ATENEWS October 2011 Tabloid Release by Atenews

ATENEWS bags NSPC ‘11 Awards

Ateneo BEAT: AdDU teachers & students conduct Feeding Program

Dissecting Faculty Regularization

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END THE SILENCE OF THE GAGGED! VOL 57, NO 2 - JUN-OCT

Samahan: governing with no bounds

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15 PAGE

THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE ATENEO DE DAVAO UNIVERSITY - ESTABLISHED 1955

The Ateneo community joins forces with demonstrators from other schools and organizations at Rizal Park to call for an end to summary killings. Photo by Tonchi Nanini.

Samahan president resigns By Reymond Pepito SAMAHAN CENTRAL Board President Aldwin Dumago resigned from office last October 1. Before a formal letter was delivered publicly, Mr. Dumago confirmed his resignation through Facebook. “I am no longer the Samahan Central Board president,” he said in a post. Dumago’s announcement of his resignation shocked the student council and the spectators of the Ateneo community. Many were left wondering as to why Mr. Dumago decided to leave the office; students are speculating that the huge pressure as student council president brought him to resign. Others speculate that an alleged threat from libel charges might be one of the reasons. Copies of Memorandum No. SCB Pres 064, s. 2011 entitled RESIGNATION AS SAMAHAN CENTRAL BOARD PRESIDENT dated October 1 were disseminated to Ateneo offices. In the memo, Mr. Dumago expressed his grief over his decision. “It is with a heavy heart that I am announcing my resignation as SAMAHAN Central Board President,” the letter reads. Dumago did not point out the main reason of his resignation. He only said that many issues have caused him to discharge his presidential duties and responsibilities. He mentioned that he gave himself ample time to discern during his indefinite leave last September 13. “My six months in office is very short but truly meaningful, I assure everyone that your SAMAHAN Central board will continue to serve its mission of taking service and leadership to greater heights.” said Dumago. | CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

Faculty receives 6% wage increase By Kathleen Anne Veloso & Tom Louis Herrera

LAST JUNE 1, the administration implemented the 6% across-the-board salary increase for the employees of the school. The increase was based on their salary plus 6%, according to Mr. Jimmy Delgado, the University Treasurer. University President Fr. Joel Tabora, SJ, publicized the increase after the procession and mass for the commemoration of the feast of St. Ignatius held at AdDU-Matina Campus last July. Mr. Delgado said that the teachers’ salary increases every year. If there is an increase in the tuition, at least 70% of it goes to the teachers. “We really believe that teachers are the frontrunners of the university so the tuition fee increase should go primarily to them. The basic principle that if the teachers are well-paid then they will have passion—they have passion already to teach but at least their physiological needs will be met. We all have physiological needs—food, shelter, and there is an inflation rate of about 3-4% so at least the teachers’ increase in salary is above the inflation rate,” said Mr. Delgado in an interview. Describing the relationship between the increase in their salary and the teachers’ quality of service as symbiotic, Mr. Delgado said that “We emphasize that the increase is coming from the students so they will in return give more to the students in terms of service.” “This, in turn, will lead to students having a better education, a better preparation for their work so students will

have a better life,” said Mr. Delgado. Given these facts, it is reasonable that we students consider, take a closer look, and identify whether the policy implemented for salary increase has compensated equitably the persons to whom a greater bulk of our tuition fee increases should rightfully go. The purpose of this is to see whether the current application of salary increase is serving our faculty and staff well or still has points to improve. Limited to the context of the regular College Faculty members, one of the objectives of the application of the across-the-board 6% salary increase is to correct the salary distortion or discrepancy between those who have served the University for a longer time and those who were newlyhired. It is a fact that those college faculty members who have been teaching full-time for more than ten years have received decent increases in their salaries which made their salary base significantly higher compared to those teachers not under the said bracket. Faculty members who have been teaching full-time for less than ten years confirmed that they were significantly affected by the current salary increase and were more than satisfied with its implementation. Provided that the goal was successfully realized and that what took effect was really an equitable-relative compensation, the next question is whether there was due process in the form of an assembly or resolution conducted before execution. In an interview with a college faculty member who has been teaching full-time in the University for more than a decade, | CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Ateneans participate in CHR Rally against summary killings By Edward Lactaoen

THE STREETS of Downtown Davao were filled with Ateneans as they marched in protest against summary killings last July 25. The people began to gather in Roxas open field at around 2:30 pm to listen to University President Father Joel Tabora SJ speak before the rally-cum-parade began. Father Tabora spoke about the university’s participation in the rally, saying

that it was an “imperative of our Christian conscience.” Father Tabora also stressed that we should “demand immediate action to end the illegal and immoral killing.” After the Father President’s address, the members of the Ateneo Community, along with other participants waiting in Freedom Park waited for the go signal of the Commission on Human Rights to begin their march towards Rizal Park. Various divisions and organizations trudged on with their banners to signify their presence and support for the

cause being put forward by the rally. All participating sectors and organizations in the rally as they arrived at Rizal Park were recognized. Once all had settled down at the site, the program began. The Ateneo de Davao’s very own Carillon Glee Club opened up the program by singing a prayer, which was then followed by them singing the National Anthem. | CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Atenews | The Official Student Publication of the Ateneo de Davao University | June-October 2011

Editorial

NPNE Policy is near to its end

he Ateneo de Davao University has implemented the strict proposal of the former University Treasurer Rolex Ratilla which is the ‘No Permit, No Exam Policy’ dated July 16, 2008 despite the deferment calls from Ateneo student leaders. The administrators embraced the policy, believing that if not implemented, strain and instability of cash flow inside the university could happen. The same reason was used by numerous colleges and universities around the country: since they are private institutions, they solely depend on money collected to pay bills and continue the operation. No wonder why 80 percent who experienced the hullabaloos of the said policy are from the tertiary level. Today, our battle cry has finally reached the Congress and is close to success. House Bill 4791 or An Act Penalizing the Imposition of a ‘No Permit, No Exam’ policy, principally authored by Kabataan Representative Raymond “Mong” Palatino, gained unanimous votes for the passage of the consolidated anti-“no permit, no exam” for a third and final reading last August 3. It is now up to the Senate to adopt the bill before handing it to the President for his signature. Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) and the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities cried that it is unconstitutional since the bill is a form of impairment of contractual obligations. But are the long years of denying students to access their right to education unconstitutional? More so, are the lawmakers in the congress ignorant of the law that they let the bill pass considering that it’s unlawful to begin with? Schools are worried of financial constraint and other money related issues. But we know for a fact that these giant universities (even the small ones) have millions of funds that can be used upon waiting for students’ money to come. In January 2010, the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) came up with Memorandum Order No. 02 appealing to private and public schools for flexibility in the implementation of the “no permit, no exam” policy. Even private schools have an existing regulation in Section 99 of its 2008 Manual of Regulations for Private Higher Education that prohibits the no permit, no exam policy. Yet, many schools shamelessly violate it. They have betrayed their own regulations and ignored CHEd’s appeal of suspension. The clamor of parents and students to abolish this soonto-be-normalized policy in Philippine schools is an avenue for Aquino’s administration to prove that their promises of equalizing the right to access quality education can be actualized. It’s also an avenue for Catholic schools to become visionary on how they can deal with their poor constinuents who are striving to acquire quality learning. The end to NPNE is near and the students’ effort will not go in vain. This is a fruit of our united labor. If passed as a law, it calls for celebration and of hope that we will now focus on our exams rather than worrying on how to get money just to feed our non-profiteering university.

END THE SILENCE OF THE GAGGED! - THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE ATENEO DE DAVAO UNIVERSITY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Reymond Pepito • ASSOCIATE EDITOR Karlo James David Bringas • MANAGING EDITOR Tom Louis Herrera ASSOCIATE MANAGING EDITOR John Kessler Misterio • NEWS EDITOR Jan - Patrik Laroya • ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR Cyril Jerome Almanzor FEATURES EDITOR Kathleen Anne Veloso • ASSOCIATE FEATURES EDITOR Edward Lactaoen • HONORARY EDITOR Paul Randy Gumanao SENIOR WRITERS Garry Camarillo, Jhar-Mae Magalona, Patricia Templa, Almira Jane Villegas, Pamela Joy Yutiamco WRITERS Ursula Calipayan, Zyra Kee, Florienne Melendrez, Kathleen Pastrana, Jenny Mae Saldaña, Clemarie Secuya, Arielle Sta. Ana, Maybelle Yutiamco PHOTOJOURNALISTS Caycee Coronel, Maritoni Nanini, Paolo Villanueva, Geneva Shaula Almeria, Farrideh Jadali Sabet, Louise Marie Loreno CARTOONISTS Adrian Ablazo, Steely Dhan Caballero, Nadine Caballes, Bea Trizia Jimenez, Zyra Montefolca LAYOUT & GRAPHICS Steven Adrianne Chua, Nathalya Kamyll Francisco, Sanju Chugani, Jason Occidental, Henophel Alcantara, Jamela Rae Allaga, Camille Venus WEB TEAM Francis Kenneth Barina, Herc Casiple • MODERATOR Dr. Victoria Tatad-Pre Covered Court Bldg., Ateneo de Davao University, E. Jacinto St., Davao City • Tel. No.: (082) 221-2411 loc. 8332 • Website: www.atenews.org • E-mail: atenews@gmail.com MEMBER OF THE COLLEGE EDITORS GUILD OF THE PHILIPPINES We accept articles, letters, pictures, comics and other contributions for publication. “END THE SILENCE OF THE GAGGED!”

Atenews | The Official Student Publication of the Ateneo de Davao University | June-October 2011

Columns

Reymond Pepito

26th Avenue

Making relevance

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Soriano’s fearless expression might hurt us, but it has to be taken as a good critique... Cruz’ artwork on the same way might insult us, but it is a challenge to our faith - a challenge to throw away hypocrisy

Paul Randy Gumanao

Ismoltots

Where does AdDU stand?

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AdDU can do great in helping every student and staff understand the nature of the ongoing internal conflicts and become responsive in rebuilding integral peace and development in the country

Karlo James David Bringas

Pigs Will Fly

Countdown to adventure

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It’s a strange thing, to imagine what life will be in a few months from now after graduation

FREEDOM OF expression is the freedom to speak freely without impediment. However such liberty is not absolute; it has limitations. No wonder why in our laws, you’ll be subjected to criminal offenses like libel, slander, incitement and obscenity once your expression has gone too far. Currently, our nation is facing heated issues that concern the freedom of speech and of expression. Talk about Mideo Cruz’s controversial art exhibit in CCP and James Soriano’s widely criticized essay published in the Manila Bulletin. Both were somehow assessed as violations of the right to express, while others said that such forms of speech are not intrusions but rather avenues that will raise vital discourse. Let’s highlight first the “Poleteismo” of Cruz that was labeled sacrilegious and offensive. As what the Church people said, the artist made fun of the divinity of Christ therefore he has to be punished. It is not usual to see works of art using a symbol of Catholic faith grafted with manhood on its nose. For the Catholics, it’s a blasphemy. For Cruz and his colleagues, it’s just an art. I can’t blame why the faithful Catholics are ranting against CCP and Cruz. The symbols used by the artist are considered holy in the eyes of the faithful. It is part of their faith, part of their ritual, and part of their religion –and they take all of these seriously. You cannot simply excuse Cruz’s masterpiece as an art, especially

when it has another meaning perceived by a sensitive community. Maybe if Cruz had exhibited the “Poleteismo” in the West, he can expect fewer reactions and lesser ferocities. But looking in our context, as Filipinos who value religion and has a stronghold to our religious doctrines, you have to expect resistance. If Cruz says that his artwork is pushing an advocacy, say the RH Bill, that has to be supported by the public, how then can he win the support of the many if in the first place the medium is appalling? He has to give reverence to his audience, he has to give due sensitivity. But in the end, whether Mideo Cruz’s art is sacrilegious or not, the issue remains debatable. On the other hand, Atenean James Soriano sparked another heated issue. In his essay “Language, learning, identity, privilege” published by the Manila Bulletin on August 24, Soriano tagged the wikang Filipino as the language of the unlearned. He called the wikang Filipino a chore, like washing the dishes. He labeled it as the language of the streets, a language that is not merely a peculiar variety of language, derived and continuously borrowing from the English and Spanish alphabets. As expected, he has received various criticisms not only from the community of “Manangs” (his dish-washers) but also from the community of professionals -judging him as arrogant and disrespectful.

It is not a surprise why Soriano got those adjectives. If Mideo has incurred pain on the hearts of the faithful, this guy has wounded the heart of the patriots. We can’t blaim Soriano if he calls our national language as secondary, knowing the fact that it was his parents who pushed him to learn English, not him. It was his surrounding who told him to value more English than Filipino. On the lighter side, I can say that Soriano’s article could serve as a wringer for our educators, educational agencies and other institutions that are concerned with learning. Maybe it’s true that we’re losing the value of our national language, that we see it as something not so important, that we’re giving more worth on foreign languages. Soriano’s fearless expression might hurt us, but it has to be taken as a good critique, giving us more motivation to love our wikang Filipino. Cruz’s artwork on the same way might insult us, but it is a challenge to our faith, maybe a challenge to throw away hypocrisy. Like how a phallus was grafted in Christ’s face, our society is grafting the same thing to His face because we’re serving self-centered interests. Again, our liberty in expressing our views and opinions are subjected to limitations. But we have to ask ourselves, are we making relevance by using such right?

WHERE DOES AdDU stand in the probe for the prospects of the GPH-NDFP peace negotiations? This is what the students know: there is war between the CPP-NPA-NDF and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. This is what we might not have known: the war is rooted on the socio-political and economic problems of the people. Unless these problems are genuinely addressed, the civil war would persist. GMA’s four-year Oplan Bantay Laya I and II were unsuccessful in eliminating a four-decade “communist insurgency”—a phenomenon that should not have been addressed with militaristic interventions. The government failed to recognize that genuine and lasting peace can be achieved not by countering the armed struggle but by resolving its very roots. I am addressing this article to our school administrators and to the faculty. I believe that the educational institutions like AdDU can do great in helping every student and staff understand the nature of the ongoing internal conflicts and mobilize them to become responsive in rebuilding integral peace and development in the country. Many students and even teachers do not know, and do not even care about the resumption of the peace process that the Aquino administration is taking with the CPPNPA-NDF (and perhaps with the GPH-MILF talks). Many might not have even known that

at present, there is a great chance for the talks to collapse. We cannot solely rely on the media for information. We need intellectual and objective discussions on this matter that concerns every Filipino. AdDU, as it claimed to be a Catholic, Jesuit and Filipino institution, has to rise up to the challenge of becoming truly a university, a market of ideas, where dialogues and intellectual discussions on pertinent issues of the day may be had. Creating venues for discussions on peace and progress would encourage the virtue of Ignatian contemplation and the depth of thought and imagination of the members of the community. With the thrusts of the new administration under Fr. Joel Tabora, SJ, I believe that this is not impossible. How delightful it would be to have our students in AdDU talk about progressive ideas rather than backstabbing fellow Ateneans, or worse, pinning down students from other neighboring schools. As I have observed, the essence of the very precious virtue of being persons for others has just become so superficial this time as there is a lack of processing after few sessions of relief operations, or tree planting activities, or feeding programs. I am not saying that these are useless activities. I am just emphasizing that the university should strengthen its “proyecto social” beyond just providing some “band-aid” solutions to the problems of the majority of the Filipinos.

The people have long wanted peace— a peace that is based on justice. AdDU could be a strong voice in demanding a stern effort from the involved groups not to give any party a justification for acts of war. And one way of achieving it is to encourage the sustenance of the negotiations, through respectful compliance of whatever has been agreed by both parties. AdDU could also take active role in the monitoring of violations of the peace agreements, and this would only become possible if everybody understands the conflict in the first place. Hence, it will be of great help in hastening the peace process should the educational institutions like Ateneo de Davao University provide a venue for the students and staff to learn substantial and truthful information regarding the existence of these on-going wars. The people have to know that these wars are legitimate, and not merely terroristic, in the sense that there are socio-economic and political issues involved. The people must know the demands of the revolutionaries and the corresponding responses of the government to these demands. The Filipinos have to feel that they are part of this peace process because they, too, long for increase in wages, for a land to till, for an accessible and quality education, for food security, for accessible health services, for a just society, and for a better life.

IT IS NOW October, and as I type this, I estimate that I have to weather 188 days before Graduation Day, that fateful day scheduled on March 24. All around me, the graduating seniors are neck deep in thoughts of graduation. The idea of failing a subject, even a minor one, is leaving many a senior in despair. Group leaders are having butterflies in their stomach when they think of their thesis. The prospects of various bright kids to getting at least cum laude are being weighed and debated by those who know them. Graduation hangs like a cloud over the heads of those who anticipate it. Graduation. It is arguably the be-all and byall of college existence, the reason why we go here in the first place. As our parents delight in telling us, they put us through four or five years of college so that we’ll be sure to get a good job once we leave its hallowed halls, and thus have a bright future. And though half of the time college seems to be nothing more than unnecessary stress we put up with to please our folks and an excuse to get an allowance, all of us look forward to this day. It is a strange thing, to imagine what life will be a few months from now. I find myself imagining what I’d be doing by late May next year, when I’ll leave Davao to start my review: where will I stay, who will I stay with, what sort of people will I meet, what will I do then – it wouldn’t do for me, a 23-year-old come next

year, to depend too much on my family for my sustenance, and so I must find work – and so on. Most of the time, I imagine these things in weird places, like when I’m in the shower. Strange ideas belong to odd places, I suppose, and this is a strange time. Strange times call for strange actions. I find myself counting every peso I spend these days. Normally, I’d spend whatever money I have with abandon. But now I find myself obsessing. A novice chemical engineer earns in the neighborhood of P27,000 a month, I keep thinking. After taxes, this amount will have to cover lodging, food, transportation, utilities, and some reasonable amount I’ll send back home to help support my younger brother, as well as some amount to spend on myself. And the way I’m going now, I realize, P27,000 will not be enough. I want to graduate now. I want to wear a tie, go to my plant and work with people on making products, to the point that I hate having to wear this loose blue polo shirt day after day. I have many things I’d like to do once I leave college. But the future is quite scary. Contrary to popular belief, a college degree is not a foolproof guarantee to the good life. The pertinent statistics on employment seem to belong to a horror movie: About 7.1 million people are estimated to be underemployed this year. About 37.1% of the workforce work part-time. For the current crop of nursing

graduates, the fierce competition means that as many as half of board exam passers may not get a job. This bleak reality makes me think of a foolish knight, going to battle in full armor but finding out as he is bludgeoned to death that his defenses are cardboard. So school can seem like a security blanket to the bad, scary world outside, and some employed people I know still long for its comfort. Some weeks ago, I talked to a close friend who is currently working in a foundation. She graduated in International Studies here, worked for the organization she interned in, and then moved on to training and assessing field agents for her current foundation. The work is tiring, and it does not compensate well. She makes frequent travels all over Mindanao to far-flung areas. She leaves Davao on Sundays and may not return to the lonely boardinghouse she stays in for a week or two. I asked her if she’s happy, if living as a young, stressed professional is much better than wearing a uniform and bookbag on weekdays and doing nothing on weekends. She munched on her donut for a while – she treats herself frequently despite her budget – and said yes. I pondered this response for a long time afterwards. One hundred and eighty-eight days until my life changes. The changes may be good or terrible, but it is sure to be exciting. I can’t wait.

Atenews | The Official Student Publication of the Ateneo de Davao University | June-October 2011

News

Ateneo hosts advanced screening of Deadline By Edward Lactaoen

Fr. Tabora fields questions from national media and news outlets. Photo by Shaula Almeria.

Ateneans participate Shortly thereafter, the Armed Forces of the Philippines Band stepped in to perform an intermission number. This was followed by yet another intermission number, this time an interpretative dance number from the Assumption College of Davao’s SILAB Creative Sociocultural Group. Regional Director of the Commission on Human Right XI, Atty. Alberto Sipaco Jr. was then given the floor to discuss the rationale of the Indignation Rally-CumParade. Ateneo’s own Teatro Humanidades then stepped in to perform an intermission number; a theatrical dance drama about summary killings. The highlight of the event – the signing of covenant – followed. The covenant was a symbol of each sector’s affirmation of their dedication to the cause. To sign the covenant, several prominent figures from each sector

| FROM PAGE 1

came forward. Atty. Alberto Jr., Regional Director of the CHR – XI represented the CHR in the signing. PNP Regional Director Chief Superintendent Jaime Morente and Armed Forces of the Philipines, Eastern Mindanao Commander Lt. Gen. Arthur Tabaquero stepped forward for the security sector. Father Joel Tabora SJ, president of Ateneo de Davao University represented the academe in the signing of the covenant. The young professionals sector was represented by Mr. John Silvosa, Coordinator of Student Affairs at UIC, while SAMAHAN President Aldwin Chester Dumago represented the students and Mr. Hadji Balajadia, a convenor for the Youth for a First World Philippines represented the youth sector. Mr. Randy Ponteras, National Executive Member of Akbayan stood for the Non-Government Organization sector and Philippine Info Agency’s Regional Director in the person of Efren Elbanbuena represented the media. Lastly, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines was represented by Davao City Chapter’s

Vice-President, Jesse Marvin Melodias. The Carillon Glee Club stepped in for one last intermission number before the program ended with the community singing of the song “Heal Our Land.” In an interview with Regional Director for the CHR Atty. Sipaco, he stated that the event was “very successful in the sense that we have brought awareness.” Atty. Sipaco also stated in the interview that he would love to see a “signification of response” from the government after the rally. Atty. Sipaco said that the event was a “foundation” for the future of programs on summary killings and when asked about the CHR’s future plans about programs on summary killings, Atty. Sipaco said that he is “polishing future plans to build on the momentum” that the rally-cum-parade had achieved.

(L-R) Atenews members Reymond Pepito, Paul Randy Gumanao, Almira Jane Villegas, Jhar-Mae Magalona pose with CEGP National Deputy Secretary-General Christopher Pasion during the 71st NSPC Awarding ceremony. Photo by Tonchi Nanini

Atenews bags NSPC 2011 Awards “Sumulong, sumulat, manindigan at mamulat!” By Almira Jane Villegas NOW ON its 71st, the College Editors Guild of the Philippines held its annual National Student Press Convention last May 11-15 at Initao, Misamis Oriental. Guilders coming from different school publications over Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao joined the said event. What happened? It was a jam-packed five-day convention featuring basic, intermediate, and advanced journalism skills training and workshops. Guilders enrolled to JSTs of their choice such as lampoon writing, photojournalism, cartooning, poetry writing, theatre arts, writing for broadcast media, and literary criticism. Campus journalists also took a trip to see the current situation of marginalized

sectors, where they conducted interviews and basic mass integrations. Socio-political discussions and other forums were also given. The guilders showed active participation by raising points and questions regarding the subject matter. The Campus Journalism Act of 2011 was also discussed by Kabataan Partylist Representative Raymond “Mong” Palatino. Winner Atenews bagged third place for both Tabloid and Literary Folio categories in the 12th Ernesto Rodriguez Jr. Award. Gawad ERJ is the annual contest conducted by the CEGP. It honors excellent and outstanding student publications. It judges the technical aspects and content of every article or story in a paper. It was all about the choice. The NSPC 2011 brought together guilders all

over the country having one virtue, “To write and to be heard.” The participants didn’t just take in journalism stuff. They also had the chance to mingle with other guilders from different parts of the country during the final night. A cultural presentation showcased by Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao guilders also took place. ”It was my first time to attend such big event. I find it good especially doon sa mga split-room discussions. Magagaling kasi ang mga speaker tsaka halata talaga na experienced na sila. With regards naman sa mga co-participants, approachable naman yong iba. Overall, marami akong natutunan about student journalism, ‘yon mahalaga doon.” Said Eira Feri Imasa Antipuesto, Features Editor of the Actidamean, Notre Dame University.

PEOPLE AGAINST impunity, media practitioners, administrators, and students from other schools gathered in AVR B last August 2 to catch an advanced screening of Joel Lamangan’s film, Deadline. The Alliance Against Impunity in Mindanao (AIM), Davao Association of Colleges and Schools (DACS), College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) and Atenews hosted the very first screening of the film in Mindanao, the target audience of the movie. The program begun with Ms. Mae Fe Templa of AIM presenting to the audience the rationale of the event, followed immediately by the screenwriter, Mr. Bonifacio Ilagan, relating to the audience his words about the film before proceeding to the actual screening of the film. Deadline centers on the stories of various reporters, as they are set to expose Governor Muntazir Ghazi of Abdul Rabb and his ties to murders of media practitioners. The result is a suspenseful game of cat-and-mouse between the media practitioners and the members of the private army of the governor. The film was based on media killings, particularly those in Mindanao. Mr. Ilagan stressed this when asked during the open forum after the film, saying that it was inspired by the “series of media killings,” and that it, “culminated in the Maguindanao Massacre.” He said that after the events of the said massacre happened, he “felt that he had to write something about it.” Mr. Ilagan was also asked about the possible effect the film may have on aspiring media practitioners. He answered that although the content of the film may discourage them, what it depicts is reality. One of the administrators from the University of Mindanao asked about the screening of the film in the university. It was then revealed that they are coordinating with DACS to bring the film to other schools in Davao. Official screening for the movie is planned this coming November 19 in AdDU’s Audio Visual Rooms.

Say NO TO MINING in Palawan, Ateneans.

Atenews | The Official Student Publication of the Ateneo de Davao University | June-October 2011

News

Ateneo Beat Ateneo Publications Alliance (APA)

Magis Student Complex officially opens By Hannah Mae S. Salugsugan

The Crusader - XU

THE FOURTH part of the evolution of the Magis Student Complex (MSC) site was successfully carried on in a blessing ceremony and official opening held at the Xavier University (XU) main campus on August 15. Fr. Ramon “Jett” T. Villarin SJ, immediate past university president, administered the blessing ceremony, and headed the unveiling of the MSC dedication along with Fr. Roberto C. Yap SJ at the Magis Atrium. Administrators, deans from the different colleges; XU faculty and staff; and student leaders from various college councils and organizations also graced the unveiling which was followed by a short program at the University cafeteria. “This new Magis Student Complex marks another giant step forward in our commitment to carry out our responsibilities of being

AdZU opens XU College of Law Zamboanga By Jam Camille Quintanes

The Beacon - AdZU

THE BEGINNING of this school year marked another groundbreaking academic era for Ateneo de Zambonga University. In consortium with Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan, ADZU has finally opened its doors to a new program that would soon give birth to the most competent and respectable lawyers in town. The institution is proud to present the Xavier University College of Law-Zamboanga,

stewards of the goods of creation in our services as men and women for others,” Fr. Villarin said during the opening rite of the blessing. Fr. Villarin, who is now Ateneo de Manila University president, along with other Jesuit priests, came to the city to witness the investiture of Fr. Yap which was held in the afternoon of the same day. Fr. Yap underlined in his opening remarks that he contended to schedule the blessing of the MSC on August 15 to make sure that Fr. Villarin gets to preside the blessing ceremony, citing that “the MSC is his [Fr. Villarin] building.” Even so, the new University president accepted the dispensation of the MSC from the past administration of Fr. Villarin. During the short program, Ms. Guitarte presented a short introduction of the P41million MSC. It was supplemented by a video presentation on the four phases of the Magis Complex site evolution: groundbreaking, coin tossing, construction and blessing. Fr. Villarin said in his closing message: “I’ll tell you a secret but I think you know this already. You [students] are the inspiration of the faculty and staff.”

an authorized branch of XU’s law program in the ADZU Campus. It was last June 25, 2011 that the College of Law was formally introduced to the community alongside its new home in the Fr. Manuel Sauras Hall. The joyous occasion started with the welcome remarks of Fr. Antonio F. Moreno SJ, ADZU President. The affair was also graced by the presence of Atty. Raul R. Villanueva, Law School Dean of XU College of Law and Atty. Rosendo U. Castillo, the appointed Associate Dean. XU President Fr. Roberto C. Yap, SJ together with Fr. Moreno signed the Memorandum of Agreement as the former gave his closing words for the event. Mayor Celso Lobregat was also one of the many in attendance. Indeed, the entire Ateneo Community celebrates with this promising achievement. It is but another step to take and another challenge to conquer and soar high as true blue eagles would.

AdDU teachers, students conduct feeding program

Faithful celebrates World Youth Day

AdDU’s delegates for this year’s World Youth Day strike a pose for a souvenir picture in Madrid, Spain. Photo from Ruby Trinidad

THE SPIRIT-FILLED World Youth Day is over, but the precious lessons found in Madrid remain in the hearts of the pilgrims. More than 1.5 million young people all around the globe met in Spain last August 1621 to celebrate their Catholic faith with Pope Benedict XVI. Eight among the millions who were blessed in the festive yet holy gathering were students from the Ateneo de Davao University. Ruby Anne Trinidad and Marie Gracielle Epe, both AdDU senior students, were among the eight delegates. The two willingly shared their merriments in an Atenews exclusive interview. Before the pilgrimage Ruby and Marie were excited when they received the invitation from the Episcopal Communion on Youth (ECY) of the Philippines. They were thrilled knowing that the venue for this year’s World Youth Day was in Europe. “Na-excite talaga ako, Europe na kasi yan. Nasaisipan ko pa nga lang that time, talagang excited na ako,” said Ruby. But the anticipation to join the gathering of the faithful turned into a test. “The process of complying the requirements for World Youth Day was not easy. “Talagang mahirap, talk about visa application. Doon pa lang, masusubukan na faith mo. Beside from that, hindi libre ang gastos. Pero you can ask for sponsorship,” Ruby added. “But despite the struggles and hardships sa pag-comply, pinagpatuloy pa rin namin kasi gusto talaga naming sumali,” said Marie. From more than twenty people who showed interest in joining the pilgrimage, only few remained.

Welcome aboard The Ateneo de Davao group under the guidance of Ms. Marlina Dayrit went to Spain one week before the commencement of the grand celebration. Ruby described the crowd as welcoming when they reached the place. Many Filipinos from Dubai who were also around to participate greeted them warmly.“We are glad to see our fellow Filipinos. Nakakatuwa kasi sila talaga yong nag-welcome sa amin. They are all accommodating,” said Ruby. They spent their first week in a province in Spain. They traveled to Guadalope, Portugal and other holy places. Since it’s a celebration of faith among young people who naturally love to have fun and enjoy, a Cardinal was steadfastly reminding them that they are not on a vacation but on a pilgrimage. The crowd and the pope Walking long distances under a 40-degree heat was one of the unforgettable experiences they had on their trip . They found it difficult to adapt to the kind of weather Spain has. The temperature drops when evening comes, and it increases rapidly in the morning. All of us have to adjust,” said Marie. Aside from the tough weather, the language barrier was one of the problems they encountered in the place. They found it difficult to converse with people around. That is why it was hard when they found themselves lost in the group or in the area. But beyond all odds, they enjoyed the experience with millions of people cheering and celebrating their faith. They were amazed how World Youth Day could be festive and holy at the same time. | CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

NSM wins 14th Ignatian Cup, Humanities takes Extempo By Kathleen Pastrana

Street children from around the city gather in Ateneo to avail of the feeding program. Photo by Tonchi Nanini.

By Kathleen Pastrana

Atenews - AdDU

A FEEDING Program for street children on the third day of College Fiesta was conducted by AdDU’s Theology division together with the students from AB Mass Communication - 2A. The Jacinto walkway was packed with street children and parents coming from different areas in the city. They were escorted to the campus by the students. On the other hand,

Mr. Jeffrey Gaid and Mr. Lope Calotes of the Theology division helped served the bowls of lugaw and cups of ice cream. “Masaya ako, pati ang kapatid ko. Nanggaling pa kami sa Boulevard, nilakad lang namin hanggang dito para magtinda,” Ten year old anthurium vendor said. The children weren’t the only ones who enjoyed the food. Employees of the Ateneo General Services were also invited to eat. After a food-filled afternoon, the Theology division and the students have fulfilled their task in giving away at least 360 bowls of lugaw for free.

THE MOST brilliant words come from the most brilliant people. The house of Natural Science and Mathematics won the championship of the 14th Ignatian Cup, with Paul Randy Gumanao as the Finals Best Speaker. After a series of knockout rounds of all the divisions since Monday afternoon, NSM and BSA-MA teams stood still and made it to the finals. The two three-men teams debated on the motion that, “this house regrets the closure of Mideo Cruz’s art exhibit in the CCP,” with NSM on the government side and the BSA-MA on the opposition bench. The teams fired off, and gathered applauses from the audience as one notable argument was presented after another. Finally, after a competitive debate match, the participants of the Extemporaneous Dialogue were called to

prepare. The Humanities Division, with Ianne Aquino and Daryl Palemene as the representatives, was hailed as the champion of the Extemporaneous Dialogue. The BM Division ranked 2nd, behind the SSE Division, which garnered the 1st runner-up. The topics discussed, which were mostly about love, sex and beauty, thrilled the audience. With their unique and creative means of delivery, the participants gave the audience a heart-warming entertainment. Paolo Cansino, President of the Ateneo Debate Varsity, addressed the participants, the audience and the panel of judges with his message. “Debating is not exclusive to students who study economics, politics and other related discipline... The finals round is a strong testament that everyone can really debate, " he said. After the rounds of speeches, the winners, including the Top 10 Best Speakers that stood out among the rest, were awarded.

Atenews | The Official Student Publication of the Ateneo de Davao University | June-October 2011

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Ateneo to launch automated enrollment By Almira Jane Villegas

International Studies students together with their mentors during PFR Week. Photo by Arzen Apigo

AdDU celebrates Philippine Foreign Relations Week By Clemarie Manila Secuya THE FIRST Philippine Foreign Relations Week of Ateneo de Davao University was held last August 31 to September 7. The “Philippines and the World” was shown in Thibault Grounds, showing the history of the Department of Foreign Affiars (DFA) and various aspects of Philippine Foreign relations with Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, Spain, and USA. Different events like photo exhibits and forums about the importance of foreign relations were shown within the university. The forum, “DFA Exposed: The Role of DFA in Philippine Society” described the role of DFA, the importance of the Foreign Service examination, and discussed the current West Philippine dispute between Philippines and China through its speaker, Ms. Erlinda B. Albay, RCO Director of DFA Davao. Another forum entitled “Strengthening Ties in Promoting the Advancement of Asian Nations” held at F705A was led by Honorable Yoshiyuki Isoda, the Consulate of Japan last

September 2. Hon. Isoda talked about the history of the Philippine-Japan Relations, the functions of his consulate, and the challenges that his office faces. A forum on the Philippine-Indonesia Relations wrapped up the week-long event. “Taking Steps For A Better Relationship” was led by the Consul-General of Indonesian Consulate, Hon. Sukarsono, who talked about the history and the current bilateral relations of Philippines and Indonesia. He also talked about numerous scholarship and exchange programs his office and government is currently offering. “The PFR week serves to complement the learnings of the students in the classroom through activities such as forum, diplomatic discussions, and exhibits”, says Mr. Akeem Jade Fabila, a member of the IS Faculty. “It [PFR Week] also allows students to learn diplomatic practices and protocols through interactions with consul officers in Davao City”, he added. The entire PFR week was a product of the efforts of the entire 2nd Year International Studies students from both Asian and American Studies.

Ateneans clamor for safe outside-school events By Paul Randy Gumanao TWO ATENEANS raised concerns on the safety and security of students attending outof-school community extension services after the two met a vehicular accident while on their Theology 141 community immersion in Datu Salumay, Marilog District on July 9, 2011. Kiara Rioferio, AB Psychology 4, and Reymond Pepito, AB Mass Communication 4, sustained multiple abrasions and bruises after the motorcycle they hired fell on a rocky cliff while on their way to the tribal village of Datu Salumay. Despite the incident and in the absence of their teacher and anyone from the partner local institution, Rioferio and Pepito pursued the activity in the name of commitment and solidarity with the marginalized. Upon arrival to the AdDU campus after the immersion, Rioferio and Pepito immediately reported the accident to Ms. Marlina Dayrit, their Theo 141 teacher. The two also shared their failure to receive immediate medical attention in the form of first aid. Rather, they were advised to have a medical check up in a nearby hospital. “It is fortunate [that] we only sustained minor injuries. However, we want to appeal to the authorities concerned to review the guidelines of the immersion program,” Rioferio stated in a letter addressed to the Samahan Central Board. A copy of the letter was furnished to Atenews. A wake-up call “It must be ensured that what happened to us won’t happen to other students anymore. The

safety of the students should be top priority and the program [should] not be implemented at this expense,” stressed Rioferio. Mr. Lunar Fayloga, the OIC Chairperson of the Theology Division, was already informed regarding the incident and immediate preliminary changes in the immersion guidelines were done. In some classes, the waiver was changed into a memorandum of agreement between the student involved and the Theology division as represented by the teacher-in-charge. Aside from a stricter monitoring by the teachers-in-charge, Rioferio and Pepito call for a deliberate review of the terms and conditions in whatever agreements the school enters into with external parties such as NGOs or People’s Organizations that facilitate the extension services of students in all subjects that have fieldwork component. A clear procedure of first aid measures or emergency responses to untoward incidents that are force majeure, or beyond the control of the involved shall also be emphasized. The SAMAHAN central board, on behalf of the students, is the legitimate organization that could help lobby concerns for the welfare of students besides facilitating insurance claims. After the incident, as a learning experience, the SCB is also expected to come up with proposals on student welfare in out-of-school extra and co-curricular activities. In the end, what happened to Rioferio and Pepito is everybody’s concern.

THE ATENEO de Davao University will go for an automated enrollment system starting from the next semester of the A.Y. 2011-2012. Ateneans will no longer be going through long lines as they can already enroll themselves online. It was said that the system will somehow give students empowerment and control since they can adjust the subjects based on their preferred schedule. They can also effortlessly drop or add a subject. Regular or irregular, students will benefit from the new enrollment process. The system also allows students to view the list of subjects they are to get for the succeeding semesters provided that they will pass the current courses taken. The automated enrollment system is designed not just to give students convenience, but because the system itself is practical. By opening the site, sis.addu.edu.ph, students can access their accounts and do the online process of enrolling there. They will also know the projected billing ahead of time. Through the system, Ateneans will save much time and they can make the most out of their breaks, especially to those who live in the province. All they have to do is to simply log on and follow certain steps. They can also

pay through authorized banks by the university. With that, everyone gets to be enrolled within a day and the undying controversies of the previous enrollment procedure will finally come to an end. No more frowning and long lines for Ateneans. The Office of the University Registrar also conducted a test run of the system last September 14. 80 students were randomly picked to do the process. “Unta madayun na jud ang automated na enrollment para di na kayo hassle for students. Ma-kompleto na unta tanan info’s para makaaccess na tanan”, said Ethel Mae Vapor, Third Year Chemical Engineering Student, one of the students who did the test run. Atty. Edgar B. Pascua II, the University Registrar, also pointed out that since this will be the first automated enrollment of AdDU, minor glitches are expected. Despite that, concerned offices are ready to troubleshoot possible problems. “It guarantees efficiency. We expect feedbacks from students whether positive or negative because it’s a way for us to make the system better”, said Pascua. The pre-enrollment is from September 15 to October 8, 2011.

Gina Lopez , the current Managing Director of ABS-CBN, advocates “No to Mining in Palawan” to the Ateneo community. Photo by Shaula Almeria.

Gina Lopez brings insights in mining By Maybelle Anne Yutiamco MS. GINA Lopez, currently the Managing Director of the ABS-CBN Foundation, paid a visit to the Ateneo de Davao University last August 20 to promote the Save Palawan Movement. The promotion of the said movement was held at the Finster Auditorium and attended mostly by students, environmentalists, and school administrators. The Save Palawan Movement is a multisectoral alliance of different concerned civic groups launched last February 3 to raise awareness and to stop current and upcoming mining activities in Palawan and in other key biodiversity areas in the Philippines. The campaign intends to acquire ten million signatures that would convince the Philippine government to finally say no to mining in Palawan. Such campaign started after Dr. Gerardo “Doc Gerry” Ortega, the former leader of the protection of Palawan’s key biodiversity areas, was murdered. Ms. Lopez, also known to be at the forefront of the “Kapit Bisig para sa Ilog Pasig” advocacy, presented the negative effects that mining has brought upon different areas in the Philippines,

some of which are water pollution, fish kill, loss of animal habitat, and harm to old-growth forests. She stated that there are a lot of endemic and non-endemic animal and plant species in Palawan that must be protected. About 44,500 hectares of mangrove forests are situated in Palawan, making up 40% of all mangrove forests in the Philippines. Also, 279 species of birds can also be found here, 10% of which are endemic to the country. 34% of these birds are also migratory. These are just some of the species that can be found and might be endangered in Palawan should mining be allowed to continue in that area. Ms. Lopez also asserted that the people of Palawan could rely on different tourism opportunities that can be found there instead of depending on the jobs offered by different mining companies. Puerto Princesa, for instance, banned mining in the area and instead focused more on tourism options. Lopez added that Puerto Princesa earned more than a million pesos because of tourism. Ms. Lopez left the forum with the hope of garnering enough votes from Ateneans and from other Davaoeños as well. 1,600,000 signatures have already been given to the movement.

Atenews | The Official Student Publication of the Ateneo de Davao University | June-October 2011

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Ateneans petition for an optional AdDU internet subscription By Reymond Pepito A GROUP of Ateneans called Alliance of Concerned Students (ACS) petitions for an optional internet subscription. In a printed statement from ACS, they believe that internet subscription for services beyond those covered the library fee, the laboratory and other fees must be made optional. “We thus call on the AdDU new administration to make it such. Let those who want to access ADDUNET for extra services do so, aware of its pricing scheme and rules for use,” the petition letter reads. ACS was formed as a reaction towards the successive issued memos by former University President Fr. Antonio Samson, SJ on the internet use within the campus that are meant to address the problem of “illegitimate users”, provide “network security’ and better “WIFI system servies to legitimate ADDU users”. It was alledgedly known that nobody from the student council were consulted for the policy making. Internet related issues have a long history.

From 2006 down this year, the issues remained unresolved. On a released analysis paper of Youth for National Democracy (YND) - Ateneo de Davao Chapter dated 22 June 2011, students’ issues and concerns about ADDUNET were enumerated. These are the following: • On inefficient service or the problem of speed • On the intent to limit WiFi users’ access to SNSs • On setting access to SNSs on the activity period • On user registration and monitoring of ADDNET’s use” • Finally, on the compulsory subscripton to ADDUNET YND together with the members of ACS are now calling for a dialogue among student organizations and groups to arrive on resolutions that would cater varied interests for these matters. (Check atenews.org for YND’s analysis paper)

Administration reveals design for Ateneo Community Center By Almira Jane Villegas & Clemarie Secuya STUDENTS, FACULTY members and the administration gathered at the Finster Auditorium last September 26 for the design presentation of the proposed 20-storey community center of the Ateneo de Davao University. Arch. Christopher Ong presented the concept and overall design of the said project. The planned community center will give rise to a student plaza which will be the new ground for student offices, faculty lounge, gymnasiumwith two basketball courts (convertible into badminton and volleyball courts) a jog track and a fitness center, not to mention the lockers and the shower rooms. It will also make room for a parking space, which can house 200 cars. A three-level fully air-conditioned convention hall will also be constructed which can accommodate 4000-5000 people. With that, escalators will be put for convenience. A skybridge will also be made to connect the Finster, the Jubilee and the proposed community center together. The current chapel will be reconstructed as well. A high cross will be put up and a glass origami will be

featured in its new façade. The community center will also have a place for special visitors to stay in. Moreover, the whole building will give way for other school offices and possible business centers. The idea of having an olympic sized swimming pool is at hold. The Jesuits decided to give up the Loyola House to rise the said tower. The community tower will occupy 6,000 square meters and will cost Php 1.25B. The money will come from the university’s facilities improvement fees and other financial resources such as bank loans. Fr. Joel Tabora SJ said “We cannot regulate a school without a regular increase in tuition fee.” But he assured that if there will be an increase; it is not because of the construction of the community tower. The rising of the tower is what we call giving back what is due for the students - knowing that they are paying a big amount of money. And since the Ateneo community is growing, the community center will be a great place for a bigger family.” If everything will be agreed upon starting from the Jesuit community up to the provincial finance committee, the construction will start on January 2012. After one and a half to two years, the construction will be completed.

Learning the lessons from Ireland By Ursula Calipayan ATENEO DE Davao and several schools participated in “The Ireland Lesson: The Good Friday Agreement and The GPH-MILF Peace Agreement” last September 6. The peace forum was held at the Finster Auditorium of AdDU with speakers Dominic Hannigan, Chair of the Committee that implemented the Good Friday Agreement, Meg Kagawa of Hiroshima University of Japan, and Mohagher Iqbal, Chair of the MILF Peace Panel. The Peace Forum aimed to strengthen the peace negotiation process between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GPH) by relating it to the peace negotiation in Ireland, called The Good Friday Agreement. Among the schools who participated in the forum were University of Immaculate Concepcion, Holy Cross of Davao College, Assumption College of Davao, and Davao Doctors College. The Good Friday Agreement was an arrangement that put an end to the conflict

between the Catholics and the Protestants in Ireland regarding the issue of home role. The Catholics wanted to be separated from the United Kingdom while the Protestants wanted to remain under the British rule. This started the faction between North Ireland and South Ireland. However, on Good Friday of 1998, a peace agreement was signed, thus it was named “The Good Friday Agreement”. Today, Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front are pursuing their own version of peace agreement. Both parties aim to put an end to the war in Mindanao by discussing just resolutions. Ms. Meg Kagawa stated in an interview that though the peace negotiation between the GPH and MILF may be tough, considering that the MILF’s demand for a “sub-state”, it is not impossible. It can be attained if and only there is sincerity between the two opposing parties. Many efforts were made from both parties, GPH and MILF, to reach for an agreement, but no single settlement was materialized. Ireland was successful in their efforts. Will the Philippines learn its own lessons?

Visitors join in celebrating the Software Freedom Day. Photo by Paolo Villanueva

AdDU hosts Software Freedom Day 2011 By Almira Jane Villegas THE ATENEO de Davao University once again hosted this year’s Software Freedom Day last September 17 at the home of the Computer Studies Division, Finster Building’s sixth floor. Different schools here in Davao City participated in the event, including AMA Computer College, DMMA College of Southern Philippines, Davao Vision College, Intercity College of Science and Technology, Jose Maria College, Holy Child College, University of Immaculate Conception, University of Mindanao, University of Southeastern Philippines, Philippine Women’s College of Davao and the University of the PhilippinesMindanao. Like the previous years, SFD 2011 had discussions and lectures regarding certain Free and Open Source Software, which are usually ready for downloading and are of course, free. There were a total of 16 sessions, all of which were participated by young IT practitioners. The talks given were about Word Press, Ubuntu for Games, Ruby on Rails, Open Source Video Editing, Free Software for News Organizations, Graphic Design with Open Source Software, Using Open CV to Create New Technologies, Dance Interpretation Animation with Blender, Developing Linux Apps with Qt, Getting Organized with qOrganizer, PHP Development

with H/MVC and Yii Frameworks, Visual Development for Linux Using Gambas, Fun with Ubuntu, Dynamic web apps with Django and the talk about Moodling with Moodle. A quiz bowl and other birds-of-a-feather discussions also happened during the event. Another USB Installfest was also made possible this year, wherein students and guests had their flash drives equipped with portable operating systems, software and applications. “Successful jud ang event. Speaker man o dili, daghan jud gihapon kag matun-an. Ayos jud kung maka-balo ka sa mga FOSS, daghan ka magamitan. And the good thing is, walay bayad. Free jud,” said Herc Casiple, third year BS IT student, also one of the speakers during the SFD 2011. It was said that through software freedom, students can enjoy all the possibilities of learning from it. With the many open source tools there is, they get to play with them. And those choices made by students will somehow lead them to their chosen field of specialization that they will pursue once they graduate. Aside from students, local businesses and communities also enjoy the benefits given to them by FOSS. “It had been one fruitful celebration. Helpful pud jud ang Software Freedom Day sa pag-gain ug ideas para sa mga thesis,” Ralph dela Cerna, third year BS-IT student, one of the organizers from the Computer Studies Student Executive Committee.

Mindanao Resilient Communities Project goes public By Zyra Kee RESEARCH DISSEMINATION forum about Mindanao Resilient Communities was held last September 12 at F700 at exactly three o’clock in the afternoon with Gail Ilagan, PhD, the lead researcher of the project. Multiple organizations took part in the forum, having stand out, were U.S. Embassy Manila and AFRIM. The program started with an invocation, led by Fr. Renato Ocampo, AdDU Alumni Director. Subsequently, Ms. Ilagan started her report by discussing the different communities, which were their respondents on the said research. She put emphasis on the significance of propagation of the stories of these communities—that even the all-out war villagers experience, there are actually more positive stories than negative ones and these should be communicated not just to the people in Mindanao, but also nationwide. “Resilience or pagbangon in a community means re-imagining, changing interactions, maximizing resources, harnessing external support, committing to new values,” she defined. Communities, which face battles even in a daily basis or sometimes, unexpected circumstances,

were resilient and developed positive effects in the community people. One example is Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte. When innocent house settlers become witnesses of battles, they exit the place through pump boats, hide mangroves—which eventually became a hideout of villagers. Other featured communities were in Brgy. Nalapaan of North Cotabato, Jolo of Sulu, Lamitan of Basilan, Marawi of Lanao del Sur. Afterwhich, four participants shared their insights and reactions about the MRCP report. Among them were Mariel Andrea V. Gardiola, Mussolini Sinsuat Lidasan, Fr. Archimedes Lachica. An open forum succeeded. “Is the diversity or homogeneity of cultures a factor of war?” queried by one of the participants in the forum. Ms. Ilagan answered, “I like your question. Well, it’s a research gap. I wasn’t able to present that in my report. Thank you for giving me an idea.” Others did not just ask questions but also imparted their knowledge about the topic and all of them were looking forward for future projects that will be implemented by the MRCP in the subsequent years to be followed.

Atenews | The Official Student Publication of the Ateneo de Davao University | June-October 2011

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How-to-be-Regularized? According to Mr. Neil Ryan Pancho, President of the College Faculty Union (CFU), the process of hiring new teachers is the responsibility of the program coordinators/heads of every course. As stated in the Faculty Manual, “recruitment of new faculty members is the responsibility of the Division Chairperson or Program Director who obtains approval from the Dean (or unit head) for the academic position, new or old, to be filled up”. After which, newly hired faculty will be put under probation for three years given he/she has appropriate qualifications. This probationary period also serves as a “time for acquainting the new teacher with the entire job situation as well as for onthe-job training”. This is in accordance to the mandate of CHED that states the maximum probationary period “shall not be more than a period of six semesters or nine consecutive trimesters of satisfactory service”. A span of three years is ample time for the teacher to be acquainted with the policies of the university and the nature of his/her work. Talking about qualifications, CHED mandates that for undergraduate programs, a faculty member must be regularized if he/she is “a holder of Master’s degree, to teach in her major field where applicable”. Followed by a phrase that “in specific fields where there is a dearth of holders of Master’s degree, a holder of a professional’s license requiring at least a Bachelor’s degree may be qualified to teach”, this indicates that a Master’s degree is not necessarily a requirement, and the clause that follows states that any deviation from this requirement may be subject to regulation by the Commission (CHED). On the university level, the faculty manual provides that a “faculty member must have appropriate and adequate academic competencies in line with the area of assignment”. The faculty should also have a Master’s degree, a Doctorate or its equivalent, while those hired with a Bachelor’s degree must work in pursuance of their graduate degrees. After or within the three years of probation, it is the recommendation of the program coordinator that will decide whether the faculty will have the “chance” to be regularized. However, it doesn’t stop there. This recommendation will pass through the chairperson, and will need the approval of the dean. A long process indeed, but it is necessary for a standardized and adequate competency for the academe. What then went wrong?

Probationary Who then is under probation? Stated in Part V, Section 3-B(a), all faculty members who have been hired in the University as full-time regardless of their rank, start with a probationary status. They are those whose contract is for a specified period of time and with no commitment by either party for an extension or renewal. So, every teacher had undergone probation for a moment in their teaching career in the university. The question now is how long it will take for a teacher to be regularized in his/her job.

What is going on? Teachers, as viewed by most students, are not only there to give us learning, pressure, and even “problems” as most would regard them. They also teach for a living – to be a provider in their family, and send their children to good schools like Ateneo de Davao University. That seemed to be the case, until a list of probationary teachers was leaked out to Atenews, which clearly showed irregularities about the regularization of the faculty. Some have even reached nine years in probationary status without becoming regularized. Was that supposed to be an issue? For a student, it might mean nothing, but for a professional who’s a “breadwinner”, it is honestly a life-and-death case. Yes, it is happening in the very school that promotes Cura Personalis – Ateneo de Davao University.

By Cyril Jerome Almanzor EVERY CHILDHOOD is somehow coloured with stories about fantasies like Rapunzel, or even mythological creatures like “dwendes” and mermaids. These stories were mostly taught by parents and teachers. Both have been regarded with respect and somehow shape everyone’s perception about reality, and some of these might cause “goosebumps”. However, the teachers, especially those in an institution like Ateneo de Davao University, have been experiencing “goosebumps” in their own field. For the last ten years, a number of teachers has been working with no assurance on their job – as they are not regarded as regular, thus facing the condition of being terminated at any given time. The fear of having no “stable job” may not be crucial for students, but it pays to see what is going on with the welfare of teachers that has a large impact on the studentry as a whole.

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Atenews | The Official Student Publication of the Ateneo de Davao University | June-October 2011

The Problem The problem now lies in the process of regularization in the faculty. First, the irreconcilable mandate of the Commission on Higher Education’s Manual of Regulations for Private Higher Education of 2008 and the actual process happening in the university as grounded in the Faculty Manual of the Ateneo de Davao University is considerably inconsistent. Given by a reliable source, a list of probationary teachers was given to Atenews enlisting 59 faculty members, 52 of which have been in the “probationary status” for more than three years, and some have even reached five to nine years. These teachers from different divisions have been hanging in the “limbo” state as they have neither the privileges of a regular faculty, nor the freedom of a part-time teacher. “What is saddening about it is that hindi man lang kami maka-avail ng privilege just like libreng gamot from the clinic, kasi nga hindi pa kami regular,” states one teacher under probation. Another problem arising is the fear of termination is always at hand, just like what happened to the Clinical Instructor who had worked for six years in College of Nursing, eight years in Grade School, but received a letter of termination signed by Dean of the College of Nursing. Human Resource and the Program Coordinators The Human Resource of every institution should play a vital role in the employment, regularization, promotion, and termination of the teachers. However, the CFU hasn’t seen their function in the process of regularization. “When it comes to the policy of hiring, it must be the responsibility of the HR, but when it comes to content, it should be the determined by the respective programs…Both should meet half way, [sic]” expressed by Mr. Pancho. The problem now arises when these two entities make their own way in the process of regularization, more likely existing in two different worlds. While in theory, it is the role of Human Resource Management to provide all the necessary steps in hiring, promoting and firing, little has been seen in their performance. Atenews sent a communication letter to the good office of Human Resource under Mr. Esmeraldo Lampauog, requesting for an interview regarding the issue on regularization. However, their doors remain closed they never permitted the interview. CFU’s contention As for the College Faculty Union, the requirement of Master’s Degree is deemed unnecessary, because the 3-year probationary period is enough for the program coordinators and related authorities to discern whether the said “probie” faculty is qualified for regularization. “When they let the faculty pass the three years of probation, it is implied that they are lifting their authority and concede that the teacher is qualified, unless otherwise they should remove the probationary teacher within the three years of probation, “stated Sir Neil Pancho. It is somehow negligent on the part of HR and the program coordinators if this faculty member will be allowed to teach for more than three years and no decision will be carried out on their regularization or termination as the case may be. CFU is somehow deemed to represent the teachers under probationary in appealing to the School Administration about the unjust delay of regularization. However, only regular teachers are part of the faculty union, leaving the probationary teachers to fight on their own. The Ateneo Faculty Club is then gauged to take the lead in helping these teachers in the process. Positive Outlook When asked about the efforts of the new administration under Father Joel Tabora, CFU was positive, saying that they can now see the changes. “The 6% Salary Scale was a good start for the administration, and we are happy about it”, Mr. Pancho expressed. Bottom-line The process of regularization may not be presented accurately, and the figures about the number of probationary faculty might not be exact. What is certain by now is that “three” is largely different from seven or nine, which are the years some faculty members have been on probation. Numbers don’t lie, and the administration should take a look at the procedure, the undertakings of Human Resource and Development Office and the welfare of the faculty. It might be arrogant to hear it from a student, but the point of writing this is not only to catch attention from the administration and the Ateneo community as a whole, but also to raise the awareness of the stakeholders of this school, the students, that they may know where their money is going, and the quality of education they are getting from the educators – our dearest teachers.

Atenews | The Official Student Publication of the Ateneo de Davao University | June-October 2011

Features

Bye-bye bullying By Kathleen Anne Veloso Art by Zyra Montefolca IT IS late afternoon by the school grounds. Ryan, a small and geeky kid is being taunted by his classmates. He is being called “bayot”. Not even knowing what the word means, Ryan chooses to ignore them, hoping they will simply get tired of their game. One of his biggest classmates approaches him and pushes him to the ground. A frightened Ryan stands up and runs away. He goes back to class the next day, not telling anyone about the incident for fear of being abused further. For the rest of the school year, Ryan continues to stay mum about the daily afternoon injustices. His grades drop and eventually, he drops out of school. Ryan is just one of the thousands of victims of bullying. Bullying, as defined by bullyonline.org, is persistent unwelcome behavior, mostly using unwarranted or invalid criticism, nit-picking, fault-finding, also exclusion, isolation, humiliation, and much more. It has been a problem all around the world, with no country as an exception. Most of the bullying incidents happen to children, especially in school. With the desire to become powerful or popular, bullies plague on other children, and more often than not, their abusive acts go unpunished and ignored. Bullying in the Philippines The previous secretary of the Department of Education Jesli Lapus, stressed the problem of bullying in schools. He said the problem has grown to such that bullies often become members of gangs or fraternities who harass students and even other citizens in the society. “It is high time this problem is addressed by the community,” he said. “These have serious effects on the attendance and focus of our students particularly in high schools.” The “2010 Towards a Childfriendly Environment - Baseline Study on Violence Against Children” in public schools by the Council for the Welfare of Children, Philippine Women’s University, AusAid, Plan International, and the United Nations Children’s Fund, reported that at least four out of 10 in Grades I to III and seven out of 10 students in Grades IV to VI and high school have experienced violence in school. This explains the high drop-out rate in schools since most bully victims, like Ryan, eventually stop attending school in order to avoid the abuse. A different study published in the Asia Pacific Education Review stated that Filipino children have a 57 to 58 percent higher chance of being bullied in school than children in other countries. The problem can increase with the growth of school populations and poverty levels. These statistics show that bullying is very real in the Philippines. It is not something to be ignored and accepted

as a “rite of passage” or “early lesson in life” for children. It is because of this notion that bullying has gone on for years without really being taken seriously. This false view of things has led to numerous problems for our country—problems that will affect our future sooner or later. The Anti-Bullying Act In response to the alarming state of bullying in the country, Ako Bicol Partylist and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV both filed bills last year to finally stop and prevent the act of bullying. Rodel Batocabe, AKB Representative, explained the AntiBullying Act of 2010 intends to penalize the act of bullying directed against minor students. This includes making threats, stalking, stealing, public humiliation, deliberate destruction of property, physical violence and the demand for sexual and monetary favors, among others. Cyber-bullying, or bullying with the use of electronic devices such as texting and social networking, is also included in the bill. The penalties include public reprimand from the school, two to six months of compulsory counseling, suspension or expulsion for those who bully repeatedly, and mandatory rehabilitation in a center for juvenile delinquents for six months

to one year for those who bully with violence. Parents or guardians are not exempted from punishment, but will also be held liable and required to pay the victim for damages ranging from 10,000php to 100,000php, as well as two to six months compulsory counseling with their child. “Bullying is reminiscent of the animal kingdom where there are bullies in a pack and there’s a leader who leads by intimidation. I believe it’s even manifested in the society, the bullies on the road, those who use sirens, and those who feel good when they get away without a traffic ticket”, exemplified by Batocabe, whose son was also a victim of bullying in school. “Yung nang-iisa, yung sumisingit sa pila, yung nanloloko ng kapwa. When they find fulfillment or satisfaction in oppressing people, when they throw their weight or power around, these are other forms of bullying,” he added about the presence of “bullying” in many forms in the society. On the other hand, Senator Trillanes’ Anti-Bullying Act tries to prevent bullying by requiring school districts to adopt policies banning it. It also protects both witnesses and victims alike from retaliation and cause of action for damages arising from any failure to remedy the reported incident. Bullies will either be subject to disciplinary action or long-term suspension or even expulsion. Trillanes emphasized the role of parents in the eradication of bullying by saying, “Curbing violence against children should begin at home. But I do not agree that parents should not be penalized for the improper behavior of their children. Instead, they should be a partner in putting an end to the child’s bullying conduct. Parents must recognize that their child is a bully and help them change his negative attitudes and behavior towards others. They should also look at bullying as a serious matter that should not be tolerated”. Though people have finally begun to realize the weight of the act of bullying, it is unfortunate to note that up to now, these bills are still pending in Congress. Though bullying may seem insignificant compared to other bills such as the RH bill, it is actually essential to the future of our country as well. Those who have been bullied know what effect these abuses can have. The trauma can be so deep as to even discourage the victim from attending school. If we truly believe that our future lies in the youth, then it should be in our best interests to protect them. These bills, though not yet approved, should serve as a wake-up call for schools all over the Philippines to start addressing the grave act of bullying. Instead of waiting for these acts to be passed, school administrators all over the country should act on their own and come up with solutions to solve the problem of bullying within their own schools. Who knows when a bully may be abusing and eventually stopping what could have been the development of the next great hero. Will we wait for that time to come or start ending bullying now?

DepEd K+12: Should we? Is it wise? By Garry Camarillo Jr. THE DEPARTMENT of Education (DepEd) has announced that the Philippines’ standard of education has to catch up with the rest of the world through a 12-year basic education cycle in spite of admitted lack of funds and the need to amend the 1982 education law. DepEd’s progam was named K+12 which stands for Kindergarten plus a two year extension of the former ten year elementary and secondary education program. DepEd currently proposes a K-6-4-2 model. This model involves Kindergarten, six years of elementary education, four years of junior high school (Grades 7 to 10) and two years of senior high school (Grades 11 to 12). The two years of senior high school intend to provide time for students to consolidate acquired academic skills and competencies. The proposal aims to produce employable 18-year-old high school graduates by giving them a longer time to study and master employable skills. The proposition seems to appear pleasant, but if you get down to the actual situation, the idea doesn’t make sense. / how will an additional two years enhance basic education when some government administered schools are forced to hold classes in three shifts and students can’t understand their lessons because they are hungry? Students are crammed in overpopulated classrooms both in urban and rural public schools. We have the ideal student per teacher ratio in public schools but these are still disregarded; classes are held in open spaces under trees. Reflecting on what the current education system performs, a great disparity exists and is very evident between the private institutions and the

Photo ©Sidney Snoeck

government owned schools. How could the government even possibly deal with the new adjustments, with manpower and infrastructure necessities when they already find it hard to provide the students with books alone? The budget department, in fact, has slashed DepEd’s original budget proposal in 2010 of P300 billion to P207 million. The Philippine Business for Education, an education reform group closely involved in the K+12 draft, estimates that the extension will cost between P56 billion and P65 billion a year for additional classrooms and teachers, according to its president, Chito Salazar. Another stumbling block for the passage of the proposal is an amendment of the education law which mandates the government to fund public education for “six or seven grade levels, including preschool” in elementary and four years of high school. “Every time you amend a law, it takes

forever and ever,” says Isagani Cruz, former education undersecretary and a K+12 consultant. As stated by UNESCO, the Philippines is the only remaining country in the world with a 10 year basic education program. Average National Achievement Test (NAT) scores of public elementary school students are at a failing 64 percent from 2010. The number further slides in high school, with the national average at 46 percent. “One only has to see public school students, achievement test scores to see that our system has failed the Filipino student”, said Dina Ocampo, associate dean at the UP College of Education. Ocampo further added that “If you look at the data, achievement scores are very low. So if you think about it, it’s really not working. We can’t keep it as it is because the curriculum is too crammed”.

Atenews | The Official Student Publication of the Ateneo de Davao University | June-October 2011

Features

A big NO to suicide By Pamela Joy Yutiamco SUICIDE, WHICH comes from two Latin words, sui (“of oneself ”) and cidium (“killing” or “slaying”), has been regarded as one of the most controversial issues in our society today. In America, someone attempts to kill himself once every minute, and someone successfully commits suicide once every 17 minutes. Throughout the world, approximately 2,000 people kill themselves each day. Statistics from a survey show that in the Philippines, 420,000 people commit suicide, 250,000 of which are males and 170,000 are females. These numbers continue to grow every year. Suicide is the eighth leading cause of death in males and the 16th leading cause of death in females. Among the famous figures who committed suicide are: Sigmund Freud, Cleopatra, Mark Antony, Judas Iscariot, Socrates, and possibly Tchaikovsky and Marilyn Monroe. Sadly, most of the people today who commit suicide are teenagers and children. Who would ever forget about Mariannet Amper? She was only 12 years old when she took her own life. Richard Raymundo, a student of DLSU, was 17 years old when he committed suicide. What are the different reasons why people such as Mariannet and Richard decide to kill themselves? What are the signs and symptoms of suicide? Where can people get help? Because… According to Dr. Maisie M, causes of suicide, especially for teenagers are: disharmony in the family, unhealthy or abusive relationship or break-up, alcohol or drug abuse, feelings of anger and guilt, physical or mental disorders, poor academic performance, sibling rivalry, history of suicide within close circle, experience of a personal loss, and inability to handle hardships due to low energy and depression.

Wage Increase | FROM PAGE 1

concerns about lack of consultative meetings

with the General Faculty Membership before the salary scale proposal was submitted for final approval by the University President were raised. Some members also voiced out that the increase had little, if not no effect, on their salary. Though they may be a minority, their side cannot be disregarded. It means that the recent increase has not been an equitable compensation for all. Many were indeed happy because of the increase. However, “many” is not “everyone”. 6% salary increase is better than no increase at all, but most importantly, an equitable salary increase is better than a relative one.

DepEd K+12

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Filipino students plunged into the background on the international stage, as reflected in results of the Trends in International Math and Science Study of 2003. Results of the test, taken by second year high school students, placed the country 41st among 45 participating countries, insulating at the bottom all along with African countries. Filipino students scored an average of 35 percent, barely above students from Ghana and Botswana. A Filipino hero once quoted “With the youth, our nation’s progress lies deepseated”. Now, do we have wait to for another era of enlightenment for us to take the required actions? We should remember that everything changes and that tides turn. We may either turn blind and retreat, or become one with the truth and reality of our basic education condition.

“Too much love will kill you” Break-ups seem to be one of the main reasons why teenagers sort to suicide. Young people seem to find it very difficult to cope up with the pain of being dumped by someone they love, like it’s already the end of the world. They say that they have lost the reason to live, so why continue living? Young people nowadays tend to react impulsively to situations like these. Take for example the case of Megan Meier, 13 years old, who committed suicide because a guy named Josh, who she never met in person, wanted to end any “virtual relation with her.” Yes, they only met through the internet. Reports show that Megan “suffered from depression and attention deficit disorder,” which could be the only explanation for her decision to kill herself. The presence of “love” is even questionable. Investigations show that Josh never existed and that he was actually Megan’s neighbor. It just goes to show that even in situations like these, people, especially teenagers, have the tendency to commit suicide. Take note; there was never a real relationship in the first place. What could have happened if it were all real? “F” – Family and Failing marks Disintegration within the family and failing grades are often the reasons why a student commits suicide. Unable to contain the depression caused by problems in the family and school, some students, wanting to escape the situation, resort to committing suicide. This happens especially when a student has no outlet to spill out all his/her anxieties. A teacher told us a story of a young man who belongs to a family of achievers. The members of his family were first placers in the licensure examination of their chosen career. When he took the board exam, he got second place. Feeling ashamed that he did not top the exam like the other members of his family, he committed suicide. Sad to say, this young man is not just the only one who killed himself because of grades. Help It’s good to know that suicidal tendencies are not like cancer. There are many ways to save someone’s life. If you yourself are exhibiting any of the symptoms, consider talking to a loved

Jacques-Louis David; The Death of Socrates (http://en.wikipedia.org)

ow can you tell that someone is planning on committing suicide? EpigeeTM Women’s Health enumerates the possible signs and symptoms of suicide:

•talking about dying: talk of disappearing, jumping, shooting oneself or other expressions of self-harm. •recent loss: death, divorce, a broken relationship or loss of a job can all lead to thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts. Other losses that can be indicative of suicide include loss of religious faith and a loss of interest in one’s friends or activities the individual once enjoyed. •change in personality: the individual may exhibit unusual signs of fatigue, indecisiveness or anxiousness. •change in behavior: lack of concentration in work, school or everyday activities, such as household chores. •change in sleeping patterns: oversleeping,

one. Keeping quiet about your problems will not solve it but will even make things more difficult. Reach out to someone you love and tell them how you feel. Remember, you don’t own all the problems in the world; some of them are mine and theirs. Also consider seeking professional help. Speak with a counselor, psychiatrist, therapist, and your family physician or visit a suicide prevention and crisis center: speaking with a professional is a crucial step towards recovery. If on the other hand, you know someone who is suicidal: (according to EpigeeTM Women’s Health) Don’t be sworn to secrecy: While your loved one may feel betrayed if you tell someone about their desire to commit suicide, not doing anything only puts her life in danger. Tell a therapist or doctor about your friend or relative’s

insomnia and other types of sleep disturbances can be suicide signs and symptoms. •change in eating habits: loss of appetite or an increased appetite, increased or decreased weight. •decreased sexual interest: such changes can include impotence or irregular or missed periods. •low self-esteem: this suicide symptom can be exhibited through emotions such as shame, inferiority or self-hatred. •fear of loss of control: the individual worries about losing her sanity and about harming either herself or others. •lack of hope for the future: another suicide warning sign is that the individual feels that there is no hope for the future and that things will never improve.

condition immediately. Take action: Remove any harmful substances or objects from your friend’s home, such as excessive pills, poison, knives or handguns. Be direct: Talk openly to your friend about her behavior. Don’t judge her or lecture her. If your friend confides in you, acting shocked about her desire to commit suicide will only cause more alienation. Most important is the role of the parents. Parents should watch over their teenagers and help them in their struggles in life and bring them hope. Parents should also encourage their children to be open to them and express whatever they feel. Yes, we have all the rights to decide on how we want to live our live, and that’s exactly the point, it’s all about LIVING our lives and not taking them away.

Mixed reactions in Aquino’s 2nd SONA By John Kessler Misterio PRESIDENT BENIGNO Aquino III drew diverse responses from different parties as he delivered his Second State of the Nation Address last July 25 after the Opening of the 15th Congress at the Batasang Pambansa Complex. In his one-hour speech, Aquino never failed to use the word “wang-wang” as a symbolism for corrupt, greedy and close-minded public figures. “There is confidence and there is hope; the government is now fulfilling its promises.” Aquino said in the earlier part of his speech as he enumerated line of achievements as well as some irregularities in his office. “The number of Filipinos who experienced hunger has come down. Self-rated hunger has gone down from 20.5% in March to 15.1% this June”, he said and received a loud applause of agreement from the audience. Other than that, he also mentioned other achievements such as the seven record high increase in the stock market, the proper dissemination of taxes, the 15.6% increase in over-all rice production and the successful housing projects for policemen. Some irregularities he cited were about the controversial P1 Billion worth of coffee spent during the previous PAGCOR administration led by Efraim Genuino. “At one hundred pesos per cup, that would be ten million cups of coffee over the last several years. Where did all that coffee go? Who drank it?” Aquino said. Meanwhile, parties from different divisions cited their insights, feedback and reactions on

Photo from http://www.propinoy.net

Aquino’s second SONA House Majority Leader Erin Tanada said that Aquino’s message was well articulated. Former Presidents Fidel Ramos and Joseph Ejercito Estrada praised Aquino and gave his speech a passing rate. Estrada believes that the administration is on the right path, though, they still need to allot time to completely restore the citizens’ trust and confidence in the government. Minority Senator Pia Cayetano also admired Aquino speech stating that that the president is sincere in fighting against corruption. Cebu Representative Tomas Osmena affirmed this saying, “He stated facts. (The speech) showed he is doing his homework. He does not confuse promises with accomplishments.” Saranggani Representative, Manny Pacquiao said that Aquino seemed to have done everything expected from him especially about specific projects for the poor, like job creation and housing.

On the other hand, not all were satisfied to PNoy’s SONA as well as to his performance. Among them were Negros Occidental Congressman who said that Aquino’s SONA was only full of sound bites and lacks in substance; Zambales Representative Mitos Magsaysay reacted that Aquino had never provided a clear solution on problems on livelihood, employment and price hikes on basic commodities. On the other hand, Sanlakas Youth and Youth Against Debt described Pnoy’s SONA as “State Of No Accomplishments”. Emphasis was given on the high rate of underemployment and the rising price of basic commodities. Bagong Alyasang Makabayan depicted it as a shallow story based on illusion and imagination. All in all, Aquino did a great job in delivering his State of Nation Address, though, not all were satisfied.

Atenews | The Official Student Publication of the Ateneo de Davao University | June-October 2011

Features A Reproductive health advocate joins the launching of Purple Ribbon Campaign in Davao City. The campaign is designed to call the legislators to pass the RH Bill as law. Photo by Louise Loreno

Grabbing us by the throat By Garry Camarillo Jr. ON A serene and hot afternoon during my nursing research in the community, a conversation made me contemplate: should one look at right and wrong as ethical questions? Nearly my whole life I was raised in the Catholic way; I studied in Catholic schools, attended Sunday masses, and joined the YFC. One of my uncles is a Catholic priest. All of them preached of morality and of what is “good and bad”. It was only recently that I began to wonder if what the Catholic moral category of “good” could really be not that right. I was walking down a kilometer-long stretch of marshy, mud-filled road in Barangay Wangan, Calinan District, Davao City searching for House Number 17. It was on this narrow path that I met a woman with a baby strapped on her back and toddlers hanging on to both hands. “Inday” is twenty nine years-old and has seven children. She is a Roman Catholic and a member of the Diangan tribe. She lives with her drunkard husband and children in a house built mostly out of bamboo, slops of coco-lumber and scraps of rusty metal roof. She is literate but is only able to finish 3rd year high school.

injustice. Basing on the figures, there are 19 women who suffer marital violence everyday. Among the different forms of violence and abuse against women. In 2009, wife battery ranked highest amongst the various forms of spousal abuse at 6,783 or 72% according to the Philippine National Police (PNP). Earlier reports of the PNP states that about three out of 10 perpetrators of violence agaisnt women were husbands of the victims. On the other hand, poverty in the Philippines is exacerbated by the country’s swift population increase which, at 2.04 %, is one of the highest in Asia. The United Nations stated on a treaty which the Philippines is among of the signatory countries that “family planning and reproductive health are essential in reducing poverty.” The UNICEF asserts that “family planning could bring more benefits to more people at less cost than any other single technology now available to human race.” A relation exists between the country’s chronic poverty and rapid population growth. The rapid population explosion in the country reduces overall economic growth and ruins every possibilty of poverty reduction.

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After interviewing “Inday” for my research, she offered me a plate of boiled Saba and we had a casual talk. As the chat went along, I unexpectedly discovered realities that I thought I knew before, but when I reflected upon it, I was certain that I didn’t. Two chief issues currently debated in the House of Representatives are House Bill No. 1799, titled An Act Introducing Divorce in the Philippines, and House Bill No. 4244, or the Act Providing for a Comprehensive Policy on Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health, and Population and Development, and For Other Purposes, popularly known as the RH Bill. In our present society, there are a lot of unsuccessful and miserable marriages across all Filipino classes. As a result, many simply end up separating without the benefit of legal process. The burden of this problem falls most on those who cannot afford the costly and extensive process of annulment. Even when a couple starts well in their marriages, socio-ecenomic realities is bound to take their toll on the relationship.

The inequality and violence in marriage that women predominantly suffer invalidates and reverses the principles to embody love, care and safety that erode the bases why the marriage is founded in the first place. The steep number of petitions that were filed for the declaration of the nullity of the marriage under Article 36 of the Family Code (commonly known as “annulment”) since its enactment in 1988 shows that there are just too many couples who are so desperate to get out of their failed marriages. In 2009, official figures from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) categorized marital violence, physical abuse, maltreatment and battering as the topmost form of aggresion on women by their spouses. It reported 1,933 cases of woman who suffered from the

Divorce is not for healthy marriages. Rather, it is for the destroyed ones. Therefore, in essence, it does not destroy marriages; rather, it prevents further damages that may be caused by an already collapsed marriage.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) strongly oppose both bills, saying that the RH Bill “is inimical to health” and deems artificial contraceptives as anti-life and immoral and that “the divorce bill is a threat to the family worse than the reproductive health bill”. On a press conference last June 8, the CBCP released an official statement about the two house bills affirming their position saying “If we compare the divorce bill and RH bill, divorce directly destroys what is good, and that is the marriage bond made by God, while the RH bill does the same but indirectly.” In the Philippine setting, divorce is not granted without restrictions and limitations. A petition for divorce can only be granted if it meets the requisites and criteria. A petition for divorce may only be filed on the following grounds; (1) The petitioner has been separated from his/her spouse for at least five years at the time of filling the petition and reconciliation is highly impropable; (2) The petitioner has been legally separated from his or her spouse for at least two years at the time of the filing of the petition and reconciliation is highly impropable; (3) When any of the grounds of legal separation has caused the irreparable breakdown of the marriage; (4) When one or both spouses are

psychologically incapacitated to comply with the essential marital obligations; and (5) When the spouses suffer from irreconcilable differences that have caused the irreperable breakdown of the marriage.

An interview with Inday

Divorce is not for healthy marriages. An excerpt revealing the hidden reality Rather, it is for the destroyed ones. Therefore, of married life among the poorer in essence, it does not destroy marriages; sections of our society. rather, it prevents further damages that may be caused by an already collapsed marriage. The church could not be so hypocritical Garry: Pila na mo ka tu-ig nagasawa in insisting the sanctity of a marriage of a Ma’am? husband and a wife who are no longer seeing Inday: Magdose na mi ka tuig naguban, and communicating with each other for over pero walo palang mi ka tuig kasal. five years. To know what one must and what one may, the mantras must not be taken to be inflexible. Nor should divorce and reproductive health be misinterpreted as scrimping on serving God, as if we can be torn apart into body and soul. Why does the Catholic church consider divorce (intended to cater all economic strata) as immoral, while it says not a single word about the frequent changing of life partners of wealthy personalities like Kris Aquino and Willie Revillame? Both have been married twice and had their marriages annuled. The church and the Philippine legal system may deny it, but for a fact it has been openly supporting class bias. For marriages who already want separation the Philippine State only acknowledges 3 options for both parties to partake which are Declaration of Nullity of Marriage, Legal Separation and Annulment. All forms are costly, requires a very long process (some petitions are not even granted) and deprive a person of certain rights. Whether we like it or not, reality tells us that the Law of the Philippines only allows one form of divorce which is the Philippine Muslim Code of Divorce. Isn’t this partiality at its best? Doesn’t this violate the country’s goal of liberty? Even Catholicism’s Canon Law is indirectly sustaining divorce. Article 36 of Canon 1095 “Declaration of Nullity of Marraige” lifts all the provision of divorce, all of what it says is exactly divorce. If it sounds like a duck, moves like a duck and smells like a duck, therefore it is a duck, Article 36 of Canon 1095 obviously avows divorce. The Philippines is the only Catholic country except for the Vatican that does not allow divorce. Earlier this May, Malta voted in a referendum to introduce a divorce law. About 95 percent of Malta’s citizens are Catholics. In the Philippines, about 81 percent are Catholics. In line with the standpoint of further conservatist romanticism in legislation, recognition must in no way create favouritism between the civil and socio-religious orders. Those responsible for government are required to interpret the common good of the country not only according to the guidelines of the majority but also according to the effective good of all the members of the society, including the minority on the instructions set to them by the Constitution. Should one look at right and wrong as ethical questions? That is our problem.

Garry: Kamusta man mo sa imong asawa Ma’am? Inday: Mura ju’g manok. Unsa pa. Mukahig sa ug kadaghan, aron makakaon. Gihiktan pa! Garry: Ngano di-ai? Paano nimo na ingon Ma’am? Inday: Kalisud sa kinabuhi. Gamay ra gyud kita sa akong bana inadlaw intawon, pirmaninte gikulang pa. Magsuruy-suruy na lang kug pinangita’g maruya, maski unsa diha para mapakaon sa mga bata... Pa labi pa sa akong bana iyahang inom (tears dropped and she fell crying) bag-o among makaon... Sadista pa raba gayud. Garry: Nareklamo na nimo sa barangay ang panakit sa imong asawa Ma’am? Inday: Gi istorya naman mi...Sige-sige gihapon, walay ka dudla. Mu apil na gani unta ang “Kalihukan” pero nihangyo ko na ayaw lang siya hilabtan kay daghan mi’g anak. Garry: Asa di’ay mo gikasal Ma’am? Ngano wala paman mo nagbulag? Inday: Kay mayor. Daghan mi iyahang gikasal diri sa purok sa una. Wala pa mi nakasal sa pari. Garry: Ngano wala pa man mo nagpakasal sa imong asawa sa simbahan sukad Ma’am? Inday: Gasto man. Dili sayun ang kasal sa Pari kay mu gasto paman mi ug libo. Ni duul ko sa una kay “Kaabag” ug sa pari dira sa kapilya para magpatabang pud sa proseso, gasto gayud lagi casual ra baya na laborer akong asawa sa Dav-Con pila ra iyang ma uli i-nadlaw... Garry: Nganu nanaghan man kaayo inyong mga anak Ma’am? Wala ba mu-adto ang City Health Office diri sa inyo para maghisgot ug family planning? Inday: Ni-adto pud. Manghatag paman gani sila ug tambal... Naka suway ko sa Diana ug Ladies ( both are brand names of contragestative pills) mag-isa ka tu-ig. Pero ingon diri sa amo labi sa kapilya kay ni-apil man ko ug GKK no, maka-daot daw lagi na nya makasala ta ana. Nya’ ni undang na ko, di man jud na mapunggan maong ni do-remi. Hadlok man pud ko anang ligate Garry: Gusto pa ba ka ipadayon ang inyong paguban sa imong asawa Ma’am? Inday: Dili na unta, para sa mga bata padayonon gihapon.

Atenews | The Official Student Publication of the Ateneo de Davao University | June-October 2011

Features

Campus Journalism Act: A law that does not protect By Jhar-Mae Magalona

Photo from http://www.philippinecollegian.org

EVERY DAY we have to choose, and to do what we think is right is not always the easier choice. We sometimes encounter a lot of consequences because of our choices and these consequences are out of our hands. This is where the convenience of having laws enters. We somehow feel secure because we know we can always turn to it. In the Philippine constitution, there is a law created to protect campus journalists. This law is the Campus Journalism Act of 1991 (CJA of 1991). It was enacted under Cory Aquino’s regime and was made to uphold and protect the campus press freedom. However, Kabataan Partylist Representative Raymond “Mong” Palatino wants this law to be amended. With CJA’s ideal intention, why is he fighting for it to be modified? This is because according to Congressman Mong, the CJA of 1991 is flawed. Moreover, he claims that CJA is futile and instead of helping campus journalists, it is sometimes used to attack campus press freedom. He is specifically against two main things; the absence of a penalty clause and the non-mandatory collection of publication fees.

Punishment-free The CJA of 1991 is made up of ten sections all aimed at upholding the rights of campus publications, editors and staff. However, despite the existence of the CJA, there are still numerous cases of campus press freedom violations. Congressman Mong blames the absence of a penalty clause for this. According to him, this law is toothless since it leaves the violators unpunished. No one is really afraid to defy it since there are no punishments for violating any of these sections. Furthermore, he stresses that even if CJA will be abolished it would not make much difference. This is because everything that is in it is basically just reiterations or is under the scope of the Bill of Rights sections 4 and 19. Unless there are specific punishments for violators of the CJA, there is no distinction between the two. Non-mandatory collection of fees In Section 5 of the CJA it was stated that funding of the student publication “may” include the savings of the respective school’s appropriations. This means collection of publication fee is optional and it is up to the administrators to decide on it. Congressman

Mong says that this power could be used by the administrators to prevent student publications from publishing articles that contain critical issues. They could simply decide to discontinue collecting publication fees if they want to silence the student publication. Some schools like the University of San Carlos in Cebu have had their campus publications inactive for years now because their school is refusing to collect publication fees. Publication fees are very little compared to the other fees that students pay for. In a semester publication fees are only more or less a hundred pesos at average. It does not even take up 1% of what the students have to pay. Schools are not hesitant to charge thousands for other fees, what reason could there be to hold back from asking a little to fund campus publications? The laws aren’t absolutely perfect since they is also made by humans. Any errors or drawbacks are understandable. However, we must be able to correct it as soon as possible so that no further damage will be caused. We depend on the law to defend us especially when we choose to do what we think is right. No matter how ideal a law seems to be, if it does not do what it should do it is useless.

Facing the Facebook ban barongs occupying the pedestrian isle on the intersection of Roxas Boulevard and Claveria Street. [sic]” Mr. Cimafranca also stated that the protesters were “poor deluded souls” and ended his blog by saying that, “all the cool people are now on Google+.”

By Edward Lactaoen Art by Nadine Caballes FACEBOOK. IT is the most prominent social networking site of today, which is used by many as a means of communication on both professional and casual matters. Members of the Ateneo de Davao University community used to be able to access this site at any time of day. That is, until one of the last hurrahs of former Father President Antonio Samson’s administration changed this, restricting access to the site from 7:40 am to 5:00 pm on Mondays to Fridays and from 7:40 am to 12:00 pm on Saturdays. This change has brought varied reactions from members of the Ateneo community, but before we see that, we should first know the history of the ban. History of the ban On April 27 this year, a memorandum was issued regarding internet traffic filtering. The memorandum stated that “the internet traffic filtering is meant primarily to save internet connection bandwidth so that we can have faster and more effective connection bandwidth for education and school-related activites.” The memorandum stated that social networking sites such as Facebook, Friendster and MySpace consume a lot of bandwidth, and that access to them will be blocked at the aforementioned times. Although multiple social networking sites are being blocked, the blocking of Facebook is the one that has caught the eye of many. What the people have to say Firstly, Assistant to the President Mr. Jeremy Eliab argues that Facebook is not totally banned, citing that it is accessible at certain hours. This was said in an interview after the media covered the picket that took place last month. On the evening of July 19, member of the League of Filipino Students (LFS) along with other concerned students of the university held a picket protesting the Facebook ban. One of the arguments of the protesters was that the Facebook ban was done without proper consultation from the students. Another was that the restriction infringed on their right to internet access per the United Nations declaration that Internet Access is a human right. One more thing that the protesters would like is the implementation of an optional Information Technology (IT) fee. The College Faculty Union (CFU) of the

Divided we stand! It is clear that the members of the Ateneo community are divided in their response to the facebook ban. Some are in favour of it, some are against it. There has been a scuffle between the two sides in a Like page on Facebook against the ban of the site. Neither side relents in their arguments or backs down for the other. The only way we can really see a resolution to this issue is if the administration of the university holds a consultation with the other members of the Ateneo community. This leads us to a question: with all the heat the issue has received from the media, does the administration plan to hold any dialogue at all with the community?

university echoed these sentiments. In a statement posted in the faculty lounge, the CFU states that they “vehemently protest the blocking of social network sites,” stating that the blocking “infringes freedom of information and of expression,” and that they “will file grievance as initial and legal response to the head of the TSO.” Another statement posted in the faculty lounged displayed in bold letters that “’Access denied’ is information denied.” SAMAHAN president Aldwin Dumago shared the same sentiments as well. He said that the SAMAHAN Central Board is against the Facebook restriction, as it was imposed with no proper consultation with the community. He also stated his request for a temporary lift on the restriction as he realized the importance of Facebook in communication, and how it, along with Twitter, was a big help in information dissemination during their relief operations for the flood victims. Dumago stated that Facebook is used mainly by the community for communication and that restrictions are okay but thinks that Facebook itself should not be restricted but only the use of certain activities on it such as games. On the flip side, there are those who are for the Facebook ban. A student of the Computer Studies division, Alfred Jett Grandeza stated that he was for the Facebook ban because

he knows that “Facebook can realy distract students in their study or free time.” He stated that he was “happy that Facebook is not totally banned but only regulated for specific times which is reasonable so that time for fun and for study can be balanced.” He also touched on the IT fee, stating that, “the IT fees do not go solely to the internet connection,” and that the computers in Ateneo are “advanced compared to other schools in Davao or even Mindanao,” and that “information systems like the ones at the cashier are expensive, so I find the IT fee reasonable.” A newscast of GMA on July 19 confirmed this, saying that the IT fee does not go only to the internet access. Assistant to the President Mr. Jeremy Eliab stated in his interview with GMA News that, “most of the books are not physically in the library; they’re online,” and that they can be “accessed by the students while they are inside the campus.” Mr. Eliab also referred to the bandwidth problem of the university, stating that, “if Facebook is eating the bandwidth, it’s impossible to download the whole book.” Mr. Dominique Cimafranca stated in his blog Village Idiot Savant his reactions about the rally that took place. Mr. Cimafranca said that “it was a laughable pathetic sight; just a little over ten Ateneo students in their white blouses in their white blouses and blue polo

The future of the facebook ban The students’ right to information and consultation on matters cannot be denied. Although the past administration did not provide the community with prior consultation and information on the matter, we can still hope for the administration of current University President Father Joel Tabora SJ to address these concerns. The writer tried to reach Father Joel Tabora for comment but was referred to Mr. Jeremy Eliab then was subsequently referred to Father Ramon Prudencio Toledo who then told the writer to e-mail the questions to him. A reply is still pending. The writer is also yet to meet with Mr. Jimmy Delgado regarding questions about the IT fee. There are a slew of questions brought to mind by this issue: What is encompassed by the IT fee? What are the current administration’s plans for a memorandum issued by the previous administration? Will the advent of other social networking sites such as Google+ and the rise of microblogging site Twitter affect the sites included in the internet traffic filtering? The lack of answers to questions related to the ban begs for additional information regarding the issue. This article is the first in a planned series regarding the developments on the issue. For now, the future of the Facebook ban is bleak. For now, from 7:40 am to 5:00 pm, all we can do is follow the famous saying tells us, “face your book, not Facebook.”

Atenews | The Official Student Publication of the Ateneo de Davao University | June-October 2011

Features

Enrollment in the big picture By Arielle Ozoa Sta. Ana ENROLLMENT HAS by and large been an unresolved issue for quite some time now. Countering what is supposed to be a “good start” of a semester or school year, this hectic season reels in wasted hours, complaining students, cranky staff workers, and hefty loads of paperwork. Students under the small divisions carry through peacefully, but those under the big divisions lose the enthusiasm to actually enroll. In retrospect, the enrollment has been the cause for the postponement of classes. It has driven a lot of students the hassle of going back and forth to their hometowns. It has even messed up personal and family plans that resulted to disappointments and sometimes, fights. Yes, these personal issues have sprung up because of one matter, a matter that has long been pestering with almost everyone involved. It’s about time to dig deeper and see the bigger picture. Divisions such as NSM, CS, Humanities, Philo, SSE and CON generally have similar processes with the CEA, BSA-MA and BM divisions, yet they don’t experience the same

predicaments solely because their population is much smaller. Now the question rises as to whether it is implied that being a student of a big division is tantamount to having to go through a headache (or worse) during enrollment. Sadly, it has seemed so. There have been common experiences of student volunteers being blamed for the delays. Let us be clear that no matter how many volunteers are present, the root of all lies within the evaluators and the encoders who, based on previous cases, are either lacking in manpower, are not careful enough in data recording, or are always late. Some students, after waiting for several hours for the printout, had to wait again just because the encoding was erroneous. Waiting in vain has become the norm. Students from the provinces have been robbed of their time with their families. Parents are constantly perplexed with how to set up a plan because the schedule of the t-form and printout release is usually undetermined or not followed. Moving of schedules and sections assigned went on while a whole day of a student who followed the original schedule was wasted. There was even a time when the evaluators of a certain division were not present during the first day of enrollment. It is upsetting to deem

that those we look up to as the responsible ones are those who lack the diligence needed to have a well-managed system. Division heads are now planning on improvements. An enrollment committee was formed to iron out the enrollment flow. Last enrollment, the 2nd year students were not able to start on time because the NSTP files from that office could not be accessed. Fr. Ramon Toledo, SJ and the University’s technical staff are working on a system to better serve the needs of the enrollment process. An online evaluation tool mechanism was suggested to help recognize what should be done. For the big divisions, proposals have been made on adding at least 6 encoders and providing bigger workspaces. To avoid the repetition of processes, there is a plan of allowing students to add and drop only once. There is also a proposal of not allowing regular students to take advanced summer classes to avoid irregularities. Instead, only those with deficiencies will be allowed. Approval from the Dean and the Finance Office will signal its implementation, even without the students’ agreement. Weighing both sides, we can see that an enrollment process entails a domino effect. If

How secured are our security guards?

The 21st of August was the most awaited day. It was the day when they encountered the Pope. They were standing on the ground two meters away from Pope Benedict XVI. The encounter was euphoric, indescribable. “I was speechless that time. When I saw the face of the Pope, the feeling was indescribable. I can feel the holiness in him,” said Marie. “We found ourselves crying after the encounter. Even though the Pope didn’t know us personally, but it feels like he does. When he waved his hands and smiled, I could really feel the presence of God,” Ruby added. The encounter was indeed unforgettable. As the pilgrims said, it was the turning point in their lives.

WHEN SOMEONE says the word ‘security’ the image of guards almost immediately comes to our mind. Our campus is kept safe and secure from external dangers not only because of security devices but also through the campus security guards’ efforts. Now another danger threatens our campus. This time, it does not aim to harm the students, but the guards themselves.

Security Guard Woes When asked what would happen if their salary would indeed be decreased, one of the guards said that it would make things even more difficult for them. “We already have enough expenses as it is,” he said in Cebuano. Besides spending for their household rent and their family’s daily needs, they also have to spend for their uniform and their training. “If the decrease will be implemented, we would probably be forced to find another place to work,” he said. Another guard also said, “Where’s justice if there is a decrease in our salary while the price of basic commodities are getting higher? How can we be motivated if our salary can’t even supply the basic needs of our family? We can’t do anything but to bear with it.”

World Youth Day | FROM PAGE 5

By Kathleen Anne Veloso & John Kessler Misterio Art by Steely Dhan Caballero

Rumors of Wage Decrease Recently, there have been rumors about the decrease in the salaries of the security guards. Mr. Gerry Simogan, the Security Officer, said that it has not yet been confirmed. “We are still in the status quo stage,” he said. According to him, it was the previous Physical Plant Director, Engr. Abrina, who proposed to lessen the guards’ wages. He reportedly asked the agency, DASIA, to submit their lowest rates for bidding. Mr. Jimmy Delgado, the University Treasurer, said that he already heard of the rumors, but is uncertain whether they are true or not. “I do not know where that news came from. I have already talked with the Management of the Security Agency, and they should be the one confirming the issue.” He also clarified that the administration always makes sure that they are paying the security the right amount. When asked if he would reject the plan if it would be proposed, he answered, “It all depends on the Management’s decision.”

one office fails to pass on a certain set of data, if one teacher neglects his responsibility to pass grades on time, if one evaluator is always tardy, if one encoder mistypes or misses out on a piece of information, or even if one student fails to double check what is supposed to be on his printout, the evident result is a delay that will wave through the whole period. The administration should be much stricter in implementing the rules for the teachers. The enrollment committee should carry out proper coordination among the student volunteers, encoders and evaluators. Aside from providing clear steps of the process, the committee should also impart a schedule that will actually be followed. As of now, the Registrar is the core of the centralized system of data access. A development in the technical system is certainly needed to allow data to be readily available. Yet more importantly, the attitude of each person involved will reign as the biggest factor here. Each of us must play our part in conveying the right amount of diligence and respect. If we are to enroll ourselves and work in this prestigious institution, we might as well prove ourselves worthy even in the start of an academic season.

Lessons in life When asked what lessons they’ve got, they just said that they couldn’t put it all into words. “We want our co-young people to experience what we’ve experienced. We pray that they won’t lose hope in all circumstances, that they will not doubt God. A piece of advice: Do not hesitate to do things that you know will glorify God.” Students’ Reactions Most students reacted negatively to the issue. “It would be unfair to lower their salaries,” said one 4th year student. Some also commended the guards for doing their jobs well. “Kahit na nakakainis paminsan, we know that the guards are doing their jobs like checking our bags,” One student stated that if the guards’ wages would be decreased, the tuition fee should be decreased too. “Where would the additional money go if they would pursue on lowering the wages of the security guards? There’s a lot of explaining to do here,” said another student. Others also stated that since the tuition fee was increased, so should the salary of the guards. On the other hand, a few also expressed that if the decrease was justifiable, it would be okay. “We want to know the reason behind the decrease first before jumping into conclusions,” they said. Are the Rumors True? In an interview, Engr. Abrina stated that the contract with the current agency, DASIA, was already over during his last few weeks as the Physical Plant Director. There were two options left: to renew the contract with them or to go through bidding. If they would choose the latter, then the agency with the best bid would win the contract. “Normally sa bidding,

pababaan yan eh. But no matter how baba yan, you can never go lower than the minimum. Bahala na walang kitain yung agency basta yung minimum wage ng gwardiya will be satisfied,” he stated. As of now, no bidding has been done yet. It is now up to the current Physical Plant director to follow-up these matters. As to the issue about the guard’s salary decrease, Engr. Abrina said, “What is due to the guards as provided by law should be given to them.” What he was proposing was a decrease in the admin fee, which was the part of a guard’s salary which would go to their agency. The guard’s wage itself would remain the same. “Though it is true that 76% of the tuition fee increase should go to the regular employees of the school, the guards are not included since they are employed by contract,” said one of the staff from the Physical Plant office in answer to some of the student’s reactions. With all the facts laid out for us to examine, it was not the salary of the guards itself that would be reduced, but the agency fee. Still, we should remain vigilant and look after the welfare of our security guards. They are, after all, more than just people to get through at entrances. They are vanguards of our school’s security.

Samahan president resigns | FROM PAGE 1

The SCB ex-president also expressed his deep gratitude to the 1,567 students who elected him into the position and gave him the opportunity to serve the Ateneo community on a much bigger scale. He also thank University President Fr. Joel Tabora, SJ for the support he has showned towards SCB. Ms. Jubail Pasia, the GACP Chair and SAMAHAN Internal Vice President, currently serves as the de facto president. The incumbent SCB Officers will attempt to get the side of Mr. Dumago on why he has brought such decision. They said that they will still pursue whatever they have promised to the Ateneo studentry. For the record, Dumago’s resignation is first in the history of SAMAHAN Central Board.

Atenews | The Official Student Publication of the Ateneo de Davao University | June-October 2011

Features

Samahan: governing with no bounds “We need long term programs, hindi ‘yong pista dito, pista doon. If uubosin natin sa pagkain ang pera ng estudyante, hindi naman sa sayang, pero nagbayad pa tayo? Nabibili naman yan sa Jacinto ang projects nila,” a student commented. But some expressed their hopes for the SCB’s action next semester. “Hope they can come up with good and sustainable programs for us, Ateneans. They still have one semester to catch up,” a concern student said.

By Reymond Pepito & Cyril Jerome Almanzor Art by Nadine Caballes EVERYONE HAS a priority. From the busy street of a supermarket to the cleanest office of the president, there’s always an ultimate concern. For a market vendor, the priority is to sell goods, earn some money, and provide the needs of the family, if he/she has one. For a president or any lawmaker, the priority should be the welfare of their constituents, like improving the quality of education, poverty reduction, and so forth – not on proposing bills like anti-planking or nonsensical matters. Same thing goes with a governing body, let’s say a student government. They have a set of priorities, changing from administration to administration. The SAMAHAN Central Board of Ateneo de Davao had set their priorities straight: Taking service and leadership to new heights.The current SAMAHAN Central Board has really taken a new role in the school: They spearheaded the recent Ateneo Fiesta 2011, amended their budget increase to 100% (Yes, every Atenean is paying for 80 pesos every semester compared last year which is only 40 pesos), and they have made innumerable activities within the vicinity of the Ateneo community: celebrated Pista ng Samahan, had an Environmental Consciousness Week, Book Sale, and a Welfare Desk, as they call it. This is surely geared to one thing: serving the students to new heights. However, something has been missed out: the current administration technically doesn’t have a constitution of their own – they have an old one with no amendments. No one would seem to care as to why a constitution is needed. What for? Is that really necessary? If they are fulfilling their job as the body that watches over the welfare of the studentry, then formality through a constitution is deemed superfluous. Saying this, what’s with a constitution that makes it so special? A constitution, as defined by Hector de Leon, is a “set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together constitute what the entity is”. Therefore, a constitution is a basic principle to which the state or any governing body draws its principles. It can therefore set the parameters of the power of the state or any governing body, set a limitation to it, and change it through the course of time. The constitution therefore defines the governing entity. Actually, the current SCB is using an existing constitution – only that it is as old as Ateneo where an agricultural course was still offered way back then. Highly unsuitable, the said constitution hasn’t reached any amendment in effect as of this year. That makes it out-of-date, not appropriate for the time being. The demand A letter that contains a strong demand from the Samahan Constitutional Commission (Con-Com) was sent to Samahan Central Board last 24 August. In a letter addressed to SCB’s President Aldwin Dumago (who just recently resigned), the Con-Com expressed their dismay on the delays in the finalization of SAMAHAN’s constitution and bylaws. “We could not deny that there are persistent issues and problems within the school that has not been addressed for far too long or nonetheless given with due attention because of the immediate events such as this year’s Fiesta and Buklod Atenista… The issues cannot wait any longer; the rights of the students cannot be postponed any further,” the letter reads Samahan Central Board promised to ConCom that they will set a date to discuss matters regarding the proposed constitution. However, SCB failed to execute such promise. SCB’s responsibility The Con-Com fearlessly reminded the student government on their responsibility

Dumago’s reply Mr. Dumago said that they have been quiet about their work but, rest assured, they are busy working. “We (SCB) have been receiving good feedback from students, faculty and administrators alike. I can confidently say that this administration is probably the most visible and the most empowered one in the recent years,”

towards the Ateneans who trusted their leadership skills and put them in office. “As a Student Council duly elected by the students that [sic] believes in the leaders they place in the position… It is the responsibility of the Student Council to vanguard the rights and needs of the entire studentry.” The Con-Com found it alarming that the reading of the Constitution is delayed and moved to a lower priority, considering that it has to be one of SCB’s top priorities. “We insist in standing firm that this constitution must be processed in all opportunity we have… So we ask now for the support and the appropriate attention from the Samahan Central Board regarding this matter as soon as possible… The student right must be pursued no matter what the circumstance is,” Con-Com stressed in the letter. “Not a priority” Some student leaders inside Samahan Central Board shared their worry on the issue of delaying the Constitution. “When I asked them last August kung kelan (Meeting with the Con-Com), cancel daw kasi daw may EA issue pa. I quote him, “I am sorry but they (Con-Com) are not a priority... The constitution is a priority. We know that,” said one Samahan Officer. The Con-Com felt that Samahan President Aldwin Dumago has been neglecting their request for ratification. But Mr. Dumago broke his silence on the issue. “To say that the ratification of the Samahan Constitution is ‘not a priority this year’ is not true. I was a part of the previous administration which also pushed for the ratification. We’ve seen a lot of loopholes in the Samahan Constitution which hinders the student government from effectively discharging its mandate. When I said ‘it isn’t my priority’, that was around July this year when SCB directed all its focus and attention in the hosting of the Fiesta… It has been quite a number of years ago when SCB chaired the fiesta committee. As such, it was really a challenge for me as president to be the chair of the fiesta committee since the people expect a lot from this year’s fiesta,” said Dumago “I was misunderstood; what I only meant was it was not our priority at that moment,” He added.

Looking for a good timing Mr. Dumago told Atenews that the review of the Samahan Constitution was originally scheduled last September 25. However, since most of the Samahan Officers who are on their senior year were not available, they have decided to move it. “SCB decided to move it on October 10, that’s after the final exams. During our strategic planning session on June 6, the ratification of the Samahan Constitution was discussed… We need to find a good timing on when we will do the referendum,” Dumago said. Mr. Dumago also said that many of the students in Ateneo do not know what Samahan is and what its role is in the university –making it difficult for SCB to conduct a referendum. “In the first place, the students do not actually know the nature and purpose of Samahan. We did not neglect the clamor of the Con-Com for the ratification. Had we neglected them, we would not have given Con-Com the budget. It was only Con-Com whose budget was not touched during the summer break because we knew the people were working on the draft. But then, we could not just present the proposed Samahan Constitution to the students at the start of the semester. We need to be very visible first so students will feel our presence. Only by then can we tell them that there are things that needed to be improved on in the Samahan, and one of which is the Constitution,” explained Dumago. SCB: No projects, just PR Atenews has been receiving feedback regarding the successful hosting of Samahan Central Board on this year’s fiesta. They applauded the efforts of the SCB officers. “Nag-enjoy kami sa mga activities nong Fiesta. Okay ang pag-host,” said a second year student. But some Ateneans were not impressed. They’ve shared their sentiments towards the failure of SCB to create sustainable student programs. “Well, nag-enjoy nga tayo, pero in my opinion, puro PR lang naman ginagawa nila, walang concrete projects, eh. Saan na mapupunta ang 100 percent increase ng Samahan fee? Sa malalaking tarpaulin nila? Sa mga nag-gagandahang SCB shirts? Masasayang lang kung ganun,” expressed by a fourth year Atenean.

Words from a leader Ms. Cariza Gonzales, last year’s SCB President expressed her concern to the current administration. “I belive that SCB should pursue the proposed SAMAHAN constituion. I can’t understand why they are delaying it. We know that the constituion will protect the students’ welfare and rights,” said Ms. Gonzales. She mentioned that through a constituion, the SCB will be guided of their tasks and responsibilities. It will even lessen the brandings that exist against the student body. “SCB should go beyond being an event organizer, it should be an organization who is concern of safeguarding Ateneans’ rights,” she added. On the increase of SAMAHAN Fee After a resolution was made by the last administration. The Samahan Central Board received a hundred percent increase. “We realized that among all 5 Ateneo schools, Samahan has the smallest working budget every year. We always wonder how other Ateneo student councils could come up with a lot of activities and projects. For almost 10 years, the samahan budget was only 40 pesos, and that is being shared by all units in the samahan,” shared Dumago. The Php.80 fee has said to enabled this year’s administration to work on more projects. According to Mr. Dumago, the divisions have bigger budgets this time. Division Representatives need not to be worried about spending their own money since the budget went bigger. But still, many are uneased with the fact that the increase was apporved yet there are no guidelines to follow on how SCB should function and how the board should use the money. But despite all the cricitisms, SCB promised to exhaust all efforts for the remaining six months. Looking forward The Ateneo students are looking forward for the day of ratification of the proposed Samahan Constitution. They are waiting for the SCB and Con-Com to meet and discuss matters that concern everyone’s rights and welfare. There’s no good when all brilliant words are just said without follow-up actions, above all, there’s no good on pulling each other down. Both negative and positive criticisms are raised to evaluate and strengthen the foundation of SAMAHAN and serve the overall interests. The incumbent officers left in the SCB have to prove that they are capable of responding the unresolved issues that our studentry has. The challenge is becoming bigger and it requires tougher move, tougher leaders. The Ateneans need concrete programs, need concrete actions, and seriously need to see the people whom they have voted, taking service and leadership to new heights - especially now that their leader has surrendered.

Atenews | The Official Student Publication of the Ateneo de Davao University | June-October 2011

Comics Proben | OGS ABLAZO

Baby Joboy | NADINE CABALLES

WPA at QPI | STEELY DHAN CABALLERO

Anology

| OGS ABLAZO

Elevator

| CHAY MONTEFOLCA

Crosswords | ATENEO, CURRENT STUFF & THE INTERNETS 1

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7 9 11

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Baryo Tinyo

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33 34 Down 1 - Academic staff 2 - Worst fever ever, _ Fever 3 - Annoying new feature on Facebook 4 - ‘Prioritized’ SAMAHAN agenda 5 - Kalasag’s songwriting competition 7 - CEA’s student publication 11 - Presidential candidate; ex-KGB 13 - A ‘Congressman’ hates this 15 - Band that split up after 31 years 19 - Replaced Sheen in a US sitcom 20 - ‘Regulated’ not ‘Banned’ 21 - 3rd -ber month 23 - Knight in the ‘Baryo Tinyo’ 24 - Nasaan ka? 25 - Disputed territory 27 - Expensive Swiss watch 28 - Satellite crashed on 9/23 30 - Sang ‘Silly Love Songs’ 31 - Newest college

Across 3 - Problem? 5 - (2W) Turmoil in the Middle East 6 - What Mt. Apo really is 8 - Candid camera 9 - (2W) Most popular in App Store 10 - (2W) Between Canisius & Wieman 12 - _ Away, Song in ‘Epic Sax Guy’ 14 - Established 1948 16 - Threat to Palawan 17 - Shoelace’s end 18 - AdDU-HS’ new principal 20 - L4D Survivor 22 - Blue _, AdDU-HS Student Publication 26 - _ to death 29 - Famous football player, Argentine 32 - Rick Astley prank 33 - ‘Gives you wings’; energy drink 34 - L_c, Hacked Sony last 5/27

| PAUL CROOKS