Atenews First Tabloid

A TRIBUTE OR AN INSULT?

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The Official Student Publication of Ateneo de Davao University

1 OPINION

UNUSUAL SILENCE EDITORIAL

IN 2012, Fr. Joel Tabora stirred controversy with his strong anti-mining stance, as he “virtually declared AdDU to be anti-mining”, as how Babe Romualdez put it in his April 19, 2012 column in Philstar. In the same year, AdDU Alumnus and now Presidential Adviser for Peace Process Jesus Dureza also criticized the university president for seemingly “bypassing” the Board of Trustees who should decide on the university’s stand on such matters.

Nevertheless, the campaign until now continues. Fr. Tabora is still vocal in his speeches, tweets, and blogs about his perception on mining, getting the support from most of the Ateneo community members.

In 2013, Ateneo de Davao also showed its involvement in policy matters as it participated in a protest rally against Pork Barrel along with around 3,000 other protesters. University President Fr. Joel Tabora himself expressed the university’s stand on the issue, calling for transparency in all government transactions.

These are just among the many campaigns of the University President and the University itself, including matters involving gender sensitivity, LGBT rights, and the controversial ‘war on drugs.’

If there was something AdDU, or at least Fr. Tabora and the rest of the administration, was silent about, it was the issue surrounding the proposal of burying the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. The Supreme Court has finally decided to approve the proposal, but the university remains quiet.

This was a controversy that should be very relevant to AdDU, not only because part of its mission is the

promotion of social justice, but also because a hundred of students and faculty from the University were harassed, silenced, and oppressed during the Marcos era.

Its student publication itself was closed because of Martial Law. Former students like Socorro Par, and Evella Bontia became martyrs during Marcos’ dictatorship. Alumni like Macariu Tiu and Bro. Karl Gaspar were among those who were imprisoned.

Did AdDU fail to recognize them?

The university was not necessarily challenged to protest against the proposed hero’s burial (although it appears to be the position the university should take given its long history of battling against Martial Law), but to not stay tight-lipped while the rest of the nation fights for their beliefs, because this is not what AdDU is used to be.

Four of the major student organizations in AdDU has already taken their stand on the issue. The Ateneo community was urged to say something about this as much as how loud we were in expressing our position on issues like mining and corruption.

To get involved doesn’t mean getting involved on the basis of convenience.

It means standing up amidst possible criticism – like how Fr. Joel Tabora himself stood up for the environment, like how we, as one community, once fought for integrity in the government.

What held us back? Was it because the president who proposed the burial already had a special place in our hearts? Was it because we have forgotten entirely? Was it because we are afraid? We do not know, for we did not say a word.

EDITORIAL BOARD • Reil Benedict Obinque Editor-In-Chief • Ian Derf Salvaña Associate Editor • Avegail Gimeno Managing Editor • Anna Sophia Tarhata Piang News Editor • Ram Manlatican Associate News Editor • Dominique Francesca Costales, Alexis Matthew Reyes Art Editors • Christian Dale Espartero Social Media Editor WRITING STAFF • Rey Andrew Alonsagay, Rebekah Gail Celis, Mikel Steven Luy Senior News Writers • Mary Gyle Manuba, Francesca Maree Testa Senior Features Writers • Camaela Mijares Senior Photojournalist • Myrile Cadalzo Senior Layout and Graphic Artist • Joseph Nasser Senior Video Editor • Steely Dhan Caballero, Maria Cyra Jane Dealca Senior Cartoonists

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Atenews • VOLUME 62 NO 4• Established 1955 • We accept articles, letters, pictures, comics, and other contributions for publication. End the Silence of the Gagged!

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SHOULD STUDENTS BE TESTED?

REIL BENEDICT OBINQUE WORD WEAVER THE ‘WAR’ has seemingly slithered from dark drug den alleys to the hallways of universities and colleges, as some of them start to consider the possibility of voluntary drug testing among students. Is Ateneo de Davao ready for this move?

For some, it should be. The university, with the leadership of Fr. Joel Tabora, is one of the institutions that have a strong stand about drug use. In fact, the university has created Committee Against Illegal Drugs which is one of its responses to this waging ‘war'.

Universities and colleges all over the country are urged to participate in Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s advocacy. In fact, the government has recently sought to make drug testing compulsory for incoming college students. The question now is whether or not the Committee Against Illegal Drugs in the university will implement the said program, and whether or not the students and the faculty and staff would be comfortable with the idea of having themselves tested.

At first, it appears that there is nothing wrong with it. Voluntary random drug testing is a response to the legitimate concern for detecting and preventing illegal drug use by students whose well-being is the university's primary concern.

In a Pakighinabi Session last Sept.

23, Dr. Melba Manapol, one of the members of the Committee Against Illegal Drugs, emphasized that drug users should not be treated as criminals but as “victims". This necessitates rehabilitation, and at the university level, knowing who are ‘victimized’ by illegal drugs would allow authorities to implement

necessary interventions as early as possible.

Sure enough, it seems harmless.

But is it really, given our context?

Firstly, it may create fear both for those who and who do not use drugs.

Contrary to the University’s view of drug users as victims, with the controversial killings in our country today, drug users are seemingly considered culprits that need to be annihilated.

Secondly, how can we be assured that the information would be confidential when nothing, at least when it comes to illegal drug use, are seemed to be kept confidential under the Duterte administration? How can students not tremble in fear when the president himself can fearlessly announce in front of the public a list of alleged drug pushers and addicts?

Lastly, the stigma on both those who undergo and refuse to undergo the testing would probably be prevalent. The refusal to get tested would most likely raise others' eyebrows as, for some, it may indicate guilt. The same thing happens to those who do otherwise.

This calls for the assurance of confidentiality and the clarification on the goal of drug testing. More importantly, it indicates the need for adequate education on what this ‘war on drugs’ really mean. As a university which aims to mold its individuals, students should be properly oriented that this is not a war on drug addicts but a war on the factors that force one to use drugs.

The intention was perhaps good, but this intention should deliberately be understood by those who may be heavily affected by this move.

Illustration/Dominique Franchesca Costales

Allyster Berthe Astronomo, Angelica Carreon, Kyrie De Chavez, Rosvir Kate Flores, Manelle Joy Kasudale, Kimberly Maragañas Junior News Writers • Jupiter Cabig Jr., Maria Isabel Elizaga, Sabrina Zehender Junior Feature Writers • Stephany Kate Bergado, Christian Hel Cemine, Carlo Isiah Escarda Junior Cartoonists • Hannah Lou Balladares, Charlotte Billy Sabanal Junior Photojournalists • Neil Marc Mejia, Mary Lou Sumampong Junior Video Editors • Jono Luiz Cosio Junior Web Developer MODERATOR Fr. Erwin Rommel Torres • Tabloid Design Steven Adrianne Chua • Contributor Raf Maurince Tacder

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The Official Student Publication of Ateneo de Davao University

OPINION

UNINTENDED(?) HARMS

ANNA SOPHIA TARHATA PIANG/STRUGGLING SOCIALIST TERE TIAMSON wept over the gagged and bound corpse of her daughter, Rowena, who would’ve graduated from college had she lived.

What is even more saddening was that instead of the honor’s medal that Rowena could’ve worn on her graduation day, a cardboard sign saying “Huwag tularan, pusher” hung around her neck in the place of the award.

Her mother immediately exclaimed that the message was false. “If you ask anyone in our area, they can prove that what's written on the cardboard isn't true and my daughter was not a drug pusher. She was very kind, very gentle, and very helpful,” the bereaved mother stated in Tagalog.

Rowena and her family

are just some of the victims that fell prey to the consequences of the unintended extrajudicial killing phenomenon President Rodrigo Duterte brought in his war against crime and drugs.

When Duterte was inaugurated into office, he immediately set into action his planned all-out war against drugs, and in his fight against drug syndicates and illegal activities, Duterte had increased police power and implemented stricter policies.

Most of the Filipino populace applauded his battle cry and pledged to support him. Yet, what was initially a noble united front against a significant threat to society became a danger in itself.

The positive outcome of his invitation was that

thousands of people took it.

However, the negative thing is that most of them wanted to address the problem through other methods apart from the legal ones.

are suddenly labeled and targeted as drug criminals even though not even a shred of evidence that supports such accusations exists.

In an undoubtedly insane manner, many of the Filipino have decided to become the judge and the executioner when faced with a potential drug suspect – much like with Rowena’s case.

Now, it would be unfair to generalize the entirety of the Filipino people as irrational radicals that seek to destroy the drug terror through vicious means.

While there may be some who honestly (and foolishly) believe that killing people without due process is the right thing to do, it seems highly unlikely that numerous blameless people would be targeted out of the blue.

Perhaps many of the Filipino people have been blinded by their admiration for the president. Or maybe they chose to become blind out of the insane belief that cold murder can solve one of the country’s biggest problems.

Yet, it seems odd and highly unrealistic that innocent people such as Rowena

But the increasing death tolls include not only real drug criminals, but also innocent names.

hijacked by other parties with different agendas. Perhaps, these still unknown parties seek to instill fear within the country and also wish to make people doubt the efficiency of the new administration. Perhaps, they also mean to undermine its new leader, which seems probable, given the fact that Duterte has made numerous enemies with his reforms and plans.

In the grand scheme of things, what ultimately matters is the urgent need to stop all the senseless murders, so that aspiring graduates – like what Rowena was – will be safe from false accusations and undeserved punishments, and also so that no other mothers would feel the same pain that Tere felt.

Perhaps, the trend of extrajudicial killings has been

CITY 'DEVELOPMENTS'

ALEXIS MATTHEW REYES/WHATSTHEMATTR DAVAO CITY, awarded as the Cleanest and Greenest Highly-Urbanized City in 2004, the Cleanest Air in the World Awardee in 2005, the Most Culture-Friendly City in the Philippines in 2009, the 9th Safest City in the World in 2015, and the land where its people claim life to be in, may be on its way in becoming the next urban catastrophe if not planned well.

To this day, Davao City’s urban population remains to rank as third largest in the Philippines at 1.449 million, making it the largest populous in Mindanao. The study of fifth year architecture student Nikko Zamora has also regarded that 48% of Davao’s population, or over 700,000 Davaoeños are daily passengers. The

largest passenger count ever recorded per hour per direction through Bankerohan Bridge was at a stunning 8,000. This means that at a point in time, 8,000 people traversed through one side of Bankerohan Bridge in a single hour.

Furthermore, construction fever has hit the “dusty and remote” Davao City. The Central Business District (CBD) alone is seeing the erection of Ayala skyscrapers, with Avida Towers along CM Recto St. and the Abreeza Residences in JP Laurel Avenue reaching completion in late 2016 alongside the 33-storey Aeon Tower. Euro Towers’ Vivaldi Residences, with 37 stories, will soon be the tallest building in Davao once completed in 2018.

The construction of the new malls of New City Commercial Corp. (NCCC) and Gaisano Grand Group in Buhangin is also in full swing.

In addition, the Duterteapproved Mindanao Railway System is bound to begin its construction this 2017, and will span 2,000 kilometers, going all around the entire Mindanao island.

Come 2018, and the joint venture of Mega Harbour Port and Development Inc. and the City Government of Davao shall commence with the reclamation of four islands with a land area totaling to 200 hectares, spanning the coastline of Agdao all the way to Barangay Bucana, turning it into a state-of-the-art business and commercial center.

So what do we do with a large urban population, an increasing daily passenger count, and a growing economy characterized by built infrastructure? We plan for its future.

Although growing economies might be elusive and inevitable, the urban catastrophe which may be entitled to accompany it is still not. In the case of Metro Manila, it seems as if the rapid economic growth was characterized by continuous building of skyscrapers with little to no consideration for its impact to the urban environment.

Davao City can avoid becoming Metro Manila through extensive sustainable planning. All it takes is local architects

and urban planners eagerly ready to redevelop existing public streets and spaces with respect to the city’s urban environment; strongwilled political leaders to establish transport systems and create systems of peace and order; and the business sector to ensure continuous economic growth, all in pursuit of creating a livable, prosperous Davao City. For after all, what is the use of a raging economy if the city it settles in masks itself in tall curtain-walled towers today but will eventually wallow in traffic congestion, air pollution and degrading urban environments tomorrow.

It is imperative to plan and design Davao City now.

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NEWS 10 16 18

ADDU STANDS FOR LGBT RIGHTS

The university has exerted efforts to show their support to the LGBT community. It cannot be denied, however, that different issues inside and outside the campus still confront most LGBT students Photo/Charlotte Billy Sabanal

REVIEWING DUTERTE: WHAT HAS HE DONE SO FAR? ADDU SUPPORTS LOPEZ, DENR REFORM ADDU STUDENTS PUSH MAGNA CARTA REFORM

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The Official Student Publication of Ateneo de Davao University

NEWS

RAM MANLATICAN & REIL BENEDICT OBINQUE IN ITS pursuit of promoting gender sensitivity, Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) has recently implemented various reforms within the campus, including policies, programs, and activities that promote the rights of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community.

Ateneans march inside the campus duiring the 2nd AdDU Pride March to show their support to the LGBT community.

Photo/Ram Manlatican

University Pres. Joel Tabora, S.J. expressed in his memorandum that, “AdDU itself is positively committed to cultural sensitivity, intercultural dialogue, and cultural transformation in favor of a society that is more deeply accepting of diversity, including gender sensitivity, based on a fundamental recognition of the dignity of all.”

Along with this pronouncement was Tabora’s declaration of making all single restrooms in the campus as “all gender”. In line with this, students have conducted different activities to celebrate AdDU’s first LGBT Pride Week.

They will never understand the reason behind creating all gender restrooms without understanding our struggles

All gender restrooms

university.

One of the first reforms the university made was designating restrooms that can be accessed by students of any sexual orientation.

Some of these restrooms are located along Canisius hall, at the Jubillee building, and at the Community Center.

“We felt na we belong again [and] then we are free in this institution. We are also thankful to all those who supported it,” Baga added.

The use of restrooms has long been an issue for the members of the LGBT community as they expressed that they are oftentimes discriminated when they used either of the male and female restrooms.

“Ang na-encounter na problem namin, nung hindi pa na-implement ‘yung all-gender CR is discrimination, of course. Then ginapa-feel sa amin na dapat hindi kami pumasok doon kasi ganito kami or ganyan,” Business and Management student Andrei Vonn Baga shared.

Because of this, she considers the designation of all gender restrooms as a progressive move by the

However, some people expressed their disapproval, and heavily criticized the said Jesuit institution for having an unconventional reform.

“Stop the insanity! This move will bring inconvenience to the large population of students and faculty waiting in line at a CR just so you can brag that your school is an LGBT supporters. Your job as educators is to make folks appreciate what God has given each one of us not encourage this type of stupidity,” a netizen commented in an online Inquirer article featuring the all gender restrooms.

Some even attacked the university president personally, as the said move is not becoming of a Jesuit.

Photo by Photo/ Charlotte Billy Sabanal

“At itong pari na ito, kinunsinti pa ang LGBT. Miyembro siguro ito ng Federación,” a commenter stated.

However, for Accounting student JC Aquizar,who considers herself as transgender, people who reacted negatively to the said reform had to be educated to help them understand

the situation of the LGBT community members.

“They will never understand the reason behind creating all gender restroom swithout understanding our struggles,” she expressed.

First-ever Pride Week The efforts of making the university LGBT-friendly

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May choice kami, pero sa totoo lang, ito lang ang choice namin: to stay in the closet or live freely

It started with a talk featuring the National Youth Commission (NYC) Chair Aiza Seguerra who shared his personal experiences and the difficulty of living as a transgendered woman.

“Sinasabi nila, especially yung mga taong galit na galit sa amin, ‘may choice ka naman e, pwede ka namang magpakababae,” he shared during the talk.

“Totoo ‘yon. May choice kami, pero sa totoo lang, ito lang ang choice namin: to stay in the closet or live freely.”

was carried out not only by the administration but also by the different campus clubs and organizations themselves. Shortly after the designation of all gender restrooms, on Sept. 26-30, students organized the first-ever AdDU LGBT Pride Week that included various events and talks to promote the rights of the members of the LGBT community.

Issues confronting the LGBT community were also discussed, including the anti-discrimination bill and the same-sex marriage which, until now, has not been legalized in the country.

“Ni minsan, hindi namin [Liza] inasam na magpakasal sa simbahan. And hinihingi naming marriage equality ay sa estado,” he explained.

Aiza also urged the youth to stand up for LGBT rights and continue promoting a

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culture of acceptance.

university.

Further actions

Days after Aiza’s talk, LGBT students within the campus engaged in a conversation dubbed as #LunarAsks with Lunar Tan Fayloga, sharing the struggles of coming out as members of the LGBT community, and the issues they face in and out of the Ateneo campus. Guest speakers included students Jirah Lynn Baliwan, Janna Magbanua, Nico Veneracion, JC Alquizar, and Professor Anthony Aguelo.

“In 2012, we tried to ask Fr. Gabriel kung ma-recognize ba ng club. Nagbakasakali mi then ana si Fr. Gab na ‘we cannot completely grant [your request]’ kasi daw ‘yung Knightingales is not really in line with the [Vision-Mission-Goals] of Ateneo de Davao,” former core Knightingale member Oliver Porras shared.

The passing of the Anti-Discrimination Ordinance of Davao City (Ordinance No. 0417-12 series of 2012) protects minority groups from any form of discrimination. The ordinance basically declared unlawful acts and conducts based on sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, descent, national or ethnic origin and religion affiliation or beliefs.

Allies and members of the LGBT community also made noise and raised their statements of support to campaign for equal gender rights during the Pride March last Sept. 28.

“I am very happy because Ateneo [now supports] the promotion of gender sensitivity and I am very proud that I am a transgender and that we are all gathered here, lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender people and especially the allies. We have [allies] here from different sectors and I am just happy because now we feel more empowered and more recognized,” JC Alquizar said in an interview after the march.

Existing issues Despite the notable changes in how the university treats the minority group, issues confronting the LGBT community still exist.

The issue on recognizing the Knightingales, a 15-year-old club for homosexuals known to the AdDU community, as one of the official organizations in the campus remains unresolved.

For years, the Knightingales has been organizing events such as the annual ‘Miss Gay University’. However, in spite of the decade-old foundation of the organization, the Knightingales has yet to receive official recognition from the

The LGBT community hopes for the establishment of an empowered LGBT organization in the university.

“Ang Knightingales gyud until now kay dili gyud siya ma-recognize. Pero actually, last time sa Philippine Sociological Society Conference, nag-talk ako sa isa ka UP professor sa UP Diliman, and he’s willing to help daw as ma-recognize ang organization. It’s just like we have lacks sa technicalities na to organize clubs,” Porras explained.

As far as the LGBT community is concerned, the ordinance plays a crucial role in ensuring that the university itself as LGBT-friendly.

With the ordinance as the foundation, some LGBT individuals call for the inclusion of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) sessions in First Year Development Program and/or National Security Training Program (NSTP) classes.

Apart from this, during the #LunarAsks talkshows, some of the speakers reported incidents when they were not allowed entry to the university because they were “breached the dress code.

The said request would educate the students more on recognizing a person’s right to be himself or herself, and the “him” and “her” do not necessarily describe to the person’s biological body.

In an incident report by Alquizar, she stated that she was discriminated by the security guards last July 9 this year for wearing “leggings, a feminine shirt with a blazer, and a pair of doll shoes.”

For years, the university has been strict when it comes to the implementing of dress code. However, just last semester, the school released a memorandum informing the university community that the security guards would no longer check the attires of students and that they will now be checked by the faculty and non-teaching staff instead.

“No words can describe how I felt humiliated. It was the most embarrassing moment of my life. That moment where I felt like I was a threat to the security of the school. I felt like if I am going to enter the school, I will cause terror for what I am wearing and for who I am,” she expressed in her incident report.

No prohibitions on cross-dressing during non-uniform days can be found in the student handbook, so long as the proper dress code is followed.

With this, several students are wearing whatever they like especially during Wednesdays. This encouraged some transgender students to request to the school administration to allow them to wear clothes that suit their gender identity.

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NEWS

HUMAN RIGHTS AT STAKE IN DUTERTE'S WAR ON DRUGS REBEKAH GAIL CELIS “HUWAG TULARAN, PUSHER AKO” reads a cardboard put over 22-year-old graduating honor student Rowena Tiamson’s lifeless body found in Manaoag, Pangasinan, last July 19.

Tiamson was a Mass Communication student from Colegio de Dagupan, and a member of the choir in their local church.

Two vigilante groups have claimed responsibility for Tiamson’s death: the Dagupan Death Squad and the Pangasinan Death Squad.

Her family said she is a responsible and loving daughter; traits unfit for a ‘drug pusher’.

“Kahit sino pa po ang tanungin ninyo dito sa lugar namin, mapapatunayan nila na sinungaling ang nasa cardboard at hindi totoo na drug pusher ang anak ko.

“Napakabait na bata niyan, palaging naglalambing, palaging tumutulong,” Rowena’s mother, Tere Tiamson told Rappler.

Like many others, Tiamson’s case was a ‘mistaken identity’ case. The Pangasinan Police Department affirmed her name was not among the 4,755 drug personalities in their watch list.

Tiamson’s case is one of the many cases linked to Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.

Waging war Early in his electoral campaign, Duterte had already declared that if he gets elected, he will solve the country’s problem with

criminality in three to six months.

“I will not ask for a (full) term. I ask for three to six months, and I will finish them (criminals),” he said during a symposium in Manila at the De La Salle University (DLSU) last Jan. 20.

Months later, in his inauguration last June 30, he formally addressed his intentions of battling illegal drugs, corruption, and other forms of criminality in the Philippines.

“I know that there are those who do not approve of my methods of fighting criminality, the sale and use of illegal drugs and corruption.

“I have seen how criminality, by means all foul, snatched from the innocent and the unsuspecting, the years and years of accumulated savings. Years of toil and then, suddenly, they are back to where they started. Look at this from that perspective and tell me that I am wrong.

“In this fight, I ask Congress and the Commission on Human Rights and all others who are similarly situated to allow us a level of governance that is consistent to our mandate. The fight will be relentless and it will be sustained,” he said.

In light with this, he reiterated his battle against illegal drugs and vowed to strengthen police and anti-drug forces in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 25.

“I call on the Philippine National Police (PNP), the barangay chairman, the

mayors, and governors, all those occupying seats of power and authority not to lower their guard… Double your efforts, triple them if need be. We will not stop until the last drug lord, the last financer, and the last pusher have surrendered or put behind bars or below the ground if they so wish,” he said.

Signs of success Not long after he was officially seated, Duterte has already fulfilled some of his vows.

Last Aug. 7, Duterte named some government officials allegedly involved in large-scale illegal drug businesses, dubbing them as ‘Narcopoliticians,' during his speech in the Malacañang of the South, Panacan, Davao City.

Duterte also mentioned police and military officers allegedly protecting prominent personalities involved in the drug trade, asserting that they surrender to the PNP 24 hours after he delivered his speech.

“All policemen, PNP Personnel assigned as security guards, security personnel ng mayor I have mentioned, you are hereby relieved of your duty and immediately report to your mother unit… Tatanggalin ko ‘yung operational authority over them.

“Lahat [ng] military [at] police… I give you twenty-four hours to report to your mother unit or I will whack you and dismiss you from service,” he said.

‘Oplan TokHang’ The anti-drug war

does not involve only the large-scale drug lords, the ‘narco-cops’ and politicians, but also small-time drug pushers and users.

Through the ‘Oplan TokHang’, an anti-drug campaign by the PNP, around 115, 000 drug pushers and users have surrendered from all over the country last July.

“We were surprised by the sudden influx of surrenderees. We didn't expect...

Ganun na pala kalala ang problema natin sa droga,” PNP chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa said in an interview with Rappler.

The ‘Oplan TokHang’ is devised from Bisaya words

‘toktok’ which means knock, and ‘hangyo’ which means to plead.

The said campaign aims to end the use of illegal drugs by knocking on the doors of the houses of alleged drug users and pushers.

Presidential Communications Office Secretary Martin Andanar said that Malacañang lauded the PNP’s efforts to boost the said anti-drug campaign.

"Many communities are now relatively drug-free with record-high number of people giving up to authorities, choosing quieter and healthier lives,” Andanar expressed in a statement.

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'yung tao.

“May tanda sa daliri niya na tanda na sumusuko na talaga siya. Pinatong niya sa ulo niya ‘yung daliri niya. Narinig talaga ng pamangkin ko na sumusuko na.,” Ana Marie, Mangalindan’s wife, told Rappler.

Meanwhile, dela Cruz was shot by an unkown man two weeks after he surrendered to the Oplan TokHang campaign.

His cousin, Regina dela Cruz, told authorities that Mario was outside his home when he had a heated conversation with a man who later shot him dead.

Dela Cruz was one of the two drug personalities listed in their community.

Just recently, Mayor Rolando Espinosa, a confessed drug lord, was killed while in jail together with Raul Yap. Although many of the reports of extrajudicial killings were said to be committed by law enforcers, the government condemns these types of crimes.

Illustration/Carlo Isiah Escarda

Also, in a recent Senate hearing, Dela Rosa said the police have been working hard to eradicate illegal drugs.

Last Aug. 22, Dela Rosa reported 10,205 drug-related arrests, 712 killed drug suspects in police operations, and 1,067 drug-related vigilante killings.

Extrajudicial violence Along with the decreasing number of drug users and pushers, the extrajudicial and vigilante death tolls have also increased.

To date, around 11 drug-related killings happen every day.

Some of the slain victims, like Rowena Tiamson, were mistaken identity cases.

Some were drug suspects who have already surrendered to the police.

Joel Mangalindan and Mario dela Cruz Sr., both drug suspects who surrendered to the police, were still killed.

Police reports said Mangalindan fought back in a sting operation, aiming his 45-caliber gun and firing it at the police.

“Iyong sinasabi nilang nanlalaban? Hindi. Nilagyan lang nila ng 45, kahit nga kutsilyo, wala ‘yan.

Paraan na lang nila ‘yun para kunwari lumaban

The government is against any form of extrajudicial killings. We do not condone this act

“Government is against any form of extrajudicial killings. We do not condone these acts. Government is here to save our people from the drug menace and punish the offenders, including the big-time ones. The PNP continues to investigate situations involving vigilante killings and operational aspects where deaths are reports,” Andanar said.

On human rights Cases like Tiamson’s, Mangalindan’s, and dela Cruz’s garnered reactions from local and international bodies.

The Commission on Human Rights XI (CHR XI) Legal Division said that the large number of extrajudicial killings in the country is disturbing.

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“The heightened number of alleged extrajudicial killings is alarming; it shows the gravity of the drug problem in the country which must be addressed by the government. From a human rights perspective, due process must, however, be observed at all times in addressing this problem,” they said.

The CHR XI Legal Division also said that there had been reported cases of human rights’ violations committed by authorities in drug buy-bust operations in Davao City.

The CHR has taken steps to act on the complaints on human rights’ violations.

“The Commission, through its Regional offices, investigate these alleged human rights violations by gathering facts in the field, deemed necessary, practical and relevant to each reported cases,” they said.

Also, the CHR XI emphasized that the police forces must observe and respect the rights of the alleged drug suspects.

“Everyone, especially those in the law enforcement, should be reminded to uphold the law and to respect, protect and fulfill a person’s basic human rights at all times,” they said.

Despite the apparent decrease in criminality in the country, the CHR upholds that human rights must be respected whether they are offenders or officers of the law or just mere civilians.

“As a rule, killing a person, other than death penalty, natural or accidental causes, is a violation of human rights.

“Whether or not the killing is extrajudicial, they may be considered a violation of the right to life. Perpetrators, whether a police officer or a civilian should be brought to justice without any fear or favor,” they said.

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NEWS

REVIEWING DUTERTE: WHAT HAS HE DONE SO FAR? MIKEL STEVEN LUY EVER SINCE his decision to run for the presidential office, Rodrigo Duterte has received both nationwide acclaim and criticism for his plans for the state.

After his official inauguration as president, Duterte immediately began to put his promised plans into action.

And nearly two months after his term began, the Presidential Communi-

cations Operations Office headed by Sec. Martin Andanar launched President Duterte’s #50FirstDays campaign at the Finster Auditorium of the Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) last Aug. 18.

During the event, a video documentary recap of Duterte’s activities since he assumed office was shown to the crowd in attendance.

The video highlighted some of the significant accomplishments of his term.

Andanar explained that the campaign was entitled as such because they believed that with the changes happening every day, each passing day is like a first day for the new Philippines.

Passing the FOI After numerous attempts by the previous administration to pass the Freedom of Information (FOI) law, an executive order to pass the said law was signed by Duterte during his 25th day in office.

The said bill aims to mandate the disclosure of public documents to the Filipino people.

closed doors, especially in the way the government utilizes the peoples’ money,” he explained.

AdDU International Studies Chairperson Harvey Gamas believed that the move is an essential element of the anti-corruption campaign of the current government.

As of now, the FOI bill is effective only in the executive branch of the government until Congress decides to pass it. But due to favorable circumstances, experts think that the FOI bill will be passed before Duterte’s term ends after six years.

“Secrecy is usually where corruption happens. So a transparent government will let the people know what’s happening behind

The recently-passed bill also outlines the exceptions

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Infographic/Alexis Matthew Reyes

to public disclosure and the procedures for accessing public documents so as not to endanger state security.

On the transition to a federal gov't Even before Duterte was elected into office, he had already voiced out his plans of changing the current system into a federal government numerous times.

A federal government would decentralize authority and revenue allocation capabilities from Manila to the whole Philippines, and it would allow local government units to run their personal affairs.

Gamas expressed that the Philippines, specifically Mindanao, needs federalism from an economic standpoint.

“We need [federalism] to equitably distribute

revenue collection and the resources of the country.

As of now, all our revenues are remitted back to Manila and they are the ones who re-allocate and budget it for the rest of the country. With federalism, the individual states that would be created would now have the power to decide on budget allocation, among other things,” he said.

On the other hand, University Research Council Chairperson Lourdesita Sobrevega-Chan thinks that changing government systems is a matter of what the country needs.

“The restructuring of governments is always a matter of needs. What does the country need currently to warrant this kind of change in the government system? Careful evaluation should be done prior to such a heavy decision,” she explained.

When asked if whether

or not they think Duterte’s plans for federalism will be able to push through, both parties shared the same sentiments, stating that it would be difficult for the administration to make the transition because Duterte has not specified what type of federal system he wants to pursue.

“The president’s idea of federalism is not that pronounced yet. He believes in Federalism and he believes in what it could achieve, but that’s basically it. Once he decides on what form of Federalism is needed by our country, then several issues such as constitutional changes and election of the constitutional commission, among other things, come into place,” Gamas said.

the position.

For the longest time, we have had an unresponsive government.

Now, we have a government that’s very sensitive even to local security issues

Support for Lopez, battle vs oligarchy The president had expressed his support for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) secretary Regina

“Gina” Lopez several times, often quoting his various experiences with Lopez that ultimately led to his decision to appoint her to

In the first ever Mindanao Environmental Summit entitled “Oya Mindanaw!

State of the Mindanao Environment Day” held last Aug. 4 at the university, Duterte commended Lopez’s advocacy while comparing her to other people in power in the Philippines.

He stressed out that despite Lopez’s wealth, she still fights for what’s right for the country.

“Gina is a billionaire, but look at the way she treats herself. She is a crusader.

She loves her country, and she hates oligarchs,” he said.

Duterte then explained how 'Imperial Manila controls everything because of the unitary type of government the Philippines has and how there is a need for reform when it comes to legal processes concerning environmental projects.

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He also explained how oligarchy is connected to mining, and how mining practices remain to be one of the most destructive forces of nature to the environment.

“Yung iba [other mining companies], they destroy.

For example, Tubay in Agusan del Norte. Pag pumunta ka doon parang dinaro ang lupa, parang inararo ang bukid as if they’re going to plant something. Ang hindi moa lam is they are not into planting, they are into open-pit mining, destroying the soil along the way. Kalahati ng lupa, desert na.

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“Lahat ng permit to do business galing sa Manila and through delegated powers from the central government. Ang ating mga lupa ditto napupunta lang sa may connections.

Ang mga local officials ang huling baraha to give the environmental clearance.

Kapag mayor, governor nag-iissue ng permit, pera iyan. It is a corrupt society,” he said.

“We can only open so much [mining companies].

Whether it is legal or not, it will destroy the country, so there has to be a limit,” he said.

“We will go after mining na hindi sumusunod sa strictest standard. We told them that the best practices of mining can be found in Canada and Australia.

If you cannot follow that standard, then I’m sorry,” he added.

Afterwards, Duterte made a promise to end the clutches of oligarchy in the government.

“Itong mga Oligarch, they are resisting because it would destroy the power vortex. I will destroy their clutches on our country.

For an island as fragile as Mindanao, there will be no longer a tomorrow for your children kung butasan mo ito at sirain,” he reiterated.

FOI SOON TO BE PASSED, 'PRONE TO ABUSE' ROSVIR KATE FLORES ONE OF Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s earliest acts as the head of state was to sign Executive Order (EO) No.2, which mandated all public offices under the executive branch to observe the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, last July 23.

Duterte’s administrative act was met with positive feedback from most citizens as many believed that it is the first step to transparency on the part of the government. However, there are also some who stated that such a law can be prone to abuse.

Scope, limitations In accordance with the said EO, all government offices under the executive branch are obligated to observe and be guided by the order to grant every Filipino citizen access to information, official records, and other public documents.

The EO states the following:

"This order shall cover all government offices under the executive branch, including but not limited to the national government and all its offices, departments, offices, and instrumentalities, including government-owned or -controlled corporations, state universities and colleges."

Local government units are not yet covered within the scope of the EO, but are encouraged to observe and be guided by the order until the FOI act is passed into a law.

It was further stated by the EO that documents and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions or decisions, as well as to government research data used as basis for public development shall be made accessible to any and all citizen who requests for them.

First step towards institutionalization The issuance of this executive order by the president gained mixed

reactions from the public.

Political analyst and Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) Political Science Department Head Ramon Beleno III expressed his thoughts regarding this matter.

“We belong to a democratic country. Although

It is also a way to create greater trust and cooperation between the people and the government

transparency and accountability are values of democracy, it is a known fact that the Philippines is one of the most corrupt countries in the world. This led to the rise of the demand for FOI law,” Beleno said.

"It is a welcome development. Okay ito as an immediate solution but if we talk long-term. Hindi pa talaga siya sapat. We still need the action of the Congress," he added.

Beleno also said that the president's move is commendable and that it has accomplished much of what the Congress has made by legislation. However, he stated that this is still not enough.

"Since executive order lang ito, it is limited only to the executive scope of the government. Pero at least nasimulan na sa one-third ng pamahalaan. It's like telling the Congress to do its part and pass Freedom of Information Act as soon as possible," he continued.

Struggle of the FOI The Freedom of Information Bill was first filed in 1992 by first district of Pangasinan representative Oscar Orbos. The measure passed the third and final reading in both Houses of Congress in June 2010.

Unfortunately, the House of Representatives failed to ratify the measure allegedly due to a lack of quorum.

After further debates, the bill was passed by the Senate. However, it continued to languish in the House of Representatives during the Aquino administration.

"During the campaign of former president Benigno Aquino III. He highlighted the passage of FOI law. Pero natapos nalang ang kanyang six-year term. Wala pa rin. Hindi pa rin napapasa ang FOI sa Kongreso dahil sa maraming alibi," Beleno mentioned.

Beleno thinks that the delay of the FOI can be attributed to the debate about the 'right to reply' provi-

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Sentiments, reactions to Duterte administration For Gamas, he said that he was surprised by the current administration’s responsiveness to the security concerns of the people. Stating the fact that Duterte’s idea of “security concern” has been reduced to one word – drugs.

“For the longest time, we

sion. Politicians wanted to fight for their right to reply.

On the other hand the media are against this provision since for them it would limit their capacity to reveal and share information to the public.

"Wala naman daw problema ang gobyerno in divulging information.

The problem is on how the

have had an unresponsive government. Now, we have a government that’s very sensitive even to local security issues. We even have a nationwide 911 on the works,” he said.

“If I could give an evaluation of the current government so far, on a scale of 1-10 [1 being the lowest and 10 the highest], I would give it an 8. Simply because

media would use it. Kung may issue, the critic and the one being criticized should be given equal privileges in explaining their side.

For example, a newspaper published an article. Kung gaano kahaba ang article ng writer, ganoon din dapat kahaba ang maaaring isagot ng nasasangkot," he explained.

of the fact that it is very responsive,” he added.

For Chan, she that she was impressed with the progress of peace that the government had made so far in its first few days in office.

“The current government’s movement for the peace process is striking [in a good way] for me.

Third year AdDU political science student Ramon Sixto Sumugat also gave his opinion about the delay.

Aside from the existence of corruption, he cited another possible reason.

"Politicians may think that the FOI will be exploited and used during elections by their opponents or enemies in politics. They

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Having lived in Mindanao for a long time, I’ve come to know it as a volatile region.

But now, it’s different. I never imagined that this soon, the MNLF and the MILF would come together and have talks with the national government. That to me is very significant,” she expressed.

Chan also said that it is critical that the president

think that FOI will dig up to their personal and private life." he said.

Significance to Filipinos The EO ignited the hope of Filipinos for the institutionalization of a Freedom of Information law. Generally, it would benefit not only public practitioners and the media but also ordinary

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wants to prolong the effectivity of government IDs and cut short the processes that the people have to endure to transact business with the government.

“I’ve never heard a president say that before,” she said. “That to me is a very basic, and a very simple show of consideration, especially for the poor people.”

citizens of this country.

"Accountability at transparency lang naman talaga ang kailangan natin dito. We can't deny na walang tiwala ang mga tao sa gobyerno.

Kung may FOI Law, may assurance that at makikita natin ang mga ginagawa nila sa pera ng bayan. Kung transparent ang gobyerno natin, at least mapapanatag tayo. It may even inspire the people to pay their taxes," Beleno expressed.

Students of Ateneo de Davao University also voiced out their stand regarding the legalization of the FOI and its importance.

Sumugat said that the president’s order was an indicator of change.

“The move was really a manifestation that change is really coming. I believe that it is also a way to create greater trust and cooperation between the people and the government," Sumugat said.

Second year Accountancy student Kim Simon Kalaw shared similar sentiments, but added the citizens must be responsible once the bill becomes a law.

Illustration/Maria Cyra Jane Dealca

“It was a good start for President Duterte. However, an FOI Law would be useless if the Filipino people, most especially the netizens remain irresponsible in sharing the wrong kind of information,” he said.

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NEWS

PH WINS VS CHINA ON SEA DISPUTE REY ANDREW ALONSAGAY THE PERMANENT Court of Arbitration (PCA) under the United Nations (UN) ruled in favor of the Philippines in its arbitration case against China over the West Philippine Sea last July 12.

The international tribunal, which is based in The Hague, Netherlands ruled that China's nine-dash line claim over the disputed waters is invalid and excessive, and also encroached into the Philippines' 200-nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

It was a welcoming decision for the Philippine government, as the decision from the PCA will have a significant impact on the national economy and maritime security which includes fishers who once fish at the disputed areas of the West Philippine Sea such as the Scarborough Shoal and the Spratly Islands.

Yet, even though the Philippines won the arbitration case, the Chinese government said it would not accept the ruling. Just days after the international court published their decision in favor of the Philippines, Filipino fishermen were blocked by Chinese Coast Guard forces and were made to go back to port.

Even with the new administration, relations between the Philippines and China have yet to improve significantly, and tensions remain high over the disputed waters of the West Philippine Sea. So what has caused this kind of tension between the Philippines and China over this territorial dispute?

Background of PH-China maritime dispute One of the main issues in the territorial dispute over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) is China's "historical" claim outlined by a 9-dash line, which takes up large areas of the EEZs of not only the Philippines, but also other ASEAN countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia.

In 1988, China seized the Subi Reef, which lies within the continental shelf of the Philippines, by erecting a radar structure and military facilities on the reef. In 1995, China seized the Mischief (Panganiban) Reef from the Philippines.

Mischief Reef, which is located 125 nautical miles or around 230 kilometers from Palawan, is a low-tide elevation (LTE) within the Philippines' EEZ. In April 2012, a Philippine surveillance aircraft identified Chinese fishing vessels at Scarborough Shoal, causing the Philippine Navy to deploy its largest warship BRP Gregorio Del Pilar, which was newly acquired from the United States to the area. In response, China sent surveillance ships to warn the Philippine Navy to leave the area, claimed by both countries, prompting a standoff.

Then in July 2012, China blocked Philippine ships and fishing vessels from the lagoon of the disputed Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal by setting up barriers to its entry point.

Two months later, then-President Benigno Aquino III promulgated Administrative Order No.

29, naming maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago as the West Philippine Sea.

By Jan. 2013, The Philippines filed an arbitration case against China at the United Nations-backed PCA to settle the maritime dispute. The Philippines invited China to join the proceedings, but China officially rejected the invitation to bring the long-running territorial issue before the PCA, saying Manila's claim is "legally infirm and carried unacceptable allegations against Beijing.”

In April 2014, the Philippines signed the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the United States (US), which allows for enhanced "rotational presence" of US military forces and for US supplies to be stationed at military bases in the Philippines for ten years.

By March 2016, the US said it fears that China is planning to build an artificial island in the disputed Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal).

By June 2016, countries in Southeast Asia said they have "serious concerns" over recent events in the disputed South China Sea, an unusually strongly worded communiqué issued by their foreign ministers in China. The statement, however, was later retracted due to the alleged withdrawal of Laos and Cambodia.

‘An unsurprising decision’ In a presentation which was entitled, “The West Philippine Sea/South China Sea Dispute: The Arbitration Decision and Its

Challenges,” Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio gave a lecture to the audience composed of students and other guests about the background of the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea. He presented to the audience several historical maps and other archives which were served as evidence as the Philippine government submitted its case to the UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) Tribunal last January 2013.

He said that the cause of the dispute in the South China Sea was when China submitted to the United Nations in 2009 a map where it included the nine-dash line and China claimed everything within the lines.

But China’s nine-dash line included vast areas of the EEZs of not only the Philippines, but also Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

He added this was one of the reasons why the Philippine government submitted an arbitration case to the U.N.-backed tribunal to invalidate China’s claim in the South China Sea where eventually the court released their decision in favor of the Philippines.

Political science professor and political analyst Ramon Beleno III said he was not surprised when the decision was released from the U.N.backed tribunal about the case filed by the Philippines.

“Well for me, it was very expected kasi when they conducted the hearing, China actually denied the jurisdiction of the tribunal. Noong nag-start 'yung

Dialogue is the key... We can insist on our claim and fight for it but not at the expense of lives who will be affected or killed

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Illustration/Raf Maurince Tacder

hearing, 'yan 'yung unang kinuwestyon ng China: 'What is the jurisdiction of the tribunal?' And yung tribunal itself, nag-conduct sila ng sariling hearing to determine kung merong bang talagang silang jurisdiction and based on that, several years ago, nagsabi sila na merong jurisdiction so that’s why they push through,” he explained.

“Pero since nag-question ang China, they did not actually send any representative during the hearing. So ang dininig ng tribunal is the side of the Philippines kasi not even a single representative from China went there to represent China,” he added.

He believed that since the Philippine government

submitted a strong evidence to the court and the Chinese government did not participate in the said tribunal, the Philippines won the case.

Challenges in implementation of decision But the real challenge Beleno said is the implementation of the decision from the international court.

“Making the decision is one thing, implementing the decision is another. So, oo, may decision pero the question is: 'Who will implement the decision?' We don’t have that such body,” he said.

He believes that there is currently no international body to implement the de-

cisions on cases regarding maritime disputes.

But he hopes that after this case, there will be an avenue for dialogue between the two countries soon.

“On a liberal perspective, sasabihin namin it will actually be an instrument or an avenue wherein they would talk kasi importante na mag-usap sila. So kung meron nang ganito na issue, siyempre kung may issue ako sa iyo, kakausapin kita. So meron tayong avenue na mag-usap and that’s the reason why na medyo malakas ngayon 'yung usap-usapan ng bilateral talks with China,” he explained.

When asked on how the country should defend its

territory, Beleno answered that the current administration should give more attention to defense mechanisms.

But since the Philippines doesn’t have much resources, there is a strong possibility to ask aid from other countries, but for now, Beleno thinks that the Duterte administration sees that the US is not a reliable partner and that it would be better to partner with other countries.

“The point is nakikita ng Duterte administration that it’s about time that we will have a more independent foreign policy, a policy na hindi tayo controlled ng U.S., kasi for the longest time, honestly, controlled tayo,” he explained.

But Beleno said it would be better and more beneficial for the Philippines to have talks with China in resolving the issue peacefully.

“It would be more beneficial for the country to talk with China rather than being defensive siguro because of the change of the balance of power sa mundo ngayon, kasi tumataas na ang East, tapos pababa na 'yung West,” he said.

“I think it’s about time we will also try to reconsider our foreign relations with other states. Baka it’s about time that we concentrate more on the East rather than the West kasi pababa na sila, so at least hindi tayo kakampi doon sa mga pabagsak na,” he added.

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na eh, diplomatic naman tayo. [Hopefully, we] would actually enter into a compromising agreement that is a win-win situation,” he explained.

issue is how are we going to translate now that favorable result coming from the PCA to our advantage kasi China does not consider the resolution coming from the PCA,” she explained.

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Beleno hopes that when there is successful dialogue between the governments of the Philippines and China, there will be improved relations between the two countries because China is one of the country’s major trading partner and that there are significant historical relations between the two nations.

“So since ngayon, meron na kayong dapat pag-usapan, mag-uusap tayo ngayon. So hindi lang kayo basta pakiramdaman and once kasi nag-usap iyan.

We are very hopeful kasi diplomatic naman ang Chi-

International Studies professor Rhisan Mae Morales also gave additional input regarding the challenges the Philippines will face on how to implement the PCA’s decision.

“Yes, let’s say, we won, kasi kung ako nga, the idea of winning is politically contested kasi given the scope and the limitation of the PCA, winning is not the issue here, but the

She also said that the current Duterte administration must recognize the importance of territorial sovereignty and integrity because she believed it is one paramount consideration in formulating independent foreign policy.

Morales reiterated that the Philippines should not limit its relationship with China to the dispute only in

the South China Sea. “The thing there is that, if we look at Philippine-China relations, we should not limit our relationship with China to this case only because there is so much about our relationship with China apart from the South China Sea issue,” she said.

Morales also explained both the Philippines and China could strengthen its relations as long as they recognize the area not as one of conflict, but as an area of cooperation because both the Philippines and China are fighting the same transnational issues such

ADDU SUPPORTS LOPEZ, NEW DENR REFORMS ANGELICA CARREON DEPARTMENT OF Environment and Natural Resources Secretary (DENR) Regina “Gina” Lopez visited Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU), last Aug. 8, where she discussed problems, solutions and plans on pressing environmental challenges in Mindanao during a forum in the two-day “Oya Mindanaw!

State of the Mindanao Environment Day”.

With more than 4000 participants from different regions and sectors in Mindanao, the attendees were composed of the academe, government officials, indigenous people (IP), and the civil society and environmentalists.

Since the said event, the then newly-appointed DENR Secretary gained

various reactions from the Ateneo community.

Some stated that Lopez’s appointment as the DENR secretary was an indicator of a good change for the country.

Third year Education student Sherlynn Joyce Tapang shared her thoughts on the secretary’s visit in AdDU. “Lopez coming here in Ateneo just shows that change really has come. Her coming just meant that today's administration won't focus only in Luzon which somehow happened from the past administration, but her plans will also reach to the places that are far from the country’s capital Manila,” she said.

Biology student Johanne Danielle Manapol also ex-

pressed her thoughts.

“Her visit helped raise awareness regarding the protection and conservation of our environment not just to the people who are advocates of environmental protection here in the Philippines, but also to the students who were able to listen and witness her talk,” she said.

When asked about what he thinks of Lopez’s reforms, Accountancy student Jeric Justin Ludyawan voiced out that Lopez’s plans are inclusive regarding the concerns of indigenous communities.

“I appreciate her plans because it doesn't cover only the environment but also the protection of the indigenous communities.

It highlighted the importance of the indigenous

Making the decision is one thing, implementing the decision is another

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as human trafficking, drug cartels, piracy, and illegal migration.

Opinions on the issue Students and teachers shared their sentiments and opinions about the historic victory of the Philippines against China in the arbitration case.

Fourth year Mass Communication student Raphil Vince Saguan said that the Philippine victory was a clear one.

“It was clear how we got the win. It's up to China how to react to it. In my

point of view, following it would be a clear sign of respect not just to our country but to all nations. Otherwise, I'd take it as their message to the world of how dominant and self-inflicting they are. If they can't follow this ruling, there is a great chance of them not following future rulings as well.

Simple as that.”

Another fourth year Mass Communication student, Yssa Banas stated that China must accept the ruling.

“We really own the West Philippine Sea in all possible reasons. The world sees it as ours and it's proven

by the law. The Chinese are hard losers they can't accept it and they are reclaiming it with violence.”

Theology Department Chair Lunar Fayloga also shared his thoughts about the said issue.

“We are very happy that we won the case. We have followed the due process line of action. I am also very happy that for the current administration, his position is clear: We cannot go to war against China. So the result of the case has strengthened our position and it has put more pressure to China in the com-

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munity of nations.

“However, China is not backing out and they have already made some structures there, as for my humble opinion, the Philippines can engage China for further dialogue and under the principle of universal destination of good of Catholic Social Teaching, let China, the Philippines and other countries have a joint exploration and economic activity in that area,” he said.

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“What can we get from war? Dialogue is the key.

We should not stop talking.

We can insist on our claim and fight for it but not at the expense of lives who will be affected or killed.

Life of very poor Filipinos are much more precious compared to anything we can get from that group of Islands there,” he added.

Fayloga also added that the lives of the Filipinos are more precious than any piece of land.

Last Aug. 8, in a two-day forum dubbed as “Oya Mindanaw! State of the Mindanao Environment D ay," DENR Secretary Regina "Gina" Lopez with Pres. Rodrigo Duterte talked about the pressing issues that confront the environment, particularly mining.

Photos/Alexis Matthew Reyes

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the people are giving to the current administration, I think she will succeed. Her advocacies on environmental protection and social justice are gaining tangible results. We have seen a lot of mining companies getting audited and reviewed by the DENR, and a big portion of those companies have been shut down due to their irresponsibility,” he

said.

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sectors of our society in terms of preserving our identity and cultural heritage through the protection of their ancestral domains from the exploitative miners,” he said.

Ludyawan also stated that he thinks that Lopez will be successful.

“Given the support that

Fourth year International Studies student Nico Veneracion also shared the same sentiments.

“In her many years of experience as a philantropist abroad, I believe that her plans & advocacies for our environment here in the Philippines will be made

into action. I have faith in her,” he stated.

University President, Fr. Joel Tabora, SJ, during his speech at the environmental summit, communicated the people’s response to the secretary’s as well as the administration’s plans and reforms.

Gina sa kanyang pagpupunyagi. Hindi po kayo nag-iisa na nagdadala sa amin ng matagal nang hinahangad na pagbabago … kasali po kami sa ating rebolusyon laban sa kahirapan, laban sa pagsira sa dignidad at bait ng mga tao at ng pamilya ng mga tao, at laban sa pagsira sa kalikasan,” he said.

“Hindi po nag-iisa si Ma’am

STUDENTS PUSH MAGNA CARTA REFORM IAN DERF SALVAÑA ATENEO DE Davao University SAMAHAN Central Board (SCB) Pres. John Chin will push the revision of the Magna Carta of the Democratic Rights of the Ateneo, saying his administration aimed to bring about a clearer and firmer proof of the students’ rights and responsibilities.

“Magna Carta is an assurance of what we deserve to have as students. [Since its] clauses [seem to be] only applicable in the Post-Martial Law times, it is [already] outdated and ineffecient in serving the students,” he said.

Leaders from SAMAHAN, the student council of the said university, also hoped that the updated document will address students' concerns through a clearer declaration of rights that most students do not know.

Chin also added that the document will not just declare the rights of the students, but one at which the university administration should agree to grant them.

It is of another assurance for SAMAHAN to be more autonomous on really advocating what it intends to do

“[We hope to] identify the process and appropriate representations [of the commissioners] who will craft the document. We [already started] revising so as to have the plebiscite next semester,” Chin said.

Revision progress The commission tasked with the revision of the document, spearheaded by fourth year Environmental Science student Alecxa Denise Callao, already started meetings last August to discuss the preliminary procedures in the updating of the Magna Carta.

According to Callao, the commission already began to discuss student issues experienced within the university which “we somehow wish to not happen to others.”

“We added, edited, discussed, and debated other important rights that we think is needed in the edited Magna Carta. We edited the areas that we found vague,” she explained.

Callao further stated that the reform of the document, which was patterned from the Magna Carta of Xavier University – Atene de Cagayan (XU-ADC), will serve as an “insurance” that students will have protection from the issues they are currently experiencing. “[We want the new] Magna Carta [to] be more flexible and accommodating, [so that issues such as] stories of discrimination due to gender, belief, race, religion, sexual orientation and the like, would [be] put [to] stop,” she emphasized.

preserve the solidarity, welfare, and aspirations of the students and other sectors of society,’ as presented in the preamble of the student arm's 1982 Constitution,” he explained.

The revision of the Magna Carta will push SAMAHAN, as Chin discussed, to have a more effective dialogue with the administration.

“The document recognizes a common ground that the administration should also consider what the students are undergoing in the university,” he said.

More autonomy

Student take

The updated Magna Carta will provide more autonomy to the student government, as Chin emphasized, so as to clear out the vague areas at which SAMAHAN could intervene for the students.

The said reform was also positively received by some students in the university, looking at the possibility of a more strengthened studentry regarding rights and responsibility integration.

“It is of another assurance for SAMAHAN to be more autonomous on really advocating what it intends to do - a SAMAHAN ‘that shall promote, protect, and

According to Social Sciences Rep. Roberto Zamora Jr., the revision of the document is a step towards a better recognition of the students' identity in the university.

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Infographic/ Alexis Matthew Reyes

I still believe that the document is still a futile step to strengthen the power to protect the rights and interests of the students

"The new version of Magna Carta will give the students the chance to express their rights as well as their advocacies in becoming contibutions of change in society," he said.

Zamora also emphasized that the new Magna Carta will be an avenue for students to know more of their capacity as servant leaders in their respective communities.

"The university has been very supportive of the growth of its students as servant leaders. We are

called upon to push for geniune social justice and through the help of the Magna Carta, we can start with what we advocate the most," he stressed.

Meanwhile, although she initially looked at the revision process as soft and contributing little to the existing cause to protect the rights of the student community in the university, Nina Patricia Cesar, current third year batch representative of the Accountancy Cluster, also said she hoped the situation of the studentry will be given clear

emphasis through the new document. “I still believe that the document is still a futile step to strengthen the power to protect the rights and interests of the students.

However, I hope that the revision committee will be able to establish clear goals in protecting our identity from issues that affect us and our capabilities to be productive foundations of the future we’re going the serve,� she said.

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THE CULTURE OF 'UNVIRGINITY' CONCERNED ATENEAN random.addu.writer@gmail.com

LET’S FACE it. A large number of students in Ateneo de Davao University engage in, either safely or unsafely, in premarital sex. This has already become an open secret, if it still is a secret, among students, faculty, and the Jesuit administration alike. Freedom of sexual practice and promiscuity has become the trend in more liberal circles of the Ateneo community, and one does hear or read stories from AdDU Confessions I’m sure our brothers in the Society won’t be proud to hear of.

The culture of unvirginity in our school is rampant, and I’m worried about it.

Now, now, don’t get me wrong. I have completely nothing against the freedom to choose and make informed choices. What I do see as a problem is the common use of the term as an insult to a person’s masculinity, the practice of virginity as a measure of a person’s “maturity” or “ability to socialize”, the connotation that being a virgin makes somebody less of a human being. When somebody calls a person a “virgin,” more often than not it is followed by a chorus of laughter.

If you do not believe me, then allow me to shed some light. You have been, say, in a night out with friends. After taking a stroll, watching a movie, a friend in the group suggest you end the night in a drinking session. You don’t drink, so you decline and decide to bid farewell to them for you to go home.

I’m actually willing to bet my money that somebody on your barkada will actually

say “Virgin ra kaayo ka besh, uy!” or “Grabe, virgin ra kaayo siya oh,” or a quip of that sort. The same goes if someone declines a date, insists on not smoking, or just acts a general killjoy.

But why? Does an individual’s virginity actually affects his capability to have fun? Does it have a bearing on a person’s societal skills?

Why is it that every time somebody who shows conservatism in one aspect, we immediately assume conservatism in all? Like stereotyping races and classes, stereotyping sexual choices just doesn’t seem quite right. And the fact that we often use the word is murdered and is used comically, insultingly, or, at worst, derogatorily makes it worse. Many wouldn’t mind if people called them virgins, until the laughter bursts out from the lips of the people they’re with.

Yet what I’m most hurt of is the extreme disparity with which the term is used compared to its antonym.

Call a person a virgin then laugh at him and society will most likely just shrug it off.

Call a person not a virgin then laugh at him and see how fast the horde of critics and detractors prey on you with hate like a locust swarm on a wheat field. We can’t say “Luag na kaayo ka beshie,” then laugh and get away with it, but change the first word of the statement to virgin and I’m sure many will laugh with you. We fought to close the wounds of racism and gender equality, now that we begin to see a fresh one beginning to open up, we are actually getting the scalpel and simply ripping the wound open.

We are actually currently at a stage where a cultural

A person’s virginity belongs to himself, and often times it is his or her decision to hold on to

norm since time immemorial is challenged with liberal ideas, and as the new idea becomes the cultural norm, the old habits now become laughing matter, yet I can’t blame them for it.

Until recent times, society had always been hostile with people who choose the liberal path, and the hostilities sometimes still do exist.

This generation gap have never been more evident than they do in teacherstudent discussions on the matter. I actually remember back in my second year in college when my more sexually open friend actually gave a condom to a more conservative member of the class during his birthday as a joke (which again exemplifies the laughing stock virginity has fallen into). He gave the gift publicly during class, when our teacher

was out for a break, to solicit more laughs, yet the laughter haven’t subsided yet when our teacher came bursting through the door.

Our conservative friend immediately hidden the condom pack back in the gift box, a gift box which our teacher saw. Knowing it was our friend’s birthday, of course, our teacher was touched and wanted to open the gift, yet my conservative friend’s reluctance gave her suspicions. Sure enough, she pressed that the gift be opened and as good students we gave her the gift, and boy was she surprised.

Laughter exploded from all corners of the classroom, with our teacher saying to my conservative friend, and I quote, “Do you even know how to use this?”

Even more recently was during a time when our chatty teacher started talking about her cousin who was going to lecture us about our course’s basics. She described her as demure, refined, and a little shy, when one of my classmates, perhaps unconsciously, remarked that the cousin must be a member of the AVS. Not surprisingly, the sound of chuckling went through the glass ceiling.

Our teacher was left in the dark, wondering why we all laughed, so she asked and prodded my friend to tell what AVS meant. He reluctantly replied in a soft, ashamed voice “Ateneo Virgin Society, Ma’am,” which brought even more laughs from the crowd.

Our teacher then drops this bomb: “Why are you laughing? You’re third years!

You should be virgins!”

As you may have suspected, we were all still laughing until the bell rang.

You see, the unforgiving hostility of the old systems towards the new ones have created this emerging rift amongst the youth. Young as we are, we are torn between the ideals of the past and the present, and as we enter our adulthood we are forced to make a difficult choice, whether to keep our virginity or not. Our disparity in the decision we make in this matter is actually creating conflicts, most of which are unnecessary.

Yet like all disputes, I believe we should simply agree to disagree. Each side demands and should give the respect of the other.

People who decided keep their virginity have resisted their human instincts for moral, physical, and religious belief; those who didn’t had the courage to defy social norms that had existed for centuries. Both have pondered. Both have doubted. And both have made decisions which will last for their lifetimes.

Mutual respect, sensitivity, and understanding, as fragile and idealistic they are, have always been the foundations of a lasting peace.

A person’s virginity belong to himself, and often times it is his or her decision to hold on to it or not. What that individual does with it shouldn’t be used as a tool for discrimination, hate, or laughter, for believe it or not, there are many of us who still hold on to the sanctity it represents.

We as an institution who prides itself in empathizing and understanding others therefore must be more sensitive in the jokes we make, for a person’s virginity is no more a laughing matter than a person’s lack of it.

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HIGHLIGHT

A TRIBUTE OR AN INSULT?

Whether Martial Law was the golden age of the country or its darkest chapter seems to be an issue of intense debate among the members of the country’s current generation

BY CHRISTIAN DALE ESPARTERO & ANNA SOPHIA TARHATA PIANG; ILLUSTRATIONS BY DOMINIQUE FRANCESCA COSTALES & CHRISTIAN DALE ESPARTERO

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HIGHLIGHT HIGHLIGHTS

U

NDER ALLEGED threat of communist insurgencies, it was 44 years ago when the late former President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. officially implemented Proclamation No.

1081. Enacted on the 21st of September, 1972, the act placed the Philippines under Martial Law. It was on that fateful day that one of the most significant events in Philippine

history occurred.

However, whether Martial Law was the golden age of the country or its darkest chapter seems to be an issue of intense debate among the members of the country’s current generation.

For Marcos Sr., it was his way of saving the republic and reforming society—to create his “Bagong Lipunan.” But for those who suffered from human rights violation during the Marcos regime, it was the most

inhumane and most corrupt in the country’s history.

On this, the feud between perspectives was further fueled last November 8 when the Supreme Court (SC) of the Philippines officially declared that Pres.

Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to allow the late former president to be interred at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB) was lawful.

Those who remain loyal to the Marcoses cheered for the decision, while various Filipinos all over the country, who found the Martial law era to be abhorrent, rallied and announced their disgust.

Traces of ‘historical revisionism’ Senator Risa Hontiveros of the Liberal Party filed a resolution to declare September as “Martial Law Truth-Telling Month.”

“Huwag natin hayaan na pagnakawan tayong muli ng mga Marcos. Huwag natin payagan na nakawin nila ang ating kasaysayan at katotohanan,”Hontiveros said with regard to the resolution’s rationale.

The senator’s move to have such a resolution passed is an indicator of the existence of dissenting lies and conspiracies surrounding the Marcos regime.

People nowadays question and denounce the legitimacy of historical records. Many of them favor the authenticity of conspiracy theories over founded, peer-reviewed history books.

It seems that the roots of misinformation run deep in the country. Even the state’s official journal, the Official Gazette, stated that Marcos Sr. had “stepped down in 1986 to avoid

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bloodshed”. This is contrary to historical records that state that the Marcos was ousted from his position during the People Power Revolution of 1986.

The spread of misinformation and conspiracies has greatly influenced a great number of people. An indicator of this is the defamation of the People Power Monument along EDSA in Manila last March 15. The monument was vandalized with the phrase “Marcos pa rin”, etched in bold black letters at its base.

Yet the strongest form of support for the Marcos family came in the form of their loyalists being able to successfully gather over one million signatures for the remains of Marcos Sr. to be buried at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani (LNMB).

The contrasting views and opinions on Marcos and his regime have now become even more apparent to the public as President Rod-

rigo Roa Duterte’s granted the wish of the Marcos loyalists to have the late former president be laid to rest at the LNMB – decision that was met with great public opposition.

According to a report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, President Duterte was once quoted to have said that in order for the nation to heal, the people needed to move on from the atrocities of the Martial Law Era. There seems to be various aspects to his reasoning.

In an article by GMANews, Duterte stated that the decision was purely technical.

“Itong kay President Marcos, [it is] simply what the law [is]. The law is the law that has no emotions at all,” he stated.

Another aspect seems to be pointing towards his gratitude to the Marcoses.

In an article published by Rappler, Duterte

cited Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos as one of his major sponsors during his campaign.

“Sino sa inyo ang nagsuporta sa akin? 4, 5, 6?

Wala akong barangay captain, wala akong congressman, wala akong pera. Si Imee pa ang nagbigay,” he said.

However, Imee Marcos stated that Duterte was merely joking.

“Wala namang katotothanan yan. Palabiro lang ang President Duterte,” she said.

Furthermore, Duterte himself said that he “cannot disassociate” himself from the Marcos family since his father, Vicente, was a cabinet member during Marcos Era. Durterte himself cited that his father “was one of the two who stood by Marcos in his darkest hours.”

'Era of progress' During the May 2016 general

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elections, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. garnered over 14 million votes for his vice-presidential bid.

Marcos Jr. lost only by less than 250,000 votes against Liberal party candidate Maria Leonore “Leni” Robredo.

The close margin between Marcos and Robredo is yet another indicator of the strength and size of the Marcos loyalists.

One of the said millions of Marcos supporters is Melchiezedeck P. Ubag, a high school teacher from Notre Dame RVM-College of Cotabato, who stated that his loyalty to the Marcos family generally stems out of gratitude towards the late former president’s contributions to the country.

“Marcos had done great things for the country,” Ubag stated. “Infrastructure, agriculture, education… the accomplishments of the presidents who came after him could not surpass all his accom-

plishments.”

Marcos’ infrastructure projects, during his 21-year tenure, have always been the foundations from which claims of economic prosperity during his regime were founded upon.

Hundreds of schools and universities, power plants, bridges, roads, theatres, and numerous other institutions such as the Philippine Heart Center and the Lung Center of the Philippine are only but a few of Marcos’ most notable contributions to the country.

"Until now, we are still using all the infrastructures which Marcos made: roads, theatres, hospitals, schools, sea ports, and many more,” Ubag added.

Age of corruption, loss of justice While supporters preach about how the 1970s was the time when the Philippine peso was on equal footing with the US dollar and the time when other various economic reforms were made, those who suffered under brutality during the regime

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whose rights were abused by the Marcos dictatorship.

This led to a body set up by the state, and they’re still continuing documentation… so far they have reached almost a hundred thousand people claiming their rights to these funds,” Gaspar added.

zen-signed petitions against Duterte’s decision to have the late dictator interred at the LNMB and to follow the president’s orders.

NEWS are outspoken against the positive claims.

“I can very well understand why some of you think that the Marcos years were good years for the Philippines,” Brother Karl Gaspar, a prominent activist who served time as a political prisoner during the latter part of Martial Law in 1983-1985, said during a talk at the SAMAHAN Central Board (SCB) office last August 26.

Gaspar attributed the lapses in the country’s educational system to the mass’ delusions of Marcos’ tenure as President, nay Dictator, as a decade of prosperity, peace, and discipline.

“Considering certain gaps we have in our educational system, in the manner that which the memory of those years have not been well-documented and popularized, that particular gap may have created a certain consciousness that maybe Martial Law wasn’t really that bad,” he stated.

Vividly recalling the details of his endeavors during Martial Law, Gaspar said that he had taken it upon himself to uphold the truth during the Marcos regime. “[My views are] from my experience, but I think my experience is not isolated…

I speak to keep alive our memory of the abuses of the dictatorship of Marcos.”

The importance of Republic Act No. 10368 was also brought up during the talk. The said R.A, also known as the Human Rights Victims Reparation act of 2013 is an act that provides for reparations and recognition of those who fell victim to human rights violations during the Marcos Regime. It also handles the documentation of said violations, appropriation of funds therefor and for other purposes.

“Finally it [RA No. 10368] acknowledged that there were thousands of Filipinos

However, Gaspar thought that a hundred thousand people was still a very conservative number.

Apart from the records filed under the RA No. 10368, Amnesty International also recorded over 3, 200 cases of murder, salvaging, and summary executions. Over 34, 000 claims of torture, records of over 70, 000 people who were wrongfully imprisoned, and thousands more of forced disappearances.

The College Editors’ Guild of the Philippines also noted of the regime’s countless violations of press freedom, and its numerous cases of graft, corruption, and outright abuse of power.

The Philippine Supreme court had also estimated that Marcos had accumulated and stolen over ten billion dollars while in office, and had buried the Philippines in 27 Billion dollars’ worth of foreign debt.

Former Prime Minister Lee Kwan Yew of Singapore, known for alleviating and improving his country’s economy – thereby changing Singapore’s status from a third-world state into a first-world country, described the Filipino people as having a soft and forgiving culture.

“Only in the Philippines could a leader like Ferdinand Marcos, who pillaged his country for over 20 years, still be considered for a national burial,” he said.

Moral implications vs judicial restraint The SC had a 9-5-1 vote in favor of Marcos Sr.’s burial – the vote entailed that the SC disregard the citi-

Associate Justices Estela Perlas-Bernabe, Lucas Bersamin, Arturo Brion, Leonardo-De Castro, Mariano Del Castillo, Jose Mendoza, Diosdado Peralta, Jose Perez, and Presbitero Velasco Jr. voted to dismiss the petitions while Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P. A. Sereno and Associate Justices Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, Antonio Carpio, Marvic Victor Leonen, Francis Jardeleza dissented.

Justice Bienvenido Reyes abstained from voting.

The decision was met with mixed reactions from the Philippine community.

Those who remain loyal to the Marcos family praised the SC’s decision.

In an article by GMA News Online, Solicitor General Jose Calida hailed the decision as a “major step" toward reconciliation.

“The landmark Decision of the Supreme Court allowing the interment of the remains of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani is a major step towards national reconciliation,” Calida said in a statement.

He also added that the SC was commendable in making what he believes is the right decision.

Further, I am glad that our magistrates maintained their judicial independence throughout the proceedings despite strong emotional appeals from various sectors. Through its monumental Decision, we are confronted by the thought that our Supreme Court never wavered in its role of being the conscience of our nation,” he wrote.

Former senator Francisco Tatad, who once served as the country’s Minister of Public Information under Marcos’ cabinet from 1969

to 1980, also shared similar sentiments.

In an interview with ABSCBN news, Tatad stated that the burial of the late dictator will help unite the nation: “Makakatulong po sa pagkakaisa ng ating bayan na mailibing na nang matahimik ang mga laman ni President Marcos.”

On the other hand, those who found the Martial Law era to be abhorrent and regrettable publicly made their disgust known.

Davao-based progressive group Konsensya Dabaw released a statement expressing their deep dismay.

“Konsyensya Dabaw is dismayed and indignant at the decision of the Supreme Court (SC) allowing a hero’s burial for former President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB). It truly is regrettable that the SC mishandled this prime opportunity to affirm the powers of transformative justice in our country that has long suffered from the miscarriage of justice.”

The group also stated that they will continue to engage Duterte regarding the consistency of his stances.

“We will continue to engage President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on his discourse about historical grievances.

We will remind him that he cannot rail against the historical injustices committed by colonizers against Filipinos, particularly the Bangsamoro and indigenous peoples, without acknowledging and also standing against the largescale and systematic abuses and violations during the time of Marcos.

“We reiterate our intention of holding the Duterte administration accountable for fulfilling the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act (RA 10368 as amended by RA 10766), which makes it a State responsibility to recognize the heroism and

sacrifices of the victims of human rights violations during the regime of Marcos.”

In an article by CNN Philippines, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Serano expressed that her fellow Justices disregarded history when they voted in favor of the burial.

"The Court is empowered to do justice, and justice in this case means preventing a whitewash of the sins of Marcos against the Filipino people," she said.

"If the Court unduly shies away from addressing the principal question of whether a decision to bury the former President would contradict the anti-Martial Law and human rights underpinnings and direction of the 1987 Constitution, it would, wittingly or unwittingly, weaken itself by diminishing its role of constitutional liberties of our people," she added.

In an article by Inquirer. net, Associate Justice Jose Catral Mendoza stated that even though he voted in favor of the burial, the SC had no say as to whether the late Marcos was deserving of the burial or not.

“Lest it be misunderstood, the Court is not passing judgment on whether President Marcos truly deserves to be buried in the LNMB. It is merely exercising judicial restraint as the issues at hand are truly political in nature and, therefore, are best left to the discretion of the President,” he stated.

He also added that regardless of what the SC decided on, nothing could erase history.

“The Court sympathizes with the HRVVs [Human Rights Violations Victims] and acknowledges the harrowing ordeals they suffered (at) the hands of government forces during martial law. The stigma left by the martial law regime will never be forgotten by the Filipino people and the

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3 FEATURES

A ROUGH RIDE AHEAD On his first few months as the Philippine President, Duterte was already surrounded by different controversies. What are the issues he has yet to encounter?

Photo/Alexis Matthew Reyes

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FEATURES

Future PH: A rough ride ahead The first President from Mindanao has laid out his plans for the next six years, but what could be the challenges he has to face?

SABRINA ZEHENDER

T

HE NATION’S eyes and ears were set on Pres.

Rodrigo Duterte as he laid out his plans and pronouncements for the country during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) as the 16th President of the Republic of the Philippines.

After greeting those in attendance at the Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City last July 25 at 4PM, he began his SONA saying, “We cannot move forward if we allow the past to pull us back.”

Being what others can consider as a model for change, Duterte did not focus on putting the blame of those who came and led the country before him.

Rather, he would like the country to learn a lesson or two from its errors so that we could be more equipped for what the future will bring.

In his speech that exceeded an hour and a

half, Duterte’s SONA was not filled with what others could consider as “boring and redundant promises” but with his adlibs that made his SONA interesting and colorful. It was also filled with hope and his usual “Bisaya” humor that made his viewers listen even more intently to what he had to say.

'Change is coming' Duterte said his fight against illegal drugs, criminality, and corruption will be relentless and sustained. He called on those in power to triple their efforts if need be.

Many still question, with his stances and means on resolving the issues such as illegal drugs in the country, where will human rights be put into play? According to Tetchie Aquino, a Political Science and History professor of the university, there are two ways of looking at Duterte and human rights.

One aspect of it involves him upholding human rights by protecting the welfare of women, children, invoking the freedom of choice and freedom of religion. In this aspect, one can see a Duterte that strongly advocates human rights. When it comes to his view on criminality, his view on human rights becomes a bit vague. Here, he becomes Machiavellian in upholding these rights.

Asked on what the most important and relevant issue mentioned in the SONA was, Aquino answered, “the full implementation of the Magna Carta of women, for me, is the most relevant. It is an often forgotten agreement and I am happy that the Duterte administration is stepping up in protecting the rights and dignity of women [and children].”

Plans for Mindanao Being the first Philippine President to come from Mindanao, Aquino explained it can be expected that

Mindanao will be given more focus as what we can see and feel today. His decisions will always take the welfare of Mindanao into consideration.

A Mindanao Rail Project is being formulated to connect the islands of Mindanao.

In terms of infrastructures, the Mindanao Logistics Infrastructure Network will be implemented. A Davao Transit System is also included in his plans.

For Professor Jessa Mae Suico, these plans are beneficial to the people living in Mindanao. The rail system project will add access and convenience for the people, especially those living in remote areas. This will also help provide easier transportation of goods to those places.

As for the peace process, Duterte told even before that the problem in Mindanao would be one of his tops priorities. Suico shared that all sectors involved should

be tapped, especially those from the affected areas in the south as most of them are included in the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) negotiations before. But at the same time, we cannot conclude that this will really end the socalled war because we still have a lot to factor in. For instance if this will this really reconcile the differences of certain Moro groups as and well as the government.

“As of the moment, BBL is the only option we have to stop the inequalities na naexperience na ating mga Moro brothers and sisters and for them to be able to freely enjoy their rights,” she added.

Christian Mark Labiano, a third year Chemical Engineering student and the External Affairs Head of Ecoteneo, understood the President’s point that a huge amount of energy is required to suffice the country’s needs for industrialization.

But above all, there is an apparent need to consider

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27 Estrum faciene doluptis dem simpeliquis am volectam, sitatec tatur?

Di omnis delenihil et aut parum amet debisimus audae dolorep errovidebit fugitib usamusam fugit moluptatur, autem reperumquis res quaeptam, odisi optusan imincto reserferiam, solendaerum qui dem aut asseditiis volenim illeniandi conseque endelis mintinimus, volupta plabo.

Iquo omnitatius doluptio berae.

Infographic/Alexis Matthew Reyes

We must have the courage to fight for what we believe in, undeterred by the fear of failing or losing. Indeed, courage knows no limits, cowardice does

the impact of these sources, such as coal, to the environment and health of the people living near coalpowered power plants.

“Maybe it’s time that our government should consider to invest more on greener energy sources like the solar power plants in Bukidnon and Digos City, wind farm in Ilocos, and geothermal power plants in Mt. Apo, Kidapawan City and other places,” he explained his sentiment.

As to mining, Labiano fully supports Duterte’s stand to scrap the abusive mining companies in the country, saying that the mining has gone too destructive and unjust to the environment and the people.

“It is important to impose strict policies that will promote fair and responsible mining to end the existing mining plunder in our country,” he stated.

International ties

Regarding the territorial disputes of the country against China, Duterte affirmed the decision of the United Nations (UN) Tribunal and believed that peaceful resolution is needed to settle the dispute.

Unfortunately, he was not able to discuss further regarding his plans for the West Philippine Sea and what the country will do, given that China doesn’t agree with the tribunal’s decision. However, in some of his interviews, he expressed that he is open for joint exploration with China.

Personally, Suico is against this because it somehow violates the Filipinos’ rights over the country’s territories.

“Kung sakali man na [ganito ang magiging kaso], at least our government should make sure that [the] explorations [he is talking about] will be advantageous to our national interest. Baka kasi, this may just cause greater problems sa ating ties with China,” she expressed.

Duterte also added the need to strengthen the coordination with Indonesia and Malaysia in curbing terrorism. This will be done through strengthening the counter-terrorism programs by amending various laws on human terrorism, terrorism financing, and cybercrime.

As mentioned in his SONA, the country will endeavor to develop partnerships with nations sharing common interest and concerns with the Philippines.

Bilateral and multilateral consultations and dialogues will be maintained and sustained in order to build greater understanding and cooperation, especially on the aspect of peace processes.

Federalism At the time of his SONA, he has already directed the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to undertake nationwide information and campaign on federalism in

partnerships with various alliances and with the Local Government Unit (LGU), civil society, grassroots and faith-based organizations.

Suico shared that personally, she has her doubts about changing the system of governance into a federal-type of government.

Ideally, maybe federalism is appropriate for the physical setup of the country, but other than that, there are a lot of other things to consider. We have to ask ourselves, what will the content of the Constitution be? Are the legislators credible enough? How can we assure that the crafting of the Constitution won’t be politically motivated by certain parties, given the issue of political dynasties here in the country? Is our country ready for this kind of change? Are we just motivated to think this way because of Duterte’s stand on it? Will this cost our idea of being a united country?

Do we really need to change our system?

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FEATURES

“Baka naman kasi walang mali sa sistema.

Maybe the problem is the people managing the system. Maybe we are the problem. Ang dami nating kailangan i-consider before we can fully say yes, federalism if

or the Philippines12,” she emphasized.

What comes next?

One could note that the role of the youth in Duterte’s SONA wasn’t mentioned.

Suico believed that not

specifically mentioning it doesn’t mean that the youth will not be playing a huge part in his administration.

Duterte’s current actions, plans, and proposed solutions of course will benefit us.

Aside from looking on the now, he is also trying to prepare the country towards a better future.

“We should not just have this mentality na ‘Si Duterte naman 'yan. Kaya niya na 'yan.’ or ‘Tama lagi

GMA’s Release: An unforgivable escape Her release may be justifiable for some, but there are those who can never forget the former President's misdeeds and its long-term impacts JUPITER CABIG JR.

A

BOVE THE floating composite of trashes and scraps, a house made of recycled pieces of wood, random-sized bamboo poles and of a roof turning almost brown, standing on the murky water of a deserted fish pond, is where Ate Mar and her children lived for more than 16 years. Since the sudden death of her husband, her family has been struggling and surviving in the slums despite living with everyday poverty and scarcity. Life in what they call “dapsa” has never been calm and easy, like the nearby open water before December, it’s unpredictably hostile and cruel.

The 52-year old widower, ate Mar, while sharing her stories of a mixture of difficulties and hopes, silenced herself for a moment after being asked about the former president

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s administration and its contribution to the poor and marginalized like most of them living in the community. While reminiscing the past administration, all she could have in mind are criticisms, and feelings of dismay and fear for the next generation to come.

“Naunsa naman ning atong gobyerno uy! Ang mga nakabuhat og sala sa una ginapabayaan na lang na makabalik sa pwesto. Wala gayu'y mamahimong solusyon sa atong problema, patuyoktuyok lang ta sa parehong problema sa atong nasud”, she said.

As manifested in every State of the Nation Address (SONA) of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo since 2001, she never missed to put emphasis on poverty alleviation and probable solutions for

unemployment. But, her programs took only little to no effect to the urban poor.

Like Ate Mar, in her long stay in Davao, has never felt the same ease and freedom every politician lives with everyday.

Freedom from release Even before his term of office, current president Rodrigo Duterte promised in one of his campaign caravans to pardon former Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from her hospital detention.

But, Arroyo declined the pardon and proceeded to the trials and hearings about the plunder case filed against her.

Despite of the allegations of corruption, fraud, and misuse of funds, the former president was able to defend her side under the due process of the law.

For almost four-long years of what she claimed as “persecution”, the anti-graft

court Sandiganbayan issued her release order from the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) Thursday afternoon, July 21 this year.

The Supreme Court dismissed GMA’s plunder case which stemmed from an alleged misuse of 366 million pesos of lottery funds during her administration from 20082010, but the evidences were not enough to strengthen the case.

The decision of the Supreme Court, the country’s highest court, stood as spokesperson Theodore Te had read the decision where justices voted 11-4 in favor for Arroyo’s immediate release.

At present, Arroyo was chosen to be the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Arroyo has faced several allegation. Some of these

ang ginagawa niya.’ He mentioned before na this is a two-way process. He'll do his part as president of this country, but we should also do our part as citizens of this country. As youths, we are highly expected and challenged to get involved

Millor a et lante laut poreius, sustias et quos atiorec uptatur?

Quiate id ex excea sum la int.

include cheating during the 2004 presidential elections, im porting tons of rice that were left not distributed and were left to rot, misusing P728-million fertilizer fund scandal, and the unresolved deaths of the Maguindanao Massacre victims.

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on this matter,” Suico expressed her sentiment.

With all the plans and pronouncements he laid out on the table, people are expecting change, more on the side of criminality.

For his supporters, they

are more the eager and optimistic to see how things will turn out in the next months. People would be expecting a report on how he was able to reduce criminality and drugs in the country.

For those who do not believe in him, they’re keeping both eyes open, just waiting for the president to trip and fall back on his promises to his constituents.

To prove all of them wrong, Duterte, along with his administration and his

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constituents, must have to courage to work and change whatever there is needed to change for the betterment of his country.

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to fight for what we believe in, undeterred by the fear of failing or losing. Indeed, courage knows no limits, cowardice does.”

Like what he said during the earlier parts of his SONA, “we must have the courage

ab

Illustration/Steely Dhan Caballero

The cycle must not continue On a usual evening, Cirilina Dagasdas, fondly known as Ate Mar in their community, was washing their used clothes while talking about her life’s experiences. Late nights, according to her, are the best time for working on the household chores because

of the becoming normal water interruption and busy schedules in the morning.

Activities like making rugs, selling goods and looking for jobs are the common undertakings they do until the sunset comes.

While sitting on an elevated floor next to her laundry work, she kept on

telling her stories especially during the peak of her activeness in politics and community involvement.

“Sa una, bago mageleksyon, nagatabang ko’g kampanya sa mga kanditato nga nagadagan pagkakapitan, konsehal, ug lainlain pa. Ug na miyembro pud ko sa CardBank, usa

ka organisasyon bahin sa kwarta ug nahimo ko nilang sekretarya pero niundang ko tungod sa daghan kaayong hunahunaon sa balay labi na adtong namatay akong asawa”, she narrated.

Despite her passiveness in joining organizations for a few years, Ate Mar

has become an active member of the Friendly Women’s Association, an organization established to raise social consciousness, help the other womenfolk to build livelihood and provide education about ways to promote their living conditions in the community.

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FEATURES Photo/GMA News

Photo/Rappler

As she continued the exchange of water in the large basin and the transfer of clothes to the pail, she stressed that GMA has never been competent enough in serving the nation.

“Wala gayud ko giganahi anang Gloria. Sa panahon niya, daghan kaayo’g mga nahitabong paglabag sa batas parehas nalang atong pag-amin niya sa iyang pagpanikas sa panahon sa eleksyon. Lahi pa ‘tong mga pundo na gibulsa ra nila sa iyang asawa ug wala gayud naabot sa mga nanginahanglan,” she said.

In August 2010, a survey administered by Pulse Asia found out that one out of four Filipinos believed that corruption was her biggest shortcoming after nine years in power. Also, eight percent of the citizens also cited that she has failed in giving jobs to the poor.

Also, Ate Mar added that despite Arroyo’s intellect and a functioning legislative body, she had never felt any direct help targeted towards alleviation of the poor sectors of the society.

“Bright man unta lagi siya pero iyaha mang gigamit kini para makapanloko sa mga mamamayan sa nasud. Daghan lagi siya og batas na naipasa pero wala man gihapon namo nasinatian ang mga kaayo niini. Wala pud kaayo siya’y programa para sa mga nanginahanglan.”

Also, in 2007, Arroyo was arrested on charges of having committed electoral fraud and afterwards new allegations about receiving bribes from a Chinese telecommunications company with her husband.

In both cases, she was released from custody on bail and was pleaded not guilty.

Now that GMA has the freedom to participate in the different political endeavors, ate Mar is apprehensive of what will the nation’s future become.

“Dili ko sang-ayon sa paglaya niya. Daghan kaayo siya’g sala sa atong nasud.

Ang iyang paggawas kay usa ka representasyon lamang kung unsa ka daot ang atong sistemang pampulitika. Karon, libre na niyang buhaton og usab ang tanang sala niya sa kaniadto. Mao kini ang dapat natong ikabahala”.

Law is objective; SC’s decision is just For Ramon Beleno III, a political analyst and the chair of the Political Science and History Department, the decision of the Supreme Court was justifiable for it has undergone the necessary legal process to come up with such decision.

“It’s just right to free her. The Supreme Court, as the country’s highest judicial body, has the

most legitimate means of prosecuting former president Gloria MacapagalArroyo. Even though we can still question the decision through an appeal, still, the SC ruling will stand.

Some will say it was a politicized decision because eight of the 15 justices are Arroyo’s appointees, but I believe that the law still stands objective, the lack of evidences and witnesses are just some of the factors that may affect the weakness or strength of the case”, he said.

Moreover, he said that the trial was a fair process and is in accordance with the law primarily because Gloria wasn’t considered innocent by the time she was accused of her acts. It’s just that the evidences are not enough to prove that she was guilty.

He also added that the law decides not merely on the character or morale of an individual. It decides based on the evidences gathered to prove that someone is guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

Furthermore, when asked about his observation the way Filipinos treat the past and the possible ways to break the prevailing apathy, Beleno said that Filipinos have lived only in the present times and have become too forgetful of what happened in the past.

“Based on what I have

observed, Filipinos forget easily about their history and the past. In the present, it seems that the statues, monuments and museums of our national heroes and heritage are the only tangible representations of our history. Because people are too busy in working and earn for a living. They have never bothered to look back and learn from the events that have happened before”, he said.

“We have a very colorful history but only a few have tried to learn from it. Yet, before we can break the existing apathy, we must increase our knowledge not only in the present happenings but also increase our understanding in the past. This is one way to move forward as a nation”, he added.

Moreover, second year Chemistry student named Ness Relampagos articulated her concerns about the perceptions of the Filipinos regarding GMA’s release and has challenged the studentry to embody social awareness and increased consciousness.

“In these obscure matters, people have the tendency to be apathetic. It is so sad to hear from them only minimal reactions about such matter (GMA release) because most of them don’t even have any idea about it. The media has been so limited in providing essential information

about it. This is one way to blind the audience which is something that we have to regret. Democracy isn’t about blinding the people but rather must be the apparatus to involve the citizens in these relevant matters.

Breaking apathy as a nation The powerful rhetoric forwarded by current president Rodrigo Duterte of stop focusing on the mistakes of the past was deeply inculcated in the minds of the citizens.

Despite such, the challenge now is for the populace to become more critical of the current issues concerning the nation.

Ate Mar, though voiceless compared to the majority who conceded to Duterte’s concept of moving on, still stood strong on her stance that the Filipinos must not easily forget the pains from the past. The Gloria administration has made a lot of intolerable mistakes, and the people, who have the greater power to correct the current government must work in unity through seeking the needed knowledge about the long lost deeper history, of its mistakes and lessons from it. That is, the most proper way of moving on.

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4 DIVERSIONS BARYO TINYO/DOMINIQUE FRANCESCA COSTALES

SENATE HEARING/STEPHANY KATE BERGADO

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DIVERSIONS

ATENEO & SOTTOCOPY/CROSSWORDS

ACROSS 2.

6.

11.

13.

14.

16.

17.

18.

20.

21.

22.

23.

25.

27.

28.

29.

31.

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tiny land Duterte rival International (shorthand) FYDP/THEO teacher Sports channel Established (abbr) America’s talent show (abbr) Impair quality of; Not many Shoemart Lifesaving technique Copper Synthetic crystal of yttrium aluminum garnet Practice of spreading information Last song syndrome _____ poetry Computer’s non-volatile memory

PAK GANERN/JOSEPH NASSER

CLAYGO/RAF MAURINCE TACDER

33. Alight (past tense) 35. Work as temporary employee (past tense)

37. Small rounded hill (british) 39. Silver 40. Urinate 41. San Diego county oldest university 43. Tin 45. Dragon/Flying type phoenix-like pokemon 47. Davao Oriental capital 50. Daily Prophet reporter, ______ Skeeter 51. Manage to support oneself (past tense) 52. Night with ______ 55. Shoulder blade

59. Perform 60. Emit gas 62. Police officer 63. Home economics (abbr) 65. President’s lengthy speech 67. Blue _____’s Song 69. Leavened flat bread 71. Student information system (shortcut)

73. Wounded ______ Massacre 74. Saint (Spanish) 75. Louisiana (abbr) 77. Throw/hit in a high arc 79. To move from a place to another 80. Taylor swift nickname 81. Europe (shorthand) 82. Mineral-filled rock 84. One circuit of a track 86. Appropriate/suitable 87. School of arts and sciences (abbr) 88. Humorous image/text 90. AdDU university president 91. A website 93. Kim Kardashian’s husband

DOWN

22. catholic social teachings (abbv) 23. Ateneo religious club 24. Architects’ of the Philippines student organization 26 Medieval fantasy drama series 28. Surgical operations 29. Sybill Trewlaney 30. Medical (shorthand) 32 Fiesta night concert 34. US second largest city 35. Asian aromatic beverage 36. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (abbr) 38. Minnesota (shorthand) 40. Horror video game 42. Ukraine internet country code top-level domain

44. Student rugby league 46. Slow 48. Telephone 49. Lyric poetry 53. Girlfriend (shorthand) 54. Himalaya long-haired bovid 55. Burning sensation 56. Pain 57. Cooking utensil 58. Philippines top state

1. Ateneo annual celebration 2. American industrial products manufacturer 3. Sri Lanka (shorthand) 4. Engineer (shorthand) 5. Small child 6. Phase of sleep 7. Skin care product 8. Aeon (shorthand) 9. Society of St. Francis (abbv) 10. Envelope (synonym) 12. “Green” cluster 15. Showbiz magazine 17. Ateneo photographers’ organization 19. Data containers storing compressed file

university 59. 1st and 8th note of a major scale 60. Radnicki Nogmetni Klub 64. School of Engineering & Architecture (abbr) 65. Catalunan Grande Retreat house 66. To feel ill 68. Relating to the earth 69. No (archaic) 70. Dizziness and discomfort feeling in the stomach 72 Sun Latin name 74. US standardized test 76. Be (3rd person plural present) 78. Flying mammals 80. The Palmdale Aerospace Academy (abbr) 81. Put food into mouth 83. Second largest living bird 85. Pulmonary hypertension (abbr) 86 Noah’s ____ 87. Specific ion electrode (abbr)

89. 1982 sci-fi fantasy film 91. SM owner

DRUGLORDS/MARIA CYRA DEALCA

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LAUDATO SI: HAVE WE RESPONDED FAR ENOUGH? Piles of garbage, wood, and even unused arm chairs are left unattended at the ground floor of the Martin Building at the location where the university swimming pool is supposed to be built Photo/Alexis Matthew Reyes

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Laudato Si: Have we responded far enough?

It has been around a year since Ateneans were introduced to Laudato Si, and the university has already implemented reforms in support of the said campaign MARY GYLE MANUBA

A

TENEANS MAY have gone through a couple of Theology classes and several forms of encouragement – from getting additional points to a simple passing invitation - to attend Pakighinabi sessions wherein Laudato Si is the main concern. Despite the efforts of Ateneo de Davao to impart to its students the essence of Laudato Si, do we really know what it is? At the very least, are we even aware of its English translation?

“It’s all about preserving the environment,” is not enough of a statement of knowledge to come from us, Ateneans, but it is a sufficient overview of the said encyclical. For those who’ve heard the words Laudato Si, wondered what it means in English but still haven’t figured it out yet, Laudato Si means “Praise Be To You,” with a subtitle of, “On Care for Our Common Home.”

On a more comprehensive

level, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops page, On Care for Our Common Home (Laudato Si) is the new appeal from Pope Francis addressed to "every person living on this planet" for an inclusive dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet.

Pope Francis calls the Church and the world to acknowledge the urgency of our environmental challenges and to join him in embarking on a new path. The encyclical was written with both hope and resolve, looking to our common future with candor and humility.

Laudato Si in Ateneo de Davao Fr. Joel Tabora, the University president, released Memorandum No. 2015-87 which spoke about Laudato Si, addressed to the university community.

It contained a call of action to further incorporate ecological

issues more explicitly in instruction and to make this a priority to our ongoing formation. “The Holy Father also urges people everywhere to embrace a new paradigm, a new vision for our relationships with others and with the created world. He calls us to increase our awareness of the needs of our neighbours today and our responsibility for future generations,” the statement on Laudato Si expressed.

Since last year, Ateneo de Davao has taken various measures in order to respond to the pope’s call.

Lunar Tan Fayloga, the Theology Department Chair of the university said that we have already had two major activities relating to Laudato Si. “The first one happened last year when we had university-wide discussions on the different aspects of Laudato Si,” he explained.

Several Pakighinabi sessions with guests and

speakers from various sectors, ranging from first-hand victims of environmental problems to strong environmental advocates took place inside the campus.

“We also emphasize CLAYGO (clean as you go). We have what we call curriculum integration as to how we can respond to the important points of Laudato Si. The second major event that we conducted was that of the one attended by Secretary Gina Lopez,” he continued.

One of the big events that were held inside the university was the Mindanao Environment Summit, with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as AdDU’s partner, last Aug. 4. Members of

He calls us to increase our awareness of the needs of our neighbours today and our responsibility for future generations

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The creation of the sunken garden was one of the university's ways to respond to Laudato Si. Photo/Hannah Lou Balladares

the civil society, academe and several stakeholders attended the said event.

Prominent figures like Sec. Gina Lopez of the DENR and President Rodrigo Duterte were also present. Simultaneous Laudato Si classes, wherein the community and the students were able to converse, occurred to pave way for the further understanding of the environmental issues that need to be addressed.

That, and the rest of the Pakighinabi sessions, is a concrete response to Pope Francis’ plea for the university to continue to examine issues such as migration, pollution, nuclear power, sustainable energy, stewardship of resources and the dignity of every human person.

Another big and very visible action undertaken by the university is the development of the sunken garden which can capture rain and floodwater. The garden, which is a beautiful landscape, does not only bring aesthetic beauty to the university, but it also promotes environmental awareness and significance.

“The transformation of the Roxas grounds to a garden is an effective way of bringing the students to appreciate, and to be close to, nature. Ateneo de Davao’s promotion of green technologies such as the use of solar panels is also highly commendable.

Its engagement towards various environmental issues extends its commitment to outside communities and not just within school affairs,”

Christian Mark Labiano, a member of the Ecoteneo, said.

Ateneo de Davao has also been taking action by joining petitions against ordinances that may be harmful to the environment. Davao Today, on amending the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP), stated that the environmental advocacy arm of ADDU, Ecoteneo, has joined a snowballing petition.

“This petition is made to reverse the city council’s decision to amend an ordinance that required land developers to allocate a green space for their projects,” it further explained.

“These are the levels of our advocacy and the good

thing about this advocacy is that it is not just about Ateneo de Davao talking to Ateneo de Davao. What is important is that we have invited people who are very much engaged and, at the same time, are very much struggling when it comes to their environmental concerns and problems,” Fayloga addressed.

Influence on other organizations Several organizations have already responded to the pope’s encyclical.

According to the Davao Catholic Herald, the biblicotheological reflection formation organized by the Kahiusahan sa mga Layko sa Mindanao (KaLaMi) was an avenue to give tips on delivering Laudato Si to the parishioners. Examples of the workshops included the

‘Seven Days of Recreating the World’ and the ‘Glorious, Joyful, Sorrowful and Luminous Mysteries of the Environment’.

Talks are also being held by the faculty and administrators of Ateneo de Iloilo-SMCS about the said encyclical. The DENR, too, has taken a number of steps to respond, the latest one was the Mindanao Environment Summit, also dubbed as Oya Mindanaw.

Ateneans’ response Somehow, the ‘Laudato Si’ phrase already rings a bell to the students’ minds and automatically reaches our mouths whenever we feel the need to remind ourselves and our friends of the juice cups, wrappers and scratch papers we are always about

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to abandon in the gazebo – far from and out of the garbage bins, where they really ought to be.

Fayloga fondly expressed that it’s a really good thing that ‘Laudato Si’ is becoming a part of the students’ “buzz words.”

“We can frequently hear, “Laudato Si, Laudato Si” around here. This just means that it is already part

of the consciousness of the students at some point,” he expounded.

Aside from it being part of our buzz words, there are numerous established measures that the student body initiated. According to Labiano, there are good efforts coming from the students like the first EcoCongress which encouraged student volunteers to make resolutions about certain

environmental issues and the “Let’s Go, ClayGo” challenge which aims to revive the culture of cleanas-you-go in the entire school.

“The only problem I see is that, not all students are really engaging or showing interest to these important activities. Unfortunately, the culture of apathy is still there,” he added.

“For instance, ‘pag end

ng program, magliligpit na. Iilang estudyante lang ang nagpupulot ng basura. What we are after for is, what we call, the critical mass. Yan ang pinakamabigat na challenge ng laudato si – to personally appropriate the challenges.

We are good in terms of advocacy. Kapag universitywide ang pag-uusapan, walang problema pero pagdating sa bawat buhay ng estudyante, meron,” Fayloga pointed out.

He also emphasized the bigger responsibility that is expected from the Ateneans through sharing what Father Joel Tabora would constantly remind them.

“Father Tabora always tells us that our school’s contribution to society are the graduates because these graduates would eventually bring whatever they learn from school, including Laudato Si, to their own fields of work,” he

Magis Center: Start to an Organic Mindanao Perhaps unfamiliar to some, the MAGIS Center provides opportunities for hands-on learning for AgriBusiness students MARIA ISABEL ELIZAGA

I

T’S A TWO-HOUR drive from downtown, passing through a sea of traffic and buildings tall or short, eventually traversing trees, with the smooth road slowly remaining to be a dirt path continuing to a vast area of land.

This land meanwhile has turned into a farm and is deeply connected to the university’s comeback course, AgriBusiness. Quite new to the ears even for a student hoping to graduate next year, the farm is part of the MAGIS Center.

Ateneo MAGIS Center is located at Ateneo de Davao University’s farm which is in Sitio Cogon, Barangay Sirawan, Toril District, Davao City.

A portion of the 64.48 hectares of land now contain organic crops such as Guava, Guyabano, Marang, Calamansi, Jackfruit, Ginger and Onion.

The center also has plant trellises for green leafy vegetables and houses for livestock such as chickens and goats.

The center was first called ECOSAFE, but it was changed to Magis for it to be in line with Ateneo’s core value.

“Doing more for God” was how Licensed Agriculturist and Ateneo Institute of Environment and Urban Studies Director Reynaldo Navacilla interpreted Magis. Navacilla explained in an interview why the center was important and beneficial for students and

the community.

MAGIS is an acronym that stands for Multiversity on Agri-Entrepreneurship, Green Innovation and Solution. The word ‘multiversity’ was coined by historian Arthur Bestor in 1957; it connotes a university with many component institutions and widely diverse functions.

Navacilla gave examples on how the Center and persons involved extend help to the community through their different programs and facilities.

“What we are doing in Catigan is actually doing more for God – reaching out, not only for the students, but also for the community. We help the farmers learn about

organic farming and help the women hone their skills in livelihood and food processing technology, so that they can produce products that are in demand [in the market],” he explained.

“Doing more for God” can also be translated into doing more not only for personal benefit but also for the people that will be directly and indirectly affected, and the MAGIS Center has made a steady start into doing this through its seminars, aiming to reach different sectors that include farmers and women.

For the students According to Navacilla, the center is open to the whole Ateneo Community,

What we are doing in Catigan is actually doing more for God – reaching out, not only for the students, but also for the community

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recounted.

“If you will ask me, nakakalahati na ba tayo?

Or naka one-fourth na ba tayo sa pag change ng ating consciousness? Hindi pa. I must also admit, this really needs a change of lifestyle and because we are not reaching it yet, we have all the more reason to never stop,” he stressed.

of the society resulted to a greater reach for the awareness, understanding and action of those who aren’t as well-informed about Laudato Si. However, to say that our response is already sufficient or that our response has already reached far enough is not justified because, as what Fayloga said, “We can never stop.”

The various measures initiated by the members

More and more students are becoming conscious of

this call and the advocacies are continuously being fuelled by the support of the volunteers and the talks and activities that are being held from time to time.

Labiano said that since we’ve already started various campaigns in response to the call of Laudato Si, we only have to sustain these campaigns through activities that will continue the momentum all throughout the school year

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and not just in a given time.

“We also have to intensify these campaigns to encourage more students. I also believe that we have to develop a personal commitment towards caring for the environment as we are currently confronted with the various effects of these environmental problems such as global warming,” he further explained.

Along with the continuous growth of the world and the destruction that seems to grow with it, comes our continuous will and responsibility to respond in the way the encyclical was written – that is, “with both hope and resolve, looking to our common future with candor and humility.”

Photo/Alexis Matthew Reyes

more specifically the college and senior high students. College students taking up NSTP may go to the center to conduct tree planting activities while Senior High School students will possibly be required to visit the MAGIS Center when they will also encounter agriculturerelated subjects.

According to AdDU’s history seen on its official website, the College of Agriculture was started in the year 1977 but on account of dwindling student enrolment and the requirement of a fifty hectare farm, the agriculture program was phased out in 1991.

After 20 years of not

having an agriculturerelated course offered, the university has started offering BS Entrepreneurship major in Agribusiness starting the year 2014 after fulfilling the requirement of having a farm with a minimum of 50 hectares.

Navacilla highlighted that the MAGIS Center is

one of the three-pronged approaches of this program.

The two approaches being the academic component and support to skills-based development program.

Students taking up this course and other businessrelated courses can directly benefit from the center especially when it comes to their practicum subjects.

Navacilla expressed that it is but timely and logical to have an organic agriculture techno-demo farm given the trend of students wanting to pursue agribusiness-related business plans.

“This Center was established as an ‘incubation lab’ for our Agribusiness

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program. [Magis Center] compliments the academic aspect of the course since 70% of the Entrepreneurship students’ business plans are really Agri-business-related,” he said.

The students taking up Entrepreneurship major in Agribusiness have more or less eight agriculturerelated subjects, including food processing, fisheries, crop science, crop protection and agriculture communication and extension, among others.

With these agriculture subjects come the need for first-hand experience with the environment, livestock and crops. MAGIS Center aims to readily provide this vital experience to the students in order to equip them for their future businesses.

“We can’t just draw fishes or carabaos. Agriculture is an applied science, that’s why we really need to have a practicum component for all these agriculture subjects – this

is the reason why we have a techno-demo farm for our students,” Navacilla stated.

Along with her classmates, second year AgriBusiness student Jezril Vallarin has already been to the Magis Center.

Aside from the different vegetables, goats, vermin for composting and chickens they saw at the center, their collective first impression of Magis Center was that the farm was very big and it offered a lot of possibilities for improvement.

“We saw it as a great help for students taking up AgriBiz. We think that we should have more activities there so that the Magis Center will be developed,” she said.

Ateneo Human Resource Management Society Secretary General Mia Mari Bungabong also shared her experience at the center when their class attended the Seminar on Ecological Agriculture, Livelihood and Agribusiness Opportunities.

“The seminar on Ecological Agriculture, Livelihood and Agribusiness Opportunities tackled the benefits and advantages of organic farming compared to commercial farming.

We were taught about the different kinds of chicken and how to distinguish an authentic organic egg from a fake one. This seminar encouraged us to support organic farming and to always remember that agriculture is vital to our survival.”

When asked about what she has benefited from the MAGIS Center, Bungabong expressed that the Center has made her see the ‘bigger picture’ of the situation of agriculture in the country.

“The MAGIS Center taught me the importance of agriculture because large parts of the country depend on farming. It helped me see the bigger picture that we should strive for improvement on this aspect and that we need to further our knowledge on how to innovate agricultural products and farming so

We can’t just draw fishes or carabaos.

Agriculture is an applied science, that’s why we really need to have a practicum component for all these agriculture subjects

that our resources will not go to waste.”

She also added that magis has been shown through the center’s effort in informing students about agricultural farming, and as a result, she and her classmates became inspired to promote work to farmers and care for the environment by going organic.

Envisioning an organic Davao Navacilla also stated that the center will help faculty members inculcate to Agri-business students that the food that they should produce and sell must not be synthetic or genetically modified, but rather

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Along with other rows of crops situated in garden beds and bamboo vineyards, bitter gourds produce plenty of fruits ready for harvesting. However, a notable number of crops started to rot and turn into waste.

Photos/Alexis Matthew Reyes

organic.

“Gusto natin na ang mga pagkain na ini-negosyo nila ay talagang healthy, genuine at makakacontribute sa sustainable agriculture production ng Pilipinas, in other words, organic. The organic agriculture farm will also cater other sectors outside Ateneo, such as the farmers,” he expressed.

According to Navacilla, the most sustainable agricultural practice is organic. With this, he also shared that through a partnership with MASIPAG or Magsasaka at Siyentipiko Para sa Pagunlad ng Agrikultura, the pioneer

advocate for organic farming in the Philippines, Ateneo has similar advocacies regarding agricultural practices.

“Ateneo promotes organic agricultural practices and we are also campaigning against Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO). Aside from this, we are also promoting that all organic products must be certified organic by the PGS,” the agriculturist shared.

Navacilla explained that PGS or Participatory Guarantee System is an inexpensive certification system wherein all practitioners would

undergo training so that they would be already capable of certifying that farms are organic.

“The farmers that want their farms and products to be certified as organic through PGS would only spend around P5,000 which is relatively cheaper compared to P50,000-P100,000 needed for other certification systems such as the Negros Island Certification Services (NICERT) and Organic Certification Center of the Philippines (OOCP),” he stated.

In terms of future plans, the MAGIS Center coordinator envisions a

food processing center on the Catigan property.

He said that part of their vision is for the students to produce value-added finished products from the organic crops produced from the farm.

“For example, kung may ma-produce tayo na lemon grass, turmeric and ginger, we want the students to think of possible products that can be in demand in the market, products that will have a longer shelf life so that the farmers will have greater income. So if we produce cacao, we need to process it into chocolate,” Navacilla expressed.

The long term vision

is for the Ateneo MAGIS Center to contribute to the effort of making Mindanao, specifically Davao, become a leading area for organic agriculture and natural farming systems.

The MAGIS Center has been put up by members of the Ateneo community for the whole Mindanao and soon, the whole country, to benefit. Magis has been exemplified through this center’s creation for it has become an avenue to strive for sustainable development for our farmers, entrepreneurs-tobe and all the people who have an interest in doing more for others through organic agriculture.

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