114-113, all in favour of the Monster.

The champion that the Philippines doesn’t deserve Denzel CASTILLO

F

Wesley So. Photo courtesy: chess.com

ilipino-American chess prodigy Wesley So bested the world's number one chess player Magnus Carlsen in the World Fischer Random Chess Tournament last October 31, 2019, representing America in the said tournament. At a young age of 26, the future of his career has nowhere else to go but up and forward. In 2017 he peaked as the 2nd best player in the world with an elo rating of 2822, taking the spot as the fifth highest-ever rated player in history and became one of the youngest players to reach numbers beyond 2600 in 2006.

Following his victory against the world champion, media and layfolk alike have wondered why the Cavite-borne prodigy chose to hold the banner of America in the international stage. His prodigious mastery of the game in his youth and eventual triumph in the international stage was a strong sign that Wesley So would've been a priceless asset of the Philippines in chess. Now, questions began

to arise as to what happened to a potential national athlete.

In a recent interview by chess.com, So mentioned the state of the sport in the Philippines. In his time, the sport was in a dire state due to the lack of support that young chess players received from the governing bodies of the game in the country.

Unlike other countries where talented children were recognized and eventually trained in order to enhance their mastery of the game, the Philippines had no long term plan for the development of its athletes. He also mentioned that the undeniable state of corruption in the country plagued the sport, siphoning away the resources that could have potentially been used for the expenses needed by the players.

In the same interview, he mentioned a conflict between two chess federations fighting for glory from his victory at the international stage during 2013. This conflict adversely affected So, and in a separate interview he mentioned how this

denied him of the recognition he deserved and a cash bounty from the Philippine government which should've amounted to one million pesos.

Wesley So's case remains to be a story that seems to repeat itself in the climate of Philippine sports. This is reflected in a recent social media post by James delos Santos, a Philippine SEA Games medalist in karate who was denied a spot in the Philippine team due to wrongful evaluation, mismanagement and, in a similar vein to Wesley So's case, 'kawalan ng kapit'. In spite of his efforts in training abroad and financing his own expenses for the sport, he was still kicked off of the team.

As long as the Philippines remains to turn a blind eye to the woeful needs of its athletes, and as long as corruption finds its roots deeply seated within the government, the country can never approach the level of competitiveness it aspires to have. The country does not deserve another prodigy that it cannot take care of.

A

kalain mo ‘yun? Naka-dalawang buwan na tayo kaagad? Tila kahapon lang ay tumatapak pa

Pero bago tayo magdusa sa kalagitnaan ng midterms na sinasabayan ng sandamakmak na

lamang tayo sa loob ng pAmintasan sa unang beses ng may bitbit na kaba at bagabag ngunit

performance tasks na wala naman talagang kinalaman sa kurso mo at sa iba pang mga requirements

ngayon, araw-araw na lang tayong napapabuntong-hininga at may bagabag na pumapasok sa

iyong pilit tinatapos sa tulong ng kApeko79, huminga muna tayo at tingnan ang mga ganap habang

loob ng pHleGeM. Tama nga na sibuyas ‘yong nasa harap kasi ‘pag pumasok ka, iiyak ka talaga. hUhu

pauloy tayong nagiging istambay sa pAmanTasan.

Misyon: Pasalba ng mga Zombie sa Kanilang Halgambilang

PAKINGGAN ANG HAMON ‘Di papatalo ang EsEsSi. Kung ang usapan ay pangingiliti sa estudyante, malakas sila. akalain mong sa

Nakakakita ako ng mga zombies – hindi uhaw sa utak, kung ‘di uhaw sa kung anong ilalaman sa utak. Malimit

kalagitnaan ng napakaraming kaganapan, nakayanan nilang magsagawa ng general assembly na pinamagatang

silang lumalabas sa mga linggo ng pagsusulit.

Manawari. Nagpa-parade ang mga lola mo, gHorl, kahit pa sa ilalalim ng mainit na sikat ng araw. Kaya ayun,

1

ang sigaw ng lahat ay “sayang gluta at kojic!” In fairness, inabangan ng lahat ang pagbubukas ng Freedom Wall.

Batay sa kanilang mga kapansin-pansing gawi, makikita mo ang mga THE DENIAL; sila ‘yung mga nakapag-aral nang maaga sa bahay o mga sobrang nakapaghanda kaya pagdating sa klasrum ay upo lang,

No more na ang gArden cEnter, siZz. Keri na ulit maglabas ng kahit anumang #fEeLingZ sa pader, kahit ma

tamang chill lang, at ang sagot nila sa tanong kung nakapagreview ay “medyo lang, hindi masyado”. Pero,

mega#HurtZz man ang mga baKlang itey muli sa hinaing at kAlats ng mga sarili nilang isKalatz. Tubig, anyone?

sa ending, mga highest pointer.

Awsts. Kani-kaniya ding nagdikit ang palad sa dingding ang iba’t ibang piElemAyeRz ng sari-saring kulay.

2

Magkakakilala man o hindi basta parte ng pAminTasan, pwede.

Nariyan din ang mga GAZEBONERS, mga estudyanteng sa #GazeboLangSapatNa. Upo lang doon kahit na maingay at ‘di rin naman makapag-aral. ‘Yung iba, tamang hintay lang na dumaan si crush (harot

First day pa lang ‘yon ng Manawari, goRl. Sa pangalawang araw, nagkaroon ng Candle Lightning at

divuHhh), kaunting inspirasyon nga naman para sa gradong papalubog na (pero sa ngalan ng mga ama

TAGUBTOB: Freshmen Welcoming Night sa loob ng ating pAmintasan. Ito ang pinakatinilian ng mga freShies na

ng mga kurso tulad ni Lavoisier at Pacioli ay ‘wag naman sana, gHorl).

akala mo’y ngayon lang nakarinig ng ganitong mga kanta. Iingay Bes! Sigaw dito, sigaw doon. Sabay sa indayog ng

3

musika. Sa huling araw ay nagkaroon ng Time Capsule Booth, isa sa mga ganap ng EsEsSi kung saan maaari mong

Ikatlo, ang THE LIBRARIANS; inilalaan nila ang mga nalalabing oras sa pagbabasa sa loob ng library, umaasang maalala lahat ang laman ng 200 pages na libro sa loob ng 15 minutos. Subok lang. Kapit lang.

sulatan ang iyong sarili, kahit ano, at ibabaon ito sa ilalim ng mainit na lupa at maaaring pati na rin sa kalaliman

Baka lang naman.

ng isipan. Ang tanong lang naman ay kung ano ang epekto sa’yo ng sulat na ‘yon sa paglipas ng panahon.

4

Magsasaya? Magigising ang nabaong pananabik, o manghihinayang sa kargada ng nakaraan?

Ikaapat, #REVIEWWHILEWALKING; ito yung mga estudyanteng kahit na naglalakad, todo aral pa rin. ‘Yung may mga printouts at librong tila rainbow sa dami ng highlighter. Visual learners, mga siZz,

Pero sa lahat ng ito, ang endgame endgoals ba talaga bEstest alay lang sa pAmintasan ay pagsagawa ng mga

dinadaan sa color coding ang impormasyon.

eVentZ? Tamang balik HaYskuL ang galawan at dating. Quota na siz! Ngunit sa bagay, nagsisimula pa lang naman.

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Ang pinakahuli, ay ang mga #BAHALANASIBATMAN, ang mga legendary na hindi talaga nag-aral at

Malay ba nating may naitatago pa lang cReaTive jUiceZ ang mga bAccla. Hay, #SANA. Sa bagong sChooL yEar,

hindi man lang nagbuklat ng libro bago mag-exam. Palakasan lang talaga ng loob ang mga baCcla. Inaasa

hangad kong mag ibayo ang pangakong pAgLilingKod, maliban sa mga eVentZ na di mo sure kung aksaya lang

na lamang sa #Tadhana ang magiging resulta kung stay or ligwak ganeRn ka na ba next sem.

naman sa oras at budget. Super say ko lang naman na umaasa ang baby hAribonz sa inyo. Marapat lamang na

Bawal ang tamad sa pAminTasang mAhaL. Mahal mo nga ‘di ba? Bakit ka tatamarin? cHarot. Pero ang masasabi

gawing makabuluhan ang bawat proyekto, at hindi puro pa-eMe lang mga siz. Hinahamon ng bagong panahon ng

ko lang, hangga’t kaya pang ilaban, lumaban, dahil matitira ang tanging matitibay. Ewan ko na lang talaga kung sa

pAmintasan ang ating mga legandary #EventOrganayzerrr: patunayang karapat-dapat at maaasahan kayo!

lahat ng sinabi ko, ‘yang quote lang na ‘yan ang natandaan mo.

HATOL NG KAPALARAN Tinaguriang sChOoL fOr tHe PoOr noon,

MABIGHANI SA PAGBABALIK NG GUSALI At may mga nagbabalik na naman mga isKalats!

Ambagets: ambag sa bagets Winnie Santos muli ang PhlEgM sa nagdaang mga licensure exam, mapapa- #SanaAll

kamusta naman ngayon? Matatandaang nilagdaan

Muling nagbubukas ang gusaling wit natin knows kung

ka na lang talaga sa gedli. Isipin kung anong teklado ang gamit ng mga mag-aaral ng

ng dating pangulong Macapagal ang RA 4196 upang

bakit nagsara at palaging pinagka-kamalang GCA. Open na

ElecTURONics giNgeneering (18/18), reglador bilang panukat ng mga guardya-Sibil

mag givenchy ng kalidad na edukasyon na keribels

for usage ng isKalats ang Gusaling Don Pepe Atienza mga

giNgeneering (27/27) at bolpen na panulat ng mga KemeEng (15/15) upang makamit ang

ng bulsa ng mga pooritang Manileño. Tila makipag

besHywaPs, pero wag ka lang malito at baka ayun nga, sa

isang daang porsyento ng pagpasa. Gayun din naman ang iniwang eksena ng mga mag-aaral

papatintero ka kay kamatayan sa hirap ng pagdaraan

GCA ka pumunta. Asahan nga lang na laging late ang mga

ng PsyCOOLogy alinsunod sa nakuha nitong 96.84% (92/95) Psychometrician Licensure

upang makamit ang moraytang pag-aaral na handog

profZ dahil tila pumasok ka sa ibang dimensyown at tinago

Exam, ganap na ganap!

ng Pamintasan. Ngunit sa kasalukuyan, hindi na

ka sa likod ng PhLegM. Siguraduhin din na may jacket or

lamang talaga sikmura ang bumabaligtad dahil

blazer kang dala dahil #NoMorePawisFeelz na tayo ngayon

i-angat ng mga markang ito ang pAmintasan sa pinaka-tuktok ng talahayanan ng kahusayan

maging ang kapalaran ay nakiki-ride na rin.

ditey at airconditioned ang mga classroom. Shala na din

dahil kung ihahambing sa iba, maliit lamang ang buong bilang ng mga nakalulusot sa

Bukod sa nagkalat na rin ang hindi mga

tayo, mga mamsH. Ingat-ingat nga lang at baka hindi mo

graduation sa pHlegm at pumapasa sa boards. #RealityHurts, divUhH. Ngunit iyan ang

batang-Maynila, nakaka bitter ocampo ang mga

alam, ‘di mo pala kaklase ang iyong seatmate at baka may

natatagong truth sa likod ng mataas ng porsyento ng pagpasa.

estudyanteng may say naman sa buhay ngunit sa

naririnig ka ng nagco-concert sa cr kahit ikaw lang mag-isa.

PhLegM nag-aaral. Sangkatuts ang andang pambili

Cherettt!

ng tig-iisang daan mahigit na kape sa sTarRbacCs pero sa paaralan ng mga pureza hinayaang gumora.

Mga de-carou rin tuwing pumapasok at kumpleto ang mga gamit na may kinagat na mansanas sa likod ngunit nabigyan pa rin ng pagkakataong mapabilang sa natatanging samahan ng mga isKalats. Kayo po na nakaupo subukan nyo namang tumayo para

Ang ganda ng mga porsyento ng marka ‘di ba, mga vAkluhH? Pero di pa rin magawang

Sa kabila ng tagumpay at pagdiriwang, may mga eksena pa rin talaga na hindi mapigilang humanash. Sinetch itech na umaako sa karangalan na nakuha ng mga nagtagumpay na estudyante? Clue: hindi siya si yorme. Sila ang naghirap ngunit sa paaralan lamang ang bagsak ng mga papuri. Marahil malaki ang ambag ng pAmintasang mAhal sa mga nasabing karangalan ngunit ating ulitulitin, kahit maging sirang plaka na tayo, na dapat ibigay sa mga bAgets ang tunay na korona ng pagkilala. Tandaan: alaws ang pa-party kung wala ang mga talagang naghirap upang maabot ito.

mabigyan ng victoria hustisya ang mga batang

Ikaw ang nagtanim pero iba ang umani?

nasa laylayan ngunit deserve naman.

Walang ganon mars.

Ang lagay, iskolar ng bayan pero payaman?

Isyung isko Pamantasan

ISTAMBAY SA LOOBAN The Official Student Publication of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Volume 40, Issue 2 • October - November 2019