Our Issue Magazine

2NDPLACE IKALAWANG GANTIMPALA

OUR ISSUE M A G A Z I N E

College Editors Guild Of The Philippines • IKA-13 GAWAD ERNESTO RODRIGUEZ JR

ATENEWS SPECIAL ISSUE • Volume 57 No. 6 The Official Student Publication of Ateneo de Davao University Member of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines

Struggle for acceptance

A look at the state of the LGBT community as its members try to gain acceptance in all quarters of society.

Freezing point

What the moratorium on certain college courses as mandated by CMO No. 32 means to the next generation of students

Click, click, boom

How social media irrevocably impacts the way we live and see the world at the most fundamental level

Photo/Geneva Shaula Almeria & Adi Leuterio Graphics/Steven Adrianne Chua

Atenews ~ Itinatag noong 1955

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Pinasara dahil sa Batas Militar noong 1972-1975

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Pinasara ng Administrasyon ng Ateneo de Davao noong 2003-2005

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Ika-57 na Anibersaryo ng Pagtatag ng Atenews, 1955~2012

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Noon, ngayon at sa susunod pa na mga taon Pagdiriwang ng ika-57 na taon ng makabuluhang pamamahayag ng Atenews

OUR ISSUE Atenews Special Issue VOL 57 NO 6

OUR ISSUE Atenews Special Issue VOL 57 NO 6

From the Editor’s Desk

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EDITOR’S NOTE REYMOND PEPITO Editor-in-Chief

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FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

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Editor’s Note Foreword

ECONOMY

20 22 24

GENDER 6 8 9

Redefining macho masculinity Struggling of acceptance The Blue Knight Song

HUMAN RIGHTS 11 13 14

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Experts are sources of opinions, while the people are sources of facts.

Atenews’ Our Issue Magazine has both the experts and the people.

In this special issue, we give you more than mere opinions; we give you a clearer picture of our national stories.

For the Philippines, year 2012 marks another chapter of challenges in resolving various local and national issues. From shameless human rights violators and the sobrave-government provoking giants, down to the unending drama of the

GOVERNMENT

The battle against the paddle On hazing, once more We remember

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YOUTH

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Click, click, boom A war of the acronyms

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INVERBATI

Living with the consequences Partying than being above par The young once and the young ones

The ongoing tug of war Leaving home

MEDIA AND INTERNET

Everything is worth wanting. It is in the fibre of humanity to want. And there is so much left to be desired, not just in the little things, but in the bigger scheme of our lives.

We want adequate food set on tables all over the world three times a day, seven days a week, fifty-two weeks every year for all time. We want a multitude and variety of jobs for all Filipinos of working age, jobs that compensate fairly and allow for individual dignity and national progress. We want a society that respects the rule of law, with justice as its lifeblood. We want the end of discrimination, when people of all shapes, sizes and persuasions can

lead lives as full as majority enjoy. We want statesmen who are genuinely working for our welfare instead of staring out in the distance, who are concerned with improving our lot instead of lining their pockets and squabbling in power plays. The list of things to want is endless. Each and every one who is reading this piece surely can add a want or two.

When one wants something so important to him, one does not stop until he gets it. And these things we want are absolutely precious. These are our issues, these are our wants, and we ask for it to be given. We ask, and with our efforts to realize our wants, we shall receive. ■

KARLO JAMES DAVID BRINGAS 38

AFTERWORD

The pursuit of happiness The truth behind free trade Understanding the oil price crisis

Freezing point AteNewbies in the lounge

Do not just rely on mainstream news networks that choose to bring their personal agenda, or patronize the so called journalist who delivers news driven by his or her political interests.

As a united community known as persons for others, let us use our minds and hearts to contribute in engineering a better Philippines.

Let us go beyond the walls of the academe and put no limits on our capacity to inflict positive change.

Ateneans. Filipinos. This is Our Issue! ■

Foreword

EDUCATION 26 28

traditional politicians and the socalled justices seated to protect the economy of the rich, the country remains restless.

With the spirit to egg on the Ateneo community to respond more positively in these matters, Atenews lays down the most pressing issues in every page of this magazine. We call everyone to understand more deeply the issues on gender, on youth, on education, on human rights, and other areas in today’s fast changing era. We urge you to do your own research regarding all of these.

ABOVE Walking on sunshine, Students walk past the gazebo, eyes on notebooks, smiles on friends, and minds and hearts on things that matter most to each and every one of them. Photo/Farrideh Jadali Sabet

ABOUT THE COVER Students line up for a ride in the elevator, physically present while their minds are preoccupied with a million pressing issues. Photo/Farrideh Jadali Sabet

The Official Student Publication of Ateneo de Davao University - End the Silence of the Gagged!

ESTABLISHED ~ 1955

E DI T O RIAL B O ARD 2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2 editor-in-chief Reymond Pepito • associate editor Karlo James David Bringas • managing editor Tom Louis Herrera associate managing editor John Kessler Misterio • news editor Cyril Jerome Almanzor • features editor Kathleen Anne Veloso associate features editor Edward Lactaoen • honorary editor Paul Randy Gumanao Atenews is located in the Foodcourt Extension Area, Basement, Finster Hall, Ateneo de Davao University, Emilio Jacinto St., 8016 Davao City. +63 82 221-2411 loc. 8332  atenews.ph  atenews@gmail.com

Associate Editor

“Ask and you shall receive,” Christ admonishes us through the New Testament. This statement rings true every time, in every situation, as so many of us are wont to sit in silence, lower our eyes from under batting eyelashes and hope that we get what we want. To get something, we must first learn to ask.

But asking is no simple task. Before we can ask for something, we must know what it is we want.

What do we want? There is this celebrity, the British model-host Alexa Chung, who when asked this by her boyfriend answered thus: Everything, because what else is there to want?

W RI T I N G S T AFF senior writers Garry Camarillo, Jhar-Mae Magalona, Jamira Anne Martinez, Almira Jane Villegas, Pamela Joy Yutiamco writers Ursula Calipayan,Zyra Kee, Florienne Melendrez, Kathleen Pastrana, Jenny Mae Saldaña, Clemarie Secuya, Arielle Sta. Ana, Maybelle Yutiamco T E C H N I C A L S TA F F photojournalists Caycee Coronel, Maritoni Nanini, JM Mercado, Miguel Alejandro Antonio, Geneva Shaula Almeria Farrideh Jadali Sabet, Louise Marie Loreno • cartoonists Paul Anthony Crooks, Steely Dhan Caballero, Nadine Caballes Bea Trizia Jimenez, Zyra Montefolca • layout & graphics Steven Adrianne Chua, Jason Occidental, Jamela Rae Allaga, Sanju Chugani web team Francis Kenneth Barrina, Herc Casiple • moderator Dr. Victoria Tatad-Pre Member of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines We accept letters, articles, pictures, comics, and other contributions for publication.

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OUR ISSUE Atenews Special Issue VOL 57 NO 6

OUR ISSUE Atenews Special Issue VOL 57 NO 6

Gender

Vanity, thy name is man! Who says manliness and the pursuit of pretty are incompatible? Photo/Farrideh Jadali Sabet

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Redefining macho masculinity GARRY KIN CAMARILLO Masculinity is possessing qualities or characteristics considered typical of or appropriate to a man.

For centuries, societies proliferated quite a lot of stereotypes of “manly” men. The average “Macho” is the plaid-shirt wearing, blue-collar worker with a beer in one hand and the remote control on the other. The “rugged man” likes to rough it in the great outdoors, camping or drinking beer on the weekends and organizing a basketball game with his neighbors on the streets wearing just his shorts and exposing his beer belly in public.

The “successful business man” rolls up his sleeves and works his way to the top, staying late in the office and bringing his work home on the weekends. With different personalities and preferences, these men all have one thing in common: they fit the stereotype of a traditional male.

Although the square-jawed, Mar-

lboro-smoking male role model has been under pressure since feminism, civil rights, and gay liberation came into play, he still shows up in contemporary advertising, branding, and design, while the traditional masculine model of protector and provider has gone from ideal to ironic.

The scuffle of redefining masculinity doesn’t just take place within the home, but throughout the workforce. For decades, men have flocked to typicallymale jobs. However, the job titles that are expected to grow the most in the next few years, such as teachers and nurses, are mostly dominated by women. The current employment gap represents a huge opportunity for working class guys and for the

families they’re struggling to support. The problem is that men, unlike many women, still feel limited to a narrow range of acceptable masculine roles, a range that hasn’t kept pace with the changing employment landscape.

Ultimately, the New “Macho” boils down to a simple principle in a changing world: men should do whatever it takes to contribute their fair share at home and at work, and schools, policymakers, and employers should do whatever they can to help them.

After all, what’s more masculine: being a strong, silent, unemployed absentee father, or actually fulfilling your half of the bargain as a breadwinner and a dad?

How does one evaluate mascu-

How does one evaluate masculinity?

linity? Can one with feminine characteristics still exhibit elements of masculinity?

Many men are figuring out that what they were raised to be no longer works, and society has not yet stepped in to support proper alternatives. This is a systemic designchallenge fifty years in the making, one that tailored suits and eye-wrinkle creams do little to address. In metropolitan hot spots around the globe, men are looking for options that appeal to their identities, roles, and behaviors. Some are expressing themselves through a new palette of products, brands, and services. Others are at a loss as to how to redefine their masculinity.

The media have been quick to in-

vent a new type of urban male: the metrosexual. This certainly opened doors and defied some dogmas, but it doesn’t get to the heart of the motivation. Men are experiencing greater permission to explore, and the desire to look and feel good is only one dimension of this new freedom.

A new breed of Asian men is hinting at fundamental cultural shifts around masculinity. It was not too long ago that the Taiwanese group F4 was on the screens of Philippine televisions. Judging from their popularity, they were still all able to fit the stereotype of a traditional male.

As years passed, guys in a Korean boy band wore foundation, eyeliner, blush-on, glossy lips and mascara began to gain popularity in the Pilippine media. In an Atenews interview with two of the followers of this Korean Pop (K-Pop) sensation boy band about how they perceive and see masculinity over their obsession, they simply answered one thing, those guys were beautiful. Although it doesn’t seem that the behavior of these K-Pop figures will be spreading to rural areas in the country anytime soon, they are quick to point out that there’s a good incentive for it: “Young girls like the softer appearance of flower boys.” One might remember the wave of metrosexuality that swept the Korean peninsula in the 1990s, when the perfectly sculpted eyebrow was not a choice, but a necessity. What the West and some over the East would perceive as literal sissies were “in” back then.

Indeed, even some of the fans interviewed in Super Junior’s concert in Manila seem to struggle with the Koreans’ androgynous appearances, but many divert their focus to the strength of their music.

Back to the main thrust of real masculinity, the typical “Macho” in our Filipino culture always wants to be the stiffest, the ever hardest

and the steel-rod. He never wants to be dubbed as unmanly or epicene.

He gains honor from providing adequately for his family and when he exercises leadership, his dominance.

Regardless of ethnicity, the typical “Macho” more frequently ranks good health, harmonious family life and good relationship with his spouse or partner as important to the quality of his life. The “Macho” always wants to be stronger, faster, smarter, taller and older. The “Macho” figure has always been on the minds of those who informally know that certain code of masculinity. The Hebrew Bible states King David of Israel told his son “Be strong, and be a man” upon David’s death. Men throughout history have gone to meet exacting cultural standards of what is considered as masculine. ■

By the numbers

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Number of LGBT groups that participated in the 2011 Philippine National LGBT conference

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The number of entries in the Yogyakarta Principles; a set of principles geared towards recognizing human rights related to sexual orientation and gender identity.

The number of male high school students in Infant Jesus Academy who were not allowed to attend graduation rites after posting on Facebook a photo simulating a kiss

K-pop sensations. Korean supergroup Super Junior poses for their album A-Cha.

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OUR ISSUE Atenews Special Issue VOL 57 NO 6

OUR ISSUE Atenews Special Issue VOL 57 NO 6

Gender

Struggling for acceptance kathleen pastrana

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Family problems. Salaries. Deadlines. Grades. These are just some of the struggles that students, teachers, and the masses at large go through every day. All people are exposed to unique situations that shape their perceptions about themselves. But to be able to evaluate and fully understand oneself, a person must first identify the struggles that interfere with their chances of having high self-esteem. It may consist of struggles in keeping up with grades and deadlines, or struggles in dealing with problems at home.

In the case of the members of the LGBT, struggles vary.

LGBT is a collective term for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender population. The word lesbian refers to a woman who is romantically interested in or attracted to women. Gay, on the other hand, refers to a man who is romantically attracted to men. A person can be considered bisexual if he or she is romantically attracted to both men and women. Finally, transgender or simply trans, consists of a person whose gender identity differs from his or her biological sex. LGBT is an acronym that replaced the term “gay community” which was commonly used in the 1980s. Now it has a more diverse scope and it even has variations, such as LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer)

The Pink Knights. Emmanuel Sumatra poses at ease, knowing that the school is 100% behind him and other members of the Ateneo LGBT community. Photo/Farrideh Jadali Sabet

and LGBT. “If you’re an educated gay, the struggle for acceptance is easier,” Dr. Efren Sabado, a professor and sociologist of the Ateneo said after he was asked why the struggles of the LGBT members vary. “There is marginalization. We can’t have overarching struggles because our experiences are different. But sometimes you are also discriminated even though you are educated,” he shared. The struggle for acceptance is one of the most common challenges that the members of the LGBT face. It may be acceptance at home, acceptance within their own groups of friends, or even in their profession.

When acceptance is given generously, it would be easier for the LGBT individuals to believe that he or she is appreciated, regardless of the gender preference. Often, however, it is more difficult, and rejection is the usual reaction. When this happens, people start to grow uncomfortable in their own skins.

In the Ateneo, a Catholic institution, the LGBT individuals are recognized. They are free to present themselves according to their own preferences. When it comes to the manner of dressing up, other Catho-

lic schools found in Davao City discourage homosexual individuals from practicing cross-dressing or wearing the type of clothing that is traditionally intended for the opposite sex. In the Ateneo, they have the liberty to express themselves without being subject to criticism.

Even inside the school, the LGBT are not discouraged from having same-sex relationships. When it comes to school-related activities, they are encouraged to participate without being discriminated and judged for what they represent. This helps the LGBT community to feel a sense of security and belongingness with their fellow Ateneans.

When asked about how members of the LGBT community are being treated in the University, Emmanuel Joseph Sumatra, a second year BS Marketing student, said “For me, the Ateneans are lucky because many of them are open-minded. Here in the Ateneo, the rights given to all genders are subsidized equally. I feel a sense of respect coming from each and every Atenean.” Respect is indeed a very important factor to overcome the struggle for acceptance. According to Dr. Sabado, he feels safer when he’s inside Ateneo. But outside he’s very vulnerable. Maybe most of the Ateneans who are part of the LGBT feel this way, too.

It is true that LGBT members are given the respect and recognition

I feel a sense of respect coming from each and every Atenean.

they deserve. However, instances of bullying are still present, no matter how much respect and recognition are given to them. These are instances that form the struggles of LGBT individuals. “In my nearly 2 years of stay in the Ateneo,” Emmanuel Joseph shared, “I was only bullied twice: first by a group of teens who slander me whenever we pass each other, to the point that I approached them and warned them that if they would not stop then I would take necessary actions according to the student handbook; and second by a group of students who backstab me, and after tolerating their obnoxious attitude for months, I took action and referred them to the Guidance Office, and luckily, all five of them stopped backstabbing me and we even became friends.” In the case of a 4th year Atenean who revealed she’s a lesbian, part of her struggles is her difficulty in finding a person whom she can have a relationship with. The process of opening up is hard because she doesn’t know anybody sharing the same gender preference. At home, she has not told her parents the truth about her gender preference, but she believes that they already have a hint.

People fear what other people might think of them, but in the case of the LGBT, the fear is amplified.

“Rejection couples itself with homosexuals, and so we have to inevitably accept it,” Emmanuel Joseph said.

“And that’s one of the consequences.

Yes, all people experience rejection but it is even more intense for homosexuals, especially in terms of love.

Let’s not fear rejection, and instead, let’s be thankful by considering it as a blessing. Through these we become better, braver, and more prepared to face life’s obstacles.” Their struggles are disguised in different forms, and they have their own ways of coping.

Most of them are able to build the self-confidence needed to combat discrimination, but only a few are courageous enough to face the consequences. In the end, what’s more important is self-acceptance, so that acceptance coming from the people around will easily follow. After all, knowing yourself is the key to overcome struggles, whether it’s about family problems, salaries, deadlines, grades, and in the case of the LGBT, ACCEPTANCE. ■

Gender-sensitive. A new Blue Knight song for a new age of gender equality.

Photo/Caycee Coronel

The Blue Knight Song ∫ Tradition or content? arielle sta. ana

tradition, a mantra of memories for Ateneans.

One Sunday morning after the celebration of new centers and institutes, Fr. Joel Tabora, S.J., opened the door to a new tradition. He revised some lyrics which he incorporated in the original Blue Knight Song, to make it more sensitive to the opposite gender. Aside from that,

The month of March was in celebration of Women’s Day, Women’s Week, and Women’s Role in History, here and across the globe. It advocated justice, recognition, respect, and equal rights for women. This resulted from all the movements that took place in the era of valiant knights and damsels in distress. When one said “men”, it was understood that “women” were included. Never has it occurred though, that when one said “women”, it was understood that “men” were included.

So what does this have to do with AdDU’s very own Blue FR. JOEL TABORA, SJ Knight Song?

AdDU’s Blue Knight Song, com- it has long been Fr. Taboposed by Rev. James F. Donelan S.J., ra’s vision to create a song was written only for the valor of which is much stronger in content, men, basically because AdDU was or with “much more meat”, as he exclusive for men. Years after, womsaid. The first two lines “Underneath en became Ateneans and shared the the cloudless sky, Let your banners pride of singing the Blue Knight Song flutter high”, was changed to “Men for their most beloved school. For and women Knights in Blue, For Christ, King, fight strong and true!”, years, it has been AdDU’s celebrated

I am open to change. And it can be agreed upon the people if the change is properly explained.

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Photo/Caycee Coronel OUR ISSUE Atenews Special Issue VOL 57 NO 6

OUR ISSUE Atenews Special Issue VOL 57 NO 6

Human Rights

Gender

Battle of the lyrics The all-familiar Blue Knight Song is getting a gender-conscious overhaul. From the mention of women on the very first line to the inclusion of Mother Mary, the new school anthem is striving to keep abreast with the times. Judge this for yourself with the updated lyrics below.

BLUE KNIGHT SONG

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Current Lyrics by Rev. James F. Donelan S.J.

Proposed lyrics by Fr. Joel Tabora, S.J.

Underneath the cloudless sky, Let your banners flutter high.

With flashing steel and ringing shield, Let us sweep our battlefield.

With visor high and sword in hand Come, Blue Knight, take your stand Be men of virtue, tried and true In your armor white and blue.

Men and women Knights in Blue For Christ, King, fight strong and true!

With flashing steel and ringing shield Let us sweep our battlefield!

With visors high and swords in hand Come Blue Knights take your stand!

Fight on with virtue, strength renewed In Our Lady’s white and blue!

Chorus Then all you knights of Davao, To God’s high command your hearts bow, Go onward on to the fight, Where glory is shining bright.

O shake the mountains with your song And with your banners march along.

Chorus Let all you knights of Davao To God’s high command your hearts bow.

Go onward on to the fight Where glory is shining bright.

O shake the mountains with your song And with your banners march along!

Onward, speed, you gallant Knight, Trusting God, proclaim your right.

The clash of battle is sweet to hear When the victory is near.

So, grateful sons, spread o’er the land To the farthest ocean strand; With hearty song sing loud the fame Of our Ateneo’s name.

Repeat Chorus

Onward, speed you gallant knights!

Trusting God proclaim your right!

The clash of battle is sweet to hear When the victory is near.

So grateful knights spread o’er the land To the farthest ocean strand.

With hearty song sing loud the fame Of our Ateneo name.

Repeat Chorus

Whoever said holding a sword and carrying a shield can only be done by men? In our society nowadays, women are deserving enough to be called “knights”. Photo/Caycee Coronel

which gives honor to Christ our King, rather than to fluttering banners. In the first verse, Fr. Tabora removed “Be men of virtue, tried and true, In your armor white and blue” to bring in our Patroness, Mary, for in times of finding our strength low, we call on our Lady, thus the lines “Fight on with virtue, strength renewed, In Our Lady’s white and blue!”. The revised lyrics still retain the concept of a knight, but is more open to women, for it takes out the lines “Be men of virtue, tried and true” and “So, grateful sons, spread o’er the land”, and replaces it with “So grateful knights spread o’er the land”. “It has the same melody, but the content is more profound.”, said Fr. Joel.

When asked about the comments of Atenean alumni on not being in favor of the change of lyrics because of it being an old and treasured tradition, the University President said, “I am open to change. And it can be agreed upon by the people if the change is properly explained.” In this light, it is evident that gender sensitivity has a bigger value over tradition. This is for the generations to come, who will learn to sing the Blue Knight Song with a much deeper meaning.

The new version of the Blue Knight Song will be used experimentally. Fr. Joel Tabora has given the go signal to play the song and use it during school programs and events, so that Ateneans will begin to be familiarized with it. “I want to actively work for a yes for content improvement”, expressed the President. This revision of the Blue Knight Song might affect some, and they might not agree to it because it holds a sentimental value to them. Some might not care at all, and think that it is just a song they hear after the Pambansang Awit, and right before the school program’s emcees start talking. Maybe we can take this step of learning a new song as an opportunity to realize and continually remember that the Blue Knight Song isn’t just any song, for it is a melodious symbol of Ateneans as Knights of Davao, and it is sung from our hearts, for our school, for our Ateneo’s name. ■

Artwork/Steely Dhan Caballero

The battle against the paddle edward lactaoen Hazing was brought to the headlines once more last February as San Beda law school freshman Marvin Reglos died due to injuries sustained from hazing. Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) states that, “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.” The nature of hazing that Reglos was subject to seems to fall right under that. Not only is such hazing looked down upon internationally, but also locally. Hazing has been a center of controversy since being criminalized by RA 8049 or the Anti-Hazing Law and has continued to thrive in the society of the Philippines, with organizations conducted hazing exercises clandestinely to avoid prosecution.

Passed in June of 1995, the AntiHazing Law may seem a bit misleading at first glance. Hazing is “an initiation rite or practice as a prerequisite for admission into membership in a fraternity, sorority or organization by placing the recruit, neophyte or applicant in some embarrassing or hu-

miliating situations such as forcing him/her to do menial, silly, foolish and similar tasks or activities or otherwise subjecting him/her to physical or psychological suffering or injury,” as defined by the Republic Act. While the definition of hazing covers a wide variety of activities, the only facet of hazing that is criminalized

by RA 8049 is physical harm.

allowed without prior written notice to the school authorities or head of organization seven (7) days before the conduct of such initiations. The written notice shall indicate the period of the initiation activities which shall not exceed three (3) days, shall include the names of those to be subjected to such activities, and shall further contain an undertaking that no physical violence be employed by anybody during such initiation rites.” It seems that the law tolerates hazing to a certain extent, but physical pain is singled out. With such being the case, however, physical harm has not found its way out of the hazing culture.

“Every fraternity/sorority has its core values na gina-instill to its every member. For our fraternity, one would be determination.

Meron man talagang mga tao na magbend agad if faced with hardships, lalo na kung pain, and we do not want our members to be like that. If willing talaga magcommit to an organization, dapat ma-verify muna

Dapat ma-verify muna kung gaano ka-determined ang isang tao, and that is why merong hazing The Anti-Hazing Law does not seek to criminalize hazing completely, but instead acts more to regulate hazing activities within the country.

The Republic Act even deems that proper knowledge be submitted to authorities on the conducting of hazing, as Section 2 of the Republic Act reads, “No hazing or initiation rites in any form or manner by a fraternity, sorority or organization shall be

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OUR ISSUE Atenews Special Issue VOL 57 NO 6

OUR ISSUE Atenews Special Issue VOL 57 NO 6

We do want them to experience hell but we do not plan on making them stay there. kung gaano ka-determined ang isang tao, and that is why merong hazing,” explained a prophyte from a fraternity in UP Mindanao who wishes to remain unnamed. Regarding the physical aspect of hazing and its place in the entirety of the initiation rites, he said that, “I would not say na necessary, pero malaki ang magenerate nito na value para sa evaluation sa mga neophytes. Sa pag mention pa lang ng word na “hazing” sa orientation ay meron talagang fear sa ibang tao, lalo na kung on the process na, and for us we need people who are willing to overcome that fear to be part of our fraternity.” There is a line, however, that is drawn when dealing with the amount of physical harm being done to these newcom-

While Reglos stands as a prime example of what one may suffer from hazing in the physical aspect, the effects aren’t limited to just that facet.

Hazing can result in psychological damage as well, as confirmed by AB Psychology graduate Karlos Manlupig, saying that, “There are many long-term psychological effects that may be attributed to hazing. But the most common hazing related ramifications include post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety that may hamper the victim’s cognitive and social functioning. Low self-esteem issues and suicidal tendencies may also manifest after hazing. And the ‘victim-to-perpetrator’ dynamics may be triggered wherein the victim transforms as a perpetra-

Forms of Hazing Welcome to the club. PNP Calabarzon subjected their trainees to hazing, making them drink chili and rubbing hot pepper on their genitals.

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SUBTLE HAZING Emphasizes power imbalance between the rookies and the seniors Examples - deception, demerits, deprivation of privileges, name calling, social isolation

HARASSMENT HAZING Causes emotional anguish or physical discomfort in order to feel like part of the group EXAMPLES - verbal abuse, threats, humiliation, personal service to senior members, sexual simulations

VIOLENT HAZING Has the potential to cause physical, emotional, or psychological harm EXAMPLES - beating, paddling, forced/coerced alcohol and/or substance ingestion, public nudity Source www.umass.edu

ers, “Siyempre gina-avoid namin na makapatay ng neophyte. We do want them to experience hell but we do not plan on making them stay there,” he explained. When asked about the effects his experience with hazing had on him, he responded by saying, “siguro pseudo-trauma, or sa akin lang na case, kay grabe ka sakit and tiring, physically and mentally. Sa positive naman is tataas talaga ang self-esteem, plus part ka na rin sa fraternity, which is ang goal talaga in the first place, and afterwards maoutweigh talaga ng positive ang mga negative effects sa akin ng hazing. ” While he declares that the positive effects of hazing have outweighed the negative effects, others are not so lucky.

tor and participates in aggressive and violent behavior.” Indeed there have been situations wherein former neophytes had gotten their turn to be on the other side of hazing in their later years of membership within their organization. One must wonder, however, how exactly inflicting physical or psychological damage upon an individual is supposed to foster loyalty among new members.

“One plausible explanation to this behavior is that the act of inflicting collective suffering triggers off a phenomenon called Stockholm syndrome wherein a victim establishes loyalty to an abuser. The term was coined after a controversial bank robbery in Stockholm, Sweden where a group of robbers held hostage six

bank employees on 1973.

During the 6-day hostage crisis, the victims grew emotional attachment with the abusers and even stood to their defense after their release.

This adverse psychological response is also known as ‘trauma bonding’ where a victim creates psychological identification with the abuser and justifies the sufferings inflicted by the perpetrator,” explained Manlupig when faced with the question whether there is any psychological understanding of the cause-and-effect of hazing. This seems to be true to a certain extent, as two of Reglos’s fellow neophytes have been threatened with legal charges after refusing to cooperate in the investigation of Reglos’s death.

The context, however, varies. A member of a Davao-based chapter of a youth fraternity said that he refused to blow the whistle on the people who put him through hazing, saying that, “kay ako man mismo ang gusto mu experience ato. Tapos kabalo pud ko nga being subjected to hazing would challenge my character. Mura’g giisip nako siya as a test.” (I was the one who wanted to experience it. I knew that being subjected to hazing would challenge my character. I thought of it as a test.)

This shows that the ones who enter these organizations are fully aware of the things they must go through to achieve membership. But does the willingness of the victims justify the act?

The UDHR states that no one should be subject to cruel or degrading punishment, and while the AntiHazing Law covers only the physical aspect of hazing, psychological mistreatment may also be covered by the UDHR article. Yet with all these rebuking the act of hazing, it has proven to instill in its members the values of loyalty which it aims to imbue; that is, when done correctly.

Nevertheless, hazing has proven to be fundamental to certain organizations, and it stands completely opposite of the side of human rights and the law, so where does one find the middle ground where they can meet halfway? Hazing has its merits and demerits, but a line must be drawn to ensure the safety of those who undergo it. The question that remains now is: where exactly do we draw this line? ■

Fraternity is brotherhood, but before brotherly love, a little pain. Photo/Caycee Coronel

On hazing, once more TOM LOUIS HERRERA Most of us think that hazing is not an issue anymore, that it has been purposely buried long ago to eradicate such mischief and forget the heartaches which its perpetrators brought into the families of the victims. In this case, we are completely mistaken. The recent death of law student Marvin Reglos of San Beda College, among others, has been an eye opener for us to once again scrutinize the serious hazing incidents happening in certain fraternities within the country.

Generally, hazing refers to any activities or practices expected of someone entering the group that degrades, embarrasses, humiliates, and risks mental or physical uneasiness regardless of the person’s compliance to participate. Such activities may include but are not limited to the following: use of alcohol, paddling in any form, creation of excessive fatigue, treasure and scavenger hunts, sexual stimulation and sexual assault, insulting new members through wearing of embarrassing attire in public and any other activities which are beyond that consistent with fraternal laws, policies and practices of the organization. On the average, since 1970, there has been at least one hazing related death each year on a college campus with

fraternities practicing such. This has become a multifaceted problem confronting the government, the perpetrators and the society at large. It stems from the very basic issue of why students enter into these groups to even digging into the government’s role in eliminating such practices.

Fraternities are more common to students in law schools.

According to the members, they join these groups to find a second family in school to make student life easier. Though life is easy once you get in, the difficult part is getting in – when aspirants need to undergo an initiation process called hazing. Greek fraternities in the world do practice hazing because for them it is effective in many ways.

First and foremost, hazing effectively filters out would-be applicants who are not really serious in joining them. Second, hazing provides the crucial first step in the development of an enduring bond among them. Their belief is grounded on the premise that we human beings tend to cherish more the things we acquire with difficulty. If fraternities are for brotherhood and finding a second family, then why do they

need to hurt the incoming members physically and psychologically?

Although Greek fraternities already existed in the Philippines since the 50’s, it was only relatively recent that an Anti-Hazing Law was instituted as an answer to the successive deaths due to hazing. The said Anti-Hazing law allows fraternities, sororities and other organizations to conduct initiation but does not allow hazing. However, we need to note that the lawmakers who drafted this law are former fratmen themselves. They know for sure that as long as fraternities exist, hazing will always be practiced. It is as good as saying: you can conduct hazing as long as nobody dies and nobody complains. Despite the increasing number of hazing-related cases of death in the country, people and organizations involved in hazing incidents do not admit there was indeed hazing that had happened. Usually, there are cover-ups or the so-called ‘code of silence,’ about the incident and the practices of the organization to protect not only the individuals involved but the organization itself.

If not for the death of Marvin Reglos, the government wouldn’t recognize its role in this old crisis. “It’s our duty to find out the truth and who were involved. It’s our duty to find out.

It’s our duty also to investigate and bring them to the bar of justice. We have an antihazing act. It’s a criminal act,” DOJ Secretary Leila De Lima said in an ambush interview. She also called for a review of the anti-hazing law

When will they put their intentions into actions?

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. Photo/ inquirer.net

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OUR ISSUE Atenews Special Issue VOL 57 NO 6

Youth

Human Rights

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to ensure that leaders of fraternities involved in hazing are also held responsible. It is already clear that there is an intention on the government side to prevent the cases of death caused by hazing. However, when will they put their intentions into actions? Should more and more potential individuals die and be victims of brutal hazing activities?

There are two possible solutions to slowly diminish hazing if not eradicate it. According to kuro-kuro. org, initiation may still be regarded as something that builds loyalty to the group even if it is modified into a more productive activity. Fraternities may transform the initiation rites into something that is intellectually challenging and productive for the community. Instead of investing on those paddles, why not ask the aspiring members to do something for the community? An aspirant may be asked to make a feasible proposal to address an issue in the school and do a research for the fraternity’s implementation projects. With brilliant minds and eagerness to join the fraternity, they can produce productive if not life-changing projects. Since these aspirants are law students, their interest in delivering justice should start right away through public service. In this way, we can produce lawyers who are excellent in mind and in character.

The other alternative that we may refer to is the ‘last resort’ solution in this problem – to outlaw fraternities, sororities and organizations operating in the country. The problem with this is the false assurance that this action would provide our desired result. The truth in this matter would simply tell us that some laws are just not in touch with reality and therefore almost impossible to obey. To pursue the total elimination of these groups by imposing a certain law will not guarantee the total eradication of hazing activities and its effects. This means that more ambiguity would just bother us towards our ways in solving the problem.

The two alternative courses of actions above are not without flaws and defects. As we study them, we can see the importance of a dialogue between the government and the heads of the groups concerned. Only then will both sides realize how important that one life lost is because of hazing. ■

We remember Extrajudicial killings are defined by law as killings due to the political affiliation of the victims, the method of attack, and involvement or acquiescence of state agents in the commission of the killings. 1

BENJALINE “BENG” HERNANDEZ 2 Killed April 5, 2002 Beng was killed by elements of the AFP while conducting a fact-finding mission in Arakan Valley, Cotabato. In 2010, the Philippine government was held responsible for her death by the United Nations Human Rights Committee.

FR. FAUSTO “POPS” TENTORIO 3 Killed October 17, 2011

Two lines make all the difference. Photo/Farrideh Jadali Sabet

Father Pops was gunned down in a church compound in Arakan. Father Pops was an anti-mining advocate.

As of 2012, DOJ Secretary de Lima ordered the NBI to look into new evidence concerning his death.

Living with the consequences jhar-mae magalona

DR. GERARDO “GERRY” ORTEGA 4 Killed January 24, 2011 Doc Gerry was shot at point-blank range. Implicated in the death is former Palawan governor Joel T. Reyes, now a fugitive in connection to the case. He was a broadcaster, crusader and environmentalist.

76 19%

The number of extrajudicial killings since P-Noy assumed the presidency in July 2010. 5 The percentage of cases attributable to the military, the largest percentage for identifiable suspects. The perpetrators of 57% of all cases are not identified. 5

!. Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 25-2007 2. Photo from Inpeace Mindanao Facebook page.

3. Photo from PIME website 4. Photo from Justice for Dr. Gerry Ortega Facebook page 5. http://www.asienhaus.de/menschenrechte-philippinen/dokumente/EJKReport_ Parreno.pdf

Hannah hurriedly wore her ID as she neared the school gate. As soon as she had her bag inspected, she rushed to get inside the premises of the school. Her class was on the fifth floor but she could not afford to use the elevator anymore, so she went for the stairs. After the exhausting climb, she was standing at the back door of their room. All her classmates inside were settled.

Panic started to build inside her as she slowly opened the door. As her eyes touched sight of the teacher’s desk, relief spilled over her. The desk was empty. She wasn’t late. Well, this time at least.

This is the usual everyday scenario for Hannah. Like the typical students her age she also gets only a few hours of sleep. However, Hannah’s reasons are quite different from the usual.

She does not wake up late because she partied the night before or because she stayed up all night studying to get a perfect score in the quizzes for the next day. The reason why

she only had a few hours of sleep was because she had to take care of her baby. Hannah Echavez, a 4th year student currently taking up Management Accounting, is one of the proud student mothers we have in the university.

There is nothing wrong with being a student or a mother. However, being a student and a mother at the same time seems to stir up jabber inside a campus. Once you are a student, being a mother is not really a welcome idea, and the same applies when you are a mother who wants to go back to school. This was one of the initial worries that Hannah had when she learned about her condition. Before she reached the confidence that she has now, she admits that she had to go through a lot of troubles because of her pregnancy. She feared being condemned and she admits to have even considered abortion because of this. “What would the society think of me? Especially that I am from a Catholic Jesuit University who engaged in pre-marital sex”, she says. She was on the verge of losing everything that mattered to her, her

education included.

Given this conservative culture Filipinos have, most student mothers are dominated by their fear of rejection and will choose to stop school.

For the few who choose to continue, it is a hard life ahead. Some, especially those who are younger, would conceal their status to protect themselves from being the prey of judging eyes and to avoid being the topic of school gossip. However, there are also some who would choose to disclose it to avoid the painful consequences of unhealthy secrecy. Either way, none of these paths promise a smooth sail.

Hannah chose the latter. Little did she know that this was just the start of what she had to face. She admits having difficulties in her situation, especially with all the responsibilities she has to juggle. Besides being a student mother, Hannah also belongs to the single mothers’ cluster.

Fortunately, in AdDU, there are no special policies regarding single student mothers. In fact, besides the uniform exception that the Office if Student Affairs grants to pregnant

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OUR ISSUE Atenews Special Issue VOL 57 NO 6

OUR ISSUE Atenews Special Issue VOL 57 NO 6

Youth

Instead of using technology for research, puro FB, Twitter and YouTube na lang.

16 Choices. in the famous “spin-the-bottle” game, what would you choose? to tell the truth or to do the consequence? Photo/Caycee Coronel

students, there isn’t much difference at all. Upon admission there is no form of discrimination or whatsoever. According to Mr. Paterno Hervabuena of the Admissions Office, having a child will not be the cause of anyone’s denial of admission to the university. Furthermore he adds, “kawawa naman sila, tao lang naman tayong lahat”. Although student mothers, specifically those who are pregnant, are usually advised by the school to stop for the time being, the choice is still up to her. If she chooses to stay, it will be her obligation to make sure her studies are not sacrificed even in that delicate condition.

However, it is different for the students in other schools. Some schools refuse to admit student mothers if they are not yet married. This is one of the prerequisites for a single mother’s admission. In San Pedro College, single mothers will only be

admitted if the student promises to marry after graduation. They are also cautious against those who attempt to conceal their condition, which is why San Pedro College requires physical check-ups before admittance. Mr. Homer Arocha, Admission Office Secretary, says that they are strict with these policies for it is against the religious values that the school wants to teach their students.

There are certain exemptions that the school will be giving, however, the student must first present her case to the admission director of the said school.

By the end of the day, Hannah shares that she wouldn’t redo any decision she has made. Even if it is harder, life for her now has become more meaningful. Despite all the things she has to face in school, coming home to a warm hug and a simple “I LOVE YOU Mom” from her daugh-

ter is enough compensation. This is a simple thing she knows not all will understand; a kind of fulfilment she herself wouldn’t know of if she didn’t become a mother.

Hannah ended with a message which she addresses to all the female students. “…please do value virginity. Virginity has been associated with purity, chastity and Godliness, but over the years this precious virtue has been thrown and is no longer valued by some. I know, I am not in the position to talk about virginity, but based on my experience, it is more fulfilling to wait for things to happen in a right time… Curiosity is never enough reason for doing such act.” In addition to that, she also has a message to all those who share the same situation with her. “To all student mothers, not just in the Ateneo community, but as a whole, I am very proud of you. Being a mother is a sacred responsibility; we are the first teachers of our children. We are the most important agents that hone their personality.”

Student mothers should not be judged; in fact they should be understood and appreciated. The task of being a student and a mother are separately strenuous jobs, but they chose to accept the challenge of being both simultaneously. Aside from modifying themselves to serve two roles, it also takes a lot of their willpower to deviate from the customary. This is a tough task which only a few have the courage to do and these student mothers chose to live with it. ■

Virginity has been associated with purity, chastity and Godliness, but over the years this precious virtue has been thrown and is no longer valued by some.

Partying than being above par ∫ The mediocrity standard of the youth today jamira anne martinez jenny saldaÑa arielle sta. ana Recall the tale of a young man who stations himself under a guava tree until its fruit would fall into his mouth. Instead of climbing the said tree, his laziness overpowered him; so, he just waited. This man’s story, which was passed from household to household, influenced many generations. When one does not do his chores, he is called by the name of that man: Juan Tamad. His story holds a strong impact especially to the youth of today.

Indolence, sloth, idleness and laziness. These words, which are associated to the person aforementioned, are slowly penetrating in the lives of the youth today; disrupting the enactment of the ideals that the men of the past want to instill to the children of tomorrow. If worse comes to worst, looks like the youth—pegged as the hope of the Philippines—will bring about the demise of the motherland many heroes died for.

So, where are we going about with this?

The Filipinos are known to be an industrious, hardworking, and diligent people. How much effort we put into action reflects who we are by nature. However, with all the technological advancement popping out, we become easy targets for laziness. In retrospect, the youth are most likely being seen in the fields, soaked in the heat of the sun, helping their parents harvest crops for a living. Even at an early age, the spirit of youthfulness can be seen through their actions.

But that time is long gone. The divide between the industrious and the incompetent has drifted more and more as civilization reigned. Back then when there were few luxuries, the youth learned to cope with whatever they have. And whatever they earned on the jobs they were forced to have, were given to their families.

The youth now? They rely too much on their precious parents rather than racking their brains on money-making schemes. The former valued education as the highest form of molding they will ever receive, while the latter would just skip classes to goof off with friends.

The endless differences between the two are both baffling and depressing. The evolution of the once proud and mighty Filipino has degraded to the fabled Juan Tamad. Most students nowadays would just be happy with “Okay naakonggradokaypasado!” No more reaching for the stars.

They might have attempted, but just stretched their arms and grabbed air—easily giving up. And the worst part is, the youth of today know of their full potentials; they’re just too lazy to push themselves. What had made them have mediocrity as their standard? What factors might have influenced to have revived the laziness of Juan Tamad, going from Hero to Zero?

Today’s youth reverberates the Juan Tamad “spirit” mainly because too much fun lurks around every corner. When we think of work and responsibilities, we immediately shun it, and fantasize of what fun we could come across instead. With the strong influence of Western culture, there has been a solid impression of how “cool” being a socialite and party animal can be. We’d prefer to be entertained than to perform. It requires less energy, time and skill, and it seems to give the same amount of

satisfaction.

Weighing work and play, the youth would normally resort to play, because “play” nowadays constitutes dynamic activities that redefine enjoyment on an entirely new level. With the spread of technological feats, junior Juans get a fondness for instant accomplishment of any work. An incoming 4th year Psychology student, Julianne Kudemus, said, “I think it’s because way strict ang mga parents noon. Sobrang authoritarian sila. Iba rin yung traditions and ways nila in punishing their kids. Mas firm ang mga parents noon kaya mas disciplined talaaga ang mga anak nila.” Gianna Narvaez, 19 years of age, said, “Because of the innovation of technology, life is more convenient. It makes everything easier, and as a result, it makes us lazier.” For Regina Basa, a 3rd year BM student, “Instead of using technology for research, puro FB, Twitter, and YouTube nalang.”. Bottomline? Technology. But do we blame everything on it?

It is quite improbable on how the youth could transform into a more hardworking bunch to the progress the world is undergoing. It is apparent how almost everything has already been set for the youth- from the realm of profession to the world of leisure. We have the preceding generations to thank for what is already made available to us. Thus, we have the present and future generations to justify the endeavors ardently offered to us. Technology and all the convenience that comes with it wasn’t well thought of and made by our forefathers to ruin our dignity and potentials. Remember the essence of why luxuries and technologies lie in wait for us. Let’s not spoil our predecessors’ brilliant efforts.

Let’s not settle for being the freeriders. ■

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Sea of bodies. Arms raise and hips grind on the dance floor while serious endeavors lie dead in the water. Photo/Farrideh Jadali Sabet

OUR ISSUE Atenews Special Issue VOL 57 NO 6

OUR ISSUE Atenews Special Issue VOL 57 NO 6

Youth

The behavior expected of me depends on the environment I’m in, and there are time when I find it confusing

Youth is not eternal. Everyone ages, and growing up should not be just a physical thing. Photo/Farrideh Jadali Sabet

The young ones and the young once arielle sta. ana

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Envision this: Nineteen. Student.

Achiever. Socialite. Big dreamer.

Child.

Or this: Forty-five. Business woman. Family caretaker. Frustrated dreamer. Child at heart.

That could be you. That could be your parent. That could be your parent years ago. Or that could be you in the future.

It doesn’t take a genius to say that the youth 20 years ago, at the least, is tremendously different from the youth of today. A lot of the adults claim that today’s generation is the worst, for it is ill-mannered and slothful. There could be some scope of truth in that, however, the youth are not entirely at fault. Try to place the grandmothers as kids in this day’s age. Try to also place today’s adolescents in yesterday’s age. The results would probably be the same.

People are rational. They adapt.

They adjust. They innovate. It is not the children who are supposed to be blamed. In fact, nothing is supposed to be blamed. The effects of the worldly changes of today’s youth are results of society’s urge to move for-

ward. Yes, society. And that includes all the adults, who, no matter how disciplined they were as children, are still part of the welfare of today’s youth.

At the prime of discovering what life has to offer, adolescents of the present are imbued with a bounty of activities that bring out the best of experiences, leaving them pining for more. Sometimes, though, it becomes too bountiful.

Too bountiful, that attention gets divided.

As teenagers, they have the natural fondness for social endeavors which pertain to their definition of fun. Partying, hanging out, and social networking are just some of the activities they do on a regular basis. At the same time, they are students who are demanded with academics that have evolved entirely. With the progress of man’s knowledge, the academic scheme has grown complex, giving birth to new subjects, adding further sub topics to each lesson, requiring

much more when it comes to tests and requirements. Aside from juggling studies, adolescents are heartened to go the extra mile- to be involved in extra-curricular activities.

Clubs, organizations, and programs are set for the social and academic combatants to add to what seems to be an already tight schedule. Meetings and appointments here, group projects there. Individual studying here, social get-together there. Putting all of these into account, adolescents still deal with the pressures from the adults who belt out their most promising expectations, expectations of their being obedient sons and daughters, and their becoming specialized professionals, as if it’s a piece of cake.

Jennifer Corda, 19 years of age, says, “The behavior that’s expected of me depends on the environment I’m in, and there are times when I find it confusing. My family expects me to come home early and to do household chores, while I struggle to meet their expectations while fulfilling my obligations in extra-curricular activities and keeping up with my studies. I also have to make time for my friends, and I’ve found myself missing the time I have to myself or for my

Simple lang kami noon.

Skwela-laroskwela-laro lang.

family because it seems as if I’m so busy with other things. In school, people expect me to be a leader, while at home, I have to be a subservient daughter. And at times it’s irritating when my parents can’t understand all the pressures that school has put upon me. As a youth of today, I find that many are facing the challenges of the world and stepping up to make a change, and I long to be one of the people who are active enough to make the world we live in a better place.” Precisely.

It’s no joke having to be a teenager in the 21st century. There’s the factor of having to enjoy life because, yes, t-e-e-n-a-g-e-r spells fun. It is like being a child, except with much more excitement. It is being wild and carefree, because it is part of the entitlement of being a child. Yet these are all challenged, because as the page turns to the chapter of adolescence, a training ground emerges. It is the gap between milk teeth, braces, zits, stilettos, and white hair. What adds to the frenzied way of living as an adolescent is the taunting idea of having to excel in almost everything, because the supposedly career-driven future is at stake. Today’s youth are child-like adults who naturally need to have fun because the bodies can still take the fun. Incidentally, they are adult-like children who multitask and perform dynamics, dividing their focus on what needs attention.

On the verge of actualizing one’s self, grown-ups of today constitute a big group of “frustrated dreamers”, those who wish they were doing something else, and those who did not have the luxury of pursuing their heart’s dreams when they were young ones. They live happy but usually ordinary lives, being the family caretakers that they are, raising children in the hopes of making them shine brighter than how they imagined themselves in the past.

Ms. Vivien Mendrico, 68 years of age, says, “Simple lang kami noon. Skwela-laro-skwela-laro lang. Date tuwing Linggo lang ang may activity, ‘yong Benefit Dance namin sa barrio. Date alas sais nasa bahay na talaga, kasi wala nang magagawa sa labas ng bahay, kaya may panahon talaga para sa sarili at sa pamilya.” It was totally different back then, when fields of grass and leisure time were at its purest form. No malls, no gadgets, no wild parties. Not much media in-

fluences, not much visual entertainment. Just plain sweat and amusement. There were no nagging voices telling them which parties to go to, which organizations to join, which studies to focus more on, which leisure to delve into, and which career to go for. Things were much simpler then, so the youth were not as stressed in handling day-to-day endeavors. Not much career opportunities bloomed, though, generally because job structures weren’t as established before as they are now.

What mattered more in the past was the discipline that had to be practiced to be able to get a job, which, in any case, didn’t signify much if you loved it or not, because empowerment of choices was less of a deal before than it is now. After the wars took place, community development and societal reformation was the main focus. Thus, the youth then came together to step up for their beloved ancestors. A certain level of authority and strictness was instigated well because there weren’t much distractions that coaxed the youth. Living the stable life today, the young once aren’t strangers to feeling childish as well. It’s in the disposition of man to feel how he once was as a vulnerable and needy child. There’s a fresh feeling to it- a feeling that can never be appreciated by the straining responsibilities that the real world confers once you “grow up”.

Contrasting the young ones and the young once, there is a streak of dynamism in activities that separates the two, and a haze of longing for dreams and being a child that

one will always chase, mentally at the least. When asked if he can say that the youth of today are placed in a more difficult disposition in juggling their endeavors compared to the youth before, Mr. Lee Bernasor, a part-time faculty of the Psychology Department of AdDU, says, “Yes ug no. Yes, kay maglisud na ang youth karon kay embedded na sa ila ang technology. No pud kay part of progress man gud na. We are a dynamic society, and we need to move forward. The youth of today are lucky because everything is made available and easier. However, they are susceptible, and out of impulse and short-lived na ang satisfaction. There has to be reflection and discipline.”

The point is, the youth of today has to appreciate how diligent and focused the youth was before, and how fortunate they are now because the dynamic world being offered enables them to express, explore, and experience, slowly disregarding the limits that hindered so many in the past. As stated earlier, people are rational. They still have control over what happens around them. They have the power over the effects of whatever changes occur. Though it is taxing to balance performing as expected and acting as one feels, it is a justification that must be lived up to.

Everything changes and grows. If the world is getting more complex, the youth is getting more sophisticated.

Nonetheless, it is not an excuse to live life frantically, for it is a leeway to exhaust all availabilities and use them to a rewarding advantage. ■

Just imagine. The feckless kids of today are the grandparents of tomorrow, guiding the next generation. Are they up to it? Photo/Farrideh Jadali Sabet

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Economy

ple would get easily satiated when they consume water. Kung uhaw ka, you’re willing to trade anything for water; it’s a matter of life and death.

You are willing to pay everything just to survive. However, once your thirst is quenched, everything gets back to normal, and the behaviour changes,” he said.

This gives us an idea that people are willing to pay for something not essential to life, and are willing to perpetuate it as long as the status quo is established. However, once it is changed, the people seem to change their position about it. Let’s take the case of mining, especially in Mindanao.

Out for a swim. A mother and her children enjoying their family time swimming at Seawall. Photo/Farrideh Jadali Sabet.

The pursuit of happiness cyril jerome almanzor kathleen anne veloso

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The search for the Golden Goose of happiness has never stopped; it has only manifested itself in modern ways: shopping, buying gadgets, partying, and the like. Basic necessities can no longer satisfy us. We constantly try to find real happiness inside the paper bags we buy with money. Often, we end up emptyhanded, even less satisfied than we were before. Why does this happen?

Do we really know what makes us happy?

In economic terms, happiness is defined as utility, or the satisfaction derived by individuals in doing, using, or consuming something. Therefore, our sense of utility is the driving force that guides us in the decisions we make, whether we are deciding what to buy, where to go, or what to eat. The thing that we choose represents our perceptions on what gives more satisfaction. It can be instantly gratifying or it may take a longer time before we feel fulfilled, like scratching your eyes when they itch or enrolling in a private university.

One might ask, how can satisfaction be made concrete in reality?

Happiness = Human Development Satisfaction is hard to quantify, but the United Nations found a way to measure human development in every country – primarily reliant on the satisfaction that the government provides and the satisfaction the people get. By looking at the Human Development Index of United Nations, where a comparative index of life expectancy, literacy, education, gender equality, and standards of living of countries worldwide is measured, one can have a rough idea of how satisfaction is manifested in several cultures across the world.

The lower a country’s rank is, the lower the satisfaction it gives to its people.

Norway garnered the first spot with a .98 rating with evidence of an efficient government providing quality healthcare, education, and equality in terms of gender. United States is 23rd in spite of its dominance in the international arena, and the Philippines hit 112th – with a .54 satisfaction rate. This is reflective of Philippines as country, where there are low wages, a low literacy rate, and an even lower employment rate. However, one cannot just blame it on the government. The Philippines is also a microcosmic example of the world

with a misplaced sense of utility.

There are more Filipinos who have cellular phone/s in his/her pocket than a regular job to feed its family.

Are we misled?

False sense of utility The United Nations Human Development Report of 2011 shows that most countries, the USA included, prioritize military spending more than basic healthcare and nutrition by more than 900 billion US dollars, and cosmetics more than education by three billion US dollars. This implies that people are more satisfied by spending for war and cosmetics than for health and education. Based on these facts, do we seem to have a false sense of utility?

The water-diamond paradox, coined by economist Adam Smith, poses the two following observations: water, which is essential to life, is priced relatively low compared to diamonds, which, though not essential to life, has a higher price. Atty. Arnold Abejaron, an economist, relates that the answer to this paradox is that the marginal utility or extra satisfaction you get from drinking water declines faster than the marginal utility you get from buying more diamonds. “Peo-

“Pleasure” in the Mining Industry Mining was opposed left and right by civic groups all throughout the Philippines. However, the fact that mining is also an agent of development is undeniable. Without it there would be no laptops, cars, or electricity in our cities – all of which use copper and other minerals that are not grown, but mined six feet below the ground. Though all this is true, it is also probable that people supporting mining in the Philippines have a false sense of utility.

Mining has given people a distorted perception about the minerals that can be extracted from it. When there are planned mining operations in a particular area, what is always thought of is the amount of minerals that can be extracted from it. It is often the quantity of minerals accompanied with promises of riches and higher economic growth that are presented to the people. However, when asked about the degree of change that the operation can cause to the environment, food supply, and the people living in the area, the answers are often unheard.

“We have not yet developed that measure to calculate the true cost of mining. If we don’t know the true cost of mining, we do not know the full constraints that we are dealing with, “ Atty. Abejaron added. While it is true that the cost of mineral deposits is determined in the market, the social and environmental cost s are hard to define. It is important to recognize both our preferences and constraints in our decisions because only through these can one determine the real price of our actions.

The most immediate concern

OUR ISSUE Atenews Special Issue VOL 57 NO 6

THE PHILIPPINES’ rank in the Human Development Index (HDI) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

about mining would be the Tampakan Copper-Gold Project of Sagittarius Mining Incorporated. It is an open-pit mine in Tampakan, South Cotabato. Though a large number of minerals can be extracted from the area, the extent of the effects this operation will have cannot be determined. Can one imagine the impact of an open-pit mining in an agricultural area? One would have a hard time in calculating the social cost of these operations. This gives us a question again: how can we assign value in the social and environmental cost of mining? “We can go back to utility,” answered Atty. Abejaron.

“Because you did not appreciate the value of a thing due to attaching a false sense of utility to it, you end up thinking it was fine. You will keep doing it, because you are happy until you realize that there is something more valuable than it. Nasa huli ang pagsisisi..You have already destroyed something.”

Just looking into the price of gold in the market can give us a clue about the true cost of mining, though not precise. The fact that we give a large value to gold, diamonds and other minerals is largely because we realize the real value of the environment converted to the mining operations, or the role it plays before it was even converted. It is in this sense that people who engage and support it have a false sense of utility. They are willing to destroy the environment which is necessary and almost impossible to bring back in exchange for the riches of minerals. Eventually, time will come when people start to get affected by what is happening to the environment. Only in this time will mining companies change their position on treating the environment, when everyone protests.

Shaping our concept of Utility Even Abraham Maslow would not disagree on what shapes our perception – especially on the thing that gives us happiness. According to Maslow, what shapes us in making decisions are both internal and external – our self and environment in constant struggle for supremacy. Though the self is often left to decide, it is the social milieu that influences this decisions of what will make us happier, more satisfied than we were before.

How we regard happiness is also reflective of our values that is often

Top 3 Happiest The Human Development Index (HDI) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is a measure of countries by level of human development, also called the Standard of Living. Below are the Top 3 Happiest countries according to the 2011 Human Development Report.

1

NORWAY

0.943

Satisfaction Rate

Oslo. Photo/Bjørn Erik Pedersen

2 AUSTRALIA

0.929

Satisfaction Rate

21

Sydney Opera House.

Photo/Diliff

3 NETHERLANDS

0.910

Satisfaction Rate Sint-Nicolaaskerk.

Photo/Peter Weis Source hdr.undp.org

shaped in the family, or any social setting that is normative in nature.

For instance, money can be regarded as important and necessary for life, but not all people put the same value on money. It is because everyone has a different upbringing and different belief systems that define our values and our concepts of happiness. Once confronted by social questions, one can always go back to values. These

OUR ISSUE Atenews Special Issue VOL 57 NO 6

OUR ISSUE Atenews Special Issue VOL 57 NO 6

Economy are the forming principles that guide our pursuit for happiness. Media can reinforce these values, as well as school and religion, and it is also from these influences that one can form a wrong sense of utility.

Pursuing happiness in the form of utility might sound very economic, but it should also take the form of ethical concern. It is because making decisions is not always about what

Free trade is the policy which says that the government should not show prejudice against imports or impede exports satisfies us, but more of what we are obliged to do as citizens of the country, as human beings, and as stewards of the environment. What satisfies one and the other is better than the happiness of one at the expense of another – and also of the environment. One should not put the earth at stake in exchange for the pleasure one gets in it. From a level of satisfaction, it should transcend to a level

of responsible obligation to which happiness would spur.

The search for happiness has no formula. However, it has one characteristic that everyone should never forget – it is simple. It is always found in simple things, and it should not be mistaken for the greatness and grandeur this world can offer. Live simply. Be happy! ■

22 Free trade on the high seas. This cargo ship is doing its part bringing goods outside and inside the country w/out any worries of subsidies due to the free trading policy. Photo/Geneva Shaula Almeria

The truth behind free trade jhar-mae magalona Centuries ago, ancient people exchanged goods through the barter system, which is simply the exchange of an item or items for another. The system of trading has not changed much since then, people still trade an item which they deem unnecessary for an item that they need or want. However, there are two main differences now. First is that there is already a mediator that somehow equalizes the trading system. This mediator works by placing values on things to determine a fixed rate for a

specific piece. This medium is more commonly known to us as money.

Secondly, trading isn’t limited within only a small range now; it has become a globalized act, which means that producers and consumers literally have the world as their market.

Economic globalization has noticeable positive effects in the world in general. However, the problem is that with a bigger market, there are also questions that have surfaced. One of which is what trading principle to use. The prevailing trading principle that most of the world is practicing now is the principle of free trade. The label of “Free Trade” sounds pretty

promising, but does it live up to the impression it has made?

The principle of free trade Free trade is the policy which says that the government should not show prejudice against imports or impede exports. This means that the government should not apply tariffs, subsidies and the like to any item. It is pretty much identical to the kind of trade that exists in the old times, unregulated and based fundamentally on demand and supply. Comparative advantage tells us that with free trade, mutual gains from goods and services are achieved by all the parties involved. It is a great ideology, many economists would agree, but the pressing question is on whether the Principle of Free Trade does operate as it should and on whether it really is “all good”.

How free trade works Trading has existed in individuals among small groups, even long before the civilization developed the word for it. This originated with the recognition that there are certain things that a person has more of and there are also those that he or she lacks. This fact necessitates them to look for other sources of what they lack and give what they are abundant in as payment. In a nutshell, this is basically how the concept of free trade is supposed to work. Give away what you do not need in exchange for something you must have. The Principle of Free Trade believes that giving equal opportunities to each country will make each party involved prosperous in the process.

Through time, it has been noticed that different countries have specializations. By this, it means that they are able to produce more of a certain product at cheaper, faster and more efficient way compared to the rest.

For instance, Philippines is known to be rich in natural resources like minerals and in production of some tropical fruits. Free trade tells us that this is what our country should focus on producing and exporting for us to prosper. With this, you will be able to say that free trade is simple to understand, but the problems that come with it, aren’t simple to solve.

THE PROBLEMS Agricultural versus industrial Philippines can be classified as a country that has an agricultural orientation. Guided by the principles of free trade, the country should be wealthy by now, but it isn’t. It is because the demand for food does not increase rapidly over time. As compared to luxury items that the industrial-oriented countries produce, the demands for agricultural products are stagnant.

A person’s want to own electronic gadgets or other luxurious items is endless for as long as there are new products produced. On the other hand, for as long as your hunger is satisfied, you do not need to buy extra food. The consumption of an average person does not change daily; it is a fixed portion of their expenses.

This means to say that as a person’s income increases, it will be allocated to buying more industrial products

which results to its growing demand.

This leaves the industry-oriented countries flourishing and the agricultural-oriented ones poorer.

Unrealistic market The Free Trade Policy also assumes that the market that exists is one that is free from government intervention. Furthermore, it also requires that the market is one that Protection from free trade is capable of hosting a perfect comFrom the definition of free trade, petition. Separately, both these conthere should be no discrimination ditions are very hard to find, or are when it comes to the selling of foreven unrealistic to some point, in eign products in a country. This is normal circumstances, how could the reason why import tariffs or both possibly exist when you have a other forms of imposing taxes aren’t market as big as the world? allowed. However, not all countries The Principles of Free Trade was practice this. Free trade means commade in hope to promote global juspetition to the local producers. If tice, particularly poverty mitigation they sell an imported product which and global prosperity. Free traders is of the same quality but cheaper, view voluntariness as the chief facthen people will buy it instead of tor for the world to achieve this. the ones locally produced.

Also, they believe that it is As an answer to this, the the only way to attain government of certain justice. However, for countries impose as long as the “free” quotas, import tarThe focus of in free trade isn’t iffs and subsidies the economic absolute, the conto the foreign globalization should tinuance of this products making practice will only them more expenbe on those principles harm the counsive than they are that will work and tries in need of help supposed to be. are achievable. more. If this is the It is the obligacase, then it is only tion of countries to logical to stop trying protect their local proto administer a principle ducers, but the problem that will never be actualized. is that not all countries are Instead, the focus of the economic able to do this. The rich, developed globalization should be on those countries are usually the ones that principles that will work and are are allowed to impose these “protecachievable. Free Trade isn’t all bad, tion”, leaving the poorer developing but it isn’t as good as it is supposed countries vulnerable to the risks of to be either, at least not the one that free trade. exists in our world today. ■

Freeloading. This Tanker ship is exporting and importing gas while enjoying the free trade policy. Photo/Geneva Shaula Almeria

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OUR ISSUE Atenews Special Issue VOL 57 NO 6

Economy

Once the tax imposed on oil and oil-based products is removed, it will surely decrease the cost of oil significantly.

Road rage. The prices of diesel and gasoline are on the up and up with no end in sight. Photo/Caycee Coronel

using the power of electricity. Still, it is not yet available in the market.

As a result, the rising demand of petroleum exhausted the limited quantity of oil resources which are fossil reserves beneath the earth surface. possible cost and wants the governAs the sources are limited and the ment to intervene in their behalf demands seem to be increasing, the and make necessary and immediate price of the substance is expected to actions, for they believe that major increase by leaps and bounds. petrol corporations are at fault.

Other factors which heighten oil prices worldwide can be connected What causes oil prices to hike? to the political and security instabilOne major factor that causes oil ity of some oil exporting counprice to hike is the increasing tries such as Iraq, Nigeria, demand for oil worldVenezuela and Saudi wide. As the demands Arabia. The fear of of the exponentially chaos on security as As of the increasing populawell as widespread tion have grown, present, almost labor strikes the greater needs caused panic in everything in the of communicamost oil markets, tion and transstreets is driven especially with the portation have limited supply of by oil. also risen. With the world oil production help of today’s modcapacity. ern technologies, the prices of vehicles become Can Oil Deregulation still be so affordable that almost any able to handle the issue? common man can acquire one with In the Philippines, there is a law ease. As of the present, almost eveembodied in Republic Act 8479 or rything in the streets is driven by otherwise known as “Downstream oil, though there are few vehicles Oil Industry Deregulation Act of out there which are designed to run

Understanding the oil price crisis 24

john kessler misterio The price of crude oil has been a perpetrating issue in the world, for as long as man continues to excavate oils and minerals from the ground, this kind of commodity would precisely shapes a country’s economy in so many ways. With the price of oil going unstable, panic and despair reigns in almost all countries affected, including the Philippines.

The country has been in constant struggle in battling the continuous increase of oil prices in the market. In fact, the current oil price in the Philippines has already reached its highest peak ever recorded in history. As of this month, the price of diesel is in between the range of P46.30- P49.30 while gasoline is in the price range of P55.05 – P61.72; that is an increased of P3.80/l and P6.55/l, respectively.

No wonder there had been series of transport groups holding strikes in the streets. Who can blame them?

Their aim is simply to lower down this overcharged oil prices to its least

1998”. It is a policy of the state which deregulates the oil industry that fosters a truly competitive market which can better achieve the social policy objectives of fair prices and adequate supply of environmentally-clean petroleum products. With this policy, the government allows market competition and less intervention with pricing, exportation and importation of oil products. It had been decades ago that lawmakers assured that with this law, it will secure the country from the vulnerability of oil price shocks due to its heavily dependence on oil imports. However, this is no longer the case. With the price of oil going upwards continuously, the purpose of the law has already been scraped out. Oil Deregulation Law has only strengthened the monopoly of major oil companies since automatic oil price hikes are allowed. Not only that, some oil companies took advantage on the law, hiking pump prices of all petroleum products above the usual percentage. Such act is evident, now that oil prices skyrocketed in the market.

country. c. Removing the 12% VAT As cited by Ex-Senator Manuel Roxas III, once the tax imposed on oil and oil-based products is removed, it will surely decrease the cost of oil significantly. However, it is a doubleedged sword effect since it will also be the poor who will suffer the most since majority of the funds of the government comes from the taxes imposed on oil companies. d. Search for Alternative sources of energy While most experts are in truce between amending or repealing the current Oil Deregulation Law, some experts suggests that why not the government focuses on finding means of alternative energy to remedy the heavy dependence on imported oil. Ex-Senator Miguel Zubiri has introduced the used of biofuel which is considered as a mineral product that can certainly lower down oil prices. However, focusing on biofuel could jeopardize the food production, posing a serious threat in the

Filipinos should know that the current Oil Deregulation Law has already failed the country for it fell short in fostering a truly competitive market towards fair prices. Repealing the law will not totally resolve the issue for the country will still be subjected to the same factors- a rise in oil prices in the global market. Removing the 12% VAT will significantly decrease the funds of the government, which are used in providing budget for its programs for the country. The use of biofuel might affect the food production of the country.

Every solution to a problem has its pros and cons. That is why proper implementation of selected alternatives should be a must. The Oil Price Crisis, which the nation is facing now, requires deep understanding of the problem; through diligent study of the real situation and affiliated courage to do what is right from wrong, for the sake of this country’s future. ■

Developing Alternative Solutions for the Problem In the face of alarming oil price hike that threatens the survival of ordinary Filipinos, experts call for alternative solutions to resolve the issues:

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a. Amendment of Oil Deregulation Law. Many policy makers urge to reexamine the current Republic Act 8479. Some sections are in need to be amended so as to effectively carry out its purpose of protecting the public from illicit practices in the oil industry. b. Repeal the Oil Deregulation Law Amendment of the Oil Deregulation Law has not totally stabilized the skyrocketing prices of oil and oil-based products. For as long as the law is unchanged, oil companies, small or big, will tend to abuse it, dictating prices in accordance to their desire for maximum profit. That is why, scraping out the law would be the probably solution to the problem. With this, the government can openly intervene with the way pricing of oil is done. The government can regulate the prices to its right amount.

Above The Pandacan Oil Depot in Manila. Photo/Adrien Salazar Below The Malampaya Gas Field and Platform in August 2009. Photo/Abi Al-Baihaqi

OUR ISSUE Atenews Special Issue VOL 57 NO 6

No. of Schools in Region XI offering these courses

Education

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BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

of licensure examinations for teachers and nurses also state the same.

Job mismatch or underemployment has also been an issue, which led to the release of the CMO. There are cases wherein, let’s say, graduates of Information Technology are not able to find an appropriate job based on their degree. Instead, they settle for something far from their field of expertise. These facts are alarming CHED.

Hopes of the nation. Students of the Davao City National High School mill around in their free time. Photo/Steven Adrianne Chua

Freezing point 26

∫ The CHED Memorandum No. 32 CLEMARIE SECUYA ALMIRA JANE VILLEGAS Erna Mae Batiller is an incoming senior high school student of Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School, situated in Matina, Davao City. At the young age of 15, she already knew what to take up in college.

“Importante jud mag-teacher para sa akua,” said Erna as she shared her sentiments to Atenews.

“Kung unsa akong mga nahibal-an, gusto nako i-share sa lain especially sa mga bata. Gusto nako mag teacher kay feel nako dili kaayo siya gasto na course. Dali lang pud maka-pangita ug trabaho. Okay lang pud siguro ang sweldo. Dili man pud siguro ingun na gamay. Gusto jud nako maging teacher someday,” she added.

Erna Mae is one of the many aspiring students who dreamed of becoming a teacher. This is a reverie she had since childhood. The question lies here. Is a dream ever enough to handle the pressure of wanting the

career? Is it enough for you to pursue knowing the uncertainty of the future?

CMO NO. 32 Last September 2010, the Commission on Higher Education issued the CHED Memorandum Order No. 32, which talks about the moratorium regarding the opening of all undergraduate and graduate programs in Business Administration, Nursing, Teacher Education, Hotel and Restaurant Management, and Information Technology. The moratorium has been effective since the previous school year, 2011-2012. All encompassed the graduate and undergraduate studies.

“Kung merong gusto mag-apply na mga existing schools at mga bagong schools na wala pang HRM, IT, Education, Nursing, at Business Administration for now hindi na sila pwede mag-apply because of the moratorium,” this is according to Engr. Luis Perez the Chief Education Program

Specialist of CHED Region XI. The issuance of the said moratorium was due to the proliferation of Higher Education Institutions (HEI) that offers the aforementioned courses. In Region XI alone, there are 50 schools that offer Business Administration, 38 schools on Information Technology, 28 schools on Hotel and Restaurant Management (HRM), and 24 schools offer Nursing.

The growing number of universities and colleges that offer such programs troubled CHED. These courses are oversubscribed. The freezing is done to somehow control the inflating number of graduates of the said programs, who unfortunately increase the unemployment rate. According to CHED, if this continues, it will result in the decrease in the quality of graduates of the five programs.

The Evaluation of Graduate Program in the Philippines has confirmed the declining quality of graduates coming from the Business Administration and Education courses. Results

Why are these courses oversubscribed?

Most of the people nowadays settle for an easy and convenient way of living. No wonder students tend to look for courses that would somehow give them a “hayahay” life.

Even before taking up such a course, they were fed by wrong perceptions regarding the courses. They feel that it would be an escape from the troubles of math and sciences and other pressures they encountered during high school. In reality though, it goes the other way around. Some also took courses because of their high demand, just like what happened in Nursing. After the high demand for nurses abroad, everyone was enticed with the high salary it brought.

It led to an increase in the population of Nursing schools proliferate.

The eagerness of students to enroll grew even more when the overrated courses were given priority. It seems that incoming freshmen college students of today are taking up courses based on job opportunities and not because of their interests anymore.

By enrolling the said courses, the future of seeing greener pastures can

Photo/Steven Adrianne Chua

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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

28

easily be achieved. Too many universities and colleges offer the said programs, but there are limited slots to fill. The status quo has changed.

What used to be in demand is now oversupplied.

Quality over Quantity Before CHED released the memo, they feared the continuous deterioration of excellence in the graduates.

They say too many are already into “that” course. But is it fair enough

HOTEL & RESTAURANT MANAGEMENT

24

NURSING

to blame it all on population? Can excellence be truly defined based on the number of students enrolled in a particular course? People must also look into the educational system of the country. If quality and excellence are at stake here, then that should also be given much attention. Numbers are just numbers, but knowledge is something more than that.

A member of the CHED gave a suggestion for the incoming college students on how to avoid suffering un-

Towards national progress. Students’ achievements are proudly displayed outside the school gate. Photo/Geneva Shaula Almeria

employment and/or job mismatch.

Engr. Perez said, “Magbasa! Especially ‘yung mga high school, kailangan they have to read kung ano ‘yung mga trending in terms of employment in the next 10-15 years.”

At this moment Erna Mae, for now, settles for what she wants without thinking of what is in store for her future. Although the moratorium has already been issued, Erna feels that nothing can stop her.

All that matters, as of the moment, is the learning that she will acquire, that one day she will be sharing her knowledge to others.

Though the impact would not be that great, the CHED believes that the moratorium will somehow help the current situation of the quality of graduates the universities and colleges produce.

In a way, the minds of the students have been conditioned that if they take this certain course, it would be easier for them to acquire the jobs they want. The solution is not that of stopping them to enroll. It would

be practically best to boost the educational aspect of the courses being hit by the memorandum. The said uncertainty is about where the graduates would go after college. Will there be enough jobs for them? The job here, speaks of what the country has right now. Some would say that the country is already being, “export oriented and import dependent”.

And if everyone will look closely to the situation, this moratorium issue will persist as a cycle if the only solution presented is not much of a future-oriented one. Not everybody is after the pay after a hard day’s work. For some, it’s the experience they will get out from the job itself.

And there are those who are into the threshold of pursuing, of finally making their dreams come true or simply being a catalyst for change. After all, the students’ weapon is the knowledge they got hold of. And where do they get such? Probably, one knows.

As what the inspiring movie 3 Idiots left its audience, “Chase excellence and success will follow.” ■

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OUR ISSUE Atenews Special Issue VOL 57 NO 6

OUR ISSUE Atenews Special Issue VOL 57 NO 6

Education

Well, why not teach? I mean, you’re learning at the same time as teaching.

Alumni assistance. As some graduates sit in anxiety of the uncertaintly of tomorrow, others havesecured teaching positions in the university. Photo/Geneva Shaula Almeria

fore. “Mas gusto ko kaharap ang mga tao kaysa ang computer,” she laughingly admits when asked why she wanted to become a teacher, whereas most of her batch mates would prefer to find work in the industry. the same thought— These fresh grads— newbies, as “—Hala! Teacher pala natin ‘yan?” some would say— symbolize the AtMa’am Baia Teves mock-whispers as eneo de Davao University’s profound she fondly recalls the startled reacconfidence in the youth to lead and tions of her students on her first day serve others as the older generations of teaching. Ma’am Baia is one of the have done before them. Although most recent additions to the Comyoung and inexperienced, they have puter Science division faculty. willingly carried on the Ateneo’s After receiving her college vision to prepare students diploma on March 2011, to benefit from, contribshe immediately beute to and engage in gan to teach in the Some would the global industry. university by the However, not all speculate that the start of the folhave welcomed quality of education lowing semester. these fresh grads in the university might When asked why with open arms. downgrade because she chose to start Some students teaching barely and faculty memof their inadequate three months after bers often question teaching skills. graduation, she conthe level of compefidently throws back, tence of these young “Well, why not teach? I teachers. Some would go mean, you’re learning at the as far as to speculate that the same time as teaching.” Also among quality of education in the university the throng of fresh graduates hired might downgrade because of their last year to teach in the university is inadequate teaching skills. Genesis Ma’am Marian Sanchez. Like her colEmily Asuro, an incoming fourth league Ma’am Baia, Ma’am Marian year Mass Communication student, started teaching last June 2011, right comments, “Ingon ani pud ang nahitabo sa among high school. And as after graduating a few months be-

AteNewbies in the lounge 28

GENEVA SHAULA ALMERIA NADINE CABALLES It’s the first day of class, and the once-silent computer room buzzes with excitement as young and spirited college freshmen scuttle through its doors. Some stay on their feet, eagerly launching into an endless series of chitchat with new-found friends. Others quietly settle down, wide eyes darting to and fro as they await the start of the period. Suddenly, the door creaks open and heads automatically whip towards the lone figure that walks inside. Her vibrant yet unassuming gait suggests the youthfulness of any other college student. “Classmate lang pala,” others quickly conclude and resume their idle discussions. Unexpectedly, their new classmate strides to the front of the room with a sudden air of authority. Ignoring the questioning looks directed towards her, she begins to speak. “Okay class…”, and the students are stunned to silence.

Finally, a collective murmur breaks out, all trying to discreetly voice out

what I’ve observed, ang mga graduates ng school namin after the batches next to ours are not that competitive anymore. And I’m afraid this will also happen to AdDU if it’ll continue on hiring fresh graduates.”

Some argue that teaching requires both knowledge of theories and skills in application. While fresh graduates may have full mastery over the lessons they’ve learned in college, they have limited to no experience outside of school, so it may be difficult for them to relate theories in real life situations. “Lisod na ginahimo nila ug practice ground ang school.” Asuro adds.

An online article by Dr. Jordan Reeves Walker, Ed. D. adds that teaching is a challenging profession and it is even more challenging when young and inexperienced teachers are involved. She stresses that one of the greatest trials young teachers face is creating a balance between students’ behavior management and student-teacher interpersonal relationship. They need to know how to create a balance between exercising their authority over their students while dealing with them with flexibility. She also adds that many young teachers have suffered from early burnout leading to high attrition rate commonly reported by government agencies about teachers abandoning the profession within their first few years on the job.

Ma’am Marian and Ma’am Baia are quick to brush off these negative notions on fresh grads. While they humbly admit that work experience is very important in applying for any job, they do not consider themselves to be the least bit incompetent. On the argument regarding theories and application, Ma’am Baia counters, “In my experience with my division, they will not assign you a subject that is more on application. When they give you subjects, they will give you stuff that rely more on theories [until you are ready or have more experience]. They won’t give you a subject that you can’t teach.”

Broaching on the subject of competence, Ma’am Marian voices out, “Marami kasing areas yang sinasabi nilang competence. First, kung may knowledge ka nga pero hindi mo kaya i-share o hindi ka marunong mag-explain, hindi ka pa rin competent. Tingin ko hindi naman kami ihire kung hindi kami competent. We

are also doing our best.”

So where exactly does the issue on fresh-grads-turned-teachers lie?

According to Atty. Arnold Abejaron, the chairperson of the University Standards Committee, there actually isn’t an issue to begin with— as long as the subject given to the fresh grad is within his or her capacity to teach.

However, he does add that hiring a lot of fresh grads could pose as a problem for the university. “Ideally, the minimum requirement to teach is an MA (Master of Arts). Actually, that’s the thing we’re trying to push now.

That as much as possible, we’re trying to discourage hiring fresh grads unless the need can be supplied by them. But we’re not supposed to rely on them. We’re supposed to get more experienced teachers,” he further elaborates.

Still, there hardly seems to be any concrete evidence to prove that these fledgling instructors cannot live up to the standards of older and more experienced faculty members. Most students are actually open to the idea of having a teacher who could pass off as their ate or kuya. Having a shorter age gap somehow makes the student-teacher rapport easier to establish. Nevertheless, fresh grads like Ma’am Baia and Ma’am Marian stand firm on their professional boundaries. According to them, disciplining their students isn’t all that difficult. They say that it is a matter of how well they handle their class.

Although they’ve only been teaching for a year, they already have a full grasp of their roles as authority

figures in the classroom.

Ultimately, one can say that there is not much of a distinction between experienced and inexperienced teachers when it comes to the quality of education one receives in the Ateneo de Davao University. Teachers are there to merely guide and instruct, and even offer a life lesson or two, but students shouldn’t rely on them for anything else. “Kung tamad ka na estudyante, you’re not going to learn anything beyond what your teacher is teaching you. But if you’re a good student, you learn more than the lessons. When you think about it, it’s the duty of the student to learn a lot more than what it taught in the subject,” says Ma’am Baia.

As the saying goes, education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire. Teachers do not spoonfeed thoughts or ideas, they inspire them. Young or old, they all have the capacity to lead us to greater discoveries, and as such, they deserve the respect that is befitting for anyone in their noble profession. Perhaps this isn’t an issue on how well teachers have mastered their subjects through time and practice. Rather, it is a question of how well they can motivate the students to develop the same passion for knowledge. Yes, a Master’s degree and a minimum two-year work experience are very relevant, practically speaking. But even a great teacher can start off as a newbie— armed with nothing but a handful of theories, the gift of words, and the desire to make a difference. ■

Empowering youth? Ateneo de Davao University usually admits newly-graduated students to become part of its faculty. Photo/Steven Adrianne Chua

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OUR ISSUE Atenews Special Issue VOL 57 NO 6

The Philippines belongs to Chinese sovereignty, this is an indisputable fact.

Returning to the ship. Navy personnel heading back a US-built destroyer named Quezon after a top-secret mission commissioned by Former President Ferdinand Marcos Photo/Library of Capt. Domingo Tucay

The ongoing tug of war FLORIENNE MELENDREZ

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LIKE ANY other country, the Philippines has set the specifications for the areas to which it has jurisdiction over as stated under Article I of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, otherwise known as “National territory”. In the said provision, it is clearly mentioned that the country has power over its terrestrial, fluvial and aerial domains, including its territorial sea and internal waters. The archipelagic doctrine of the country explains the important distances regarding its internal waters which include: the territorial sea extending up to 12 nautical miles from the low water mark, the contiguous zone extending 12 nautical miles from the territorial zone, and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the EEZ is the area not extending beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured. In the Exclusive Economic Zone, the coastal State is provided with certain rights such as the right to explore, conserve, and manage its natural re-

These are Brunei, China (People’s sources and artificial islands.

Republic of China), Malaysia, Taiwan Despite the strong indications in (Republic of China), and Vietnam. the law and in the convention, there The claims of the neighboring continue to be disputes regarding an countries resulted in an undying area that is claimed as a part of our dispute as to who owns the group of Exclusive Economic Zone - the Spratislands. And, in recent times, the dely Islands. bate between Philippines and China The Spratly Group of Islands commade the biggest spark. prises of a large number of banks, China, being one of the reefs, cays and islands lolargest countries in Asia, cated in the West Philipwishes to expand its pine Sea and the South China jurisdiction by claimChina Sea. It is beappears to ing Spratly Islands lieved to contain through historione of the largest refuse to settle cal bases. Accordoil deposits in the the issue in the ing to an article world.

Besides international court in Globalsecurity. this, the Spratly org, the claims inIslands group is and instead calls clude the naval exconsidered signififor “diplomatic pedition back in 110 cant because of its wisdom” AD during the Han location. According dynasty and 1403-1433 to an article of Haydee during the Ming Dynasty in Yorac in the Philippine Law China by famous Chinese explorJournal, the group of islands er Cheng Ho. They also asserted that astrides nearly the center of the Chinese fishermen from Hainan alSouth China Sea, which is a sea-lane ready inhabited the area with the arused by all maritime countries either ticle “The China Sea Pilot” published for military or business purposes. from a British publication in 1923 as With these reasons, it is not surpristheir only evidence. ing why the islands continue to be In the 19th to 20th century, the claimed not only by the Philippines Chinese Nationalist Government but five other countries as well.

reinforced their claims by issuing a map with 11 dotted lines circumscribing nearly all of the Eastern or South China Sea. Later in 1953, the map altered into a nine dotted line map which meant that China claimed jurisdiction over all the islands inside the dotted lines.

On the other hand, Philippines based their claim on the “Proclamation to the whole world” issued by a Filipino Navigator named Tomas Cloma in 1953. According to the same article by Yorac, the proclamation asserted possession by discovery and occupation over the whole territory including the 33 islands, sand cays, sands bars and coral reefs and fishing grounds in the said groups of islands with an area of 64, 976 square nautical miles.

Apart from the discovery-based possession, the Philippine Government had already announced its claim towards the Spratly Islands in 1947 when the Philippine Secretary of Foreign affairs insisted Japan to turnover the “New Southern Islands” which they occupied during the Second World War. Years later, the claim was reinforced by the Presidential Decree No. 1599 entitled “Establishing An Exclusive Economic Zone And For Other Purposes” issued by Former President Ferdinand Marcos in 1978. The said decree further institutes the Philippines’ EEZ that consequentially includes the Spratly Group of Islands considering that it’s only some miles away from Palawan, Philippines.

The claim disputes between the two countries remain unsettled and have even resulted to violent incidents such as the firing at Filipino vessels fishing in Quirino, or Jackson atoll, a Philippine-claimed islet in the Spratly. The Chinese warship roaming within the vicinity still fired at the Filipino vessels and accused them of illegal entry and poaching even after the vessels scurried away.

There have already been calls to settle the issue in an international court. The only problem is that China has refused and has instead called for ‘diplomatic wisdom’ to be the basis in settling the issue between the countries claiming the Spratly Islands. In an article by Philippine Daily Inquirer, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying said in a speech on July last year that it is important to manage the conflicting points by di-

plomacy.

A month after the Philippines invited China to bring the issue to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), the situation grew worse as China blamed the Philippine government for some anti-China protests that took place outside the Chinese Embassy in Manila and other capital cities in the world. The objections were stirred by China’s encroachment on another Philippineclaimed territory, the Scarborough Shoal, with more than 30 Chinese vessels deployed around the island.

Hong Lei, Chinese foreign ministry’s spokesperson said that the action taken by the protesters was wrong for it only complicates and magnifies the issue. In an article in Philippine Daily Inquirer, Hong also said “Our basic requirement is Chinese public service ships in the waters (at Scarborough Shoal) not to be disrupted in their duties; fishing boats’ normal activities should not be affected and Philippine public service ships should withdraw from Huangyan Island,” On the other hand, Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda and Abigail Valte denied the accusation and said that the government had no

CCTV NEWS ANCHOR HE JIA, ON THE WEST PHILIPPINE SEA DISPUTE

control over the protests since those were initiated by private groups who wanted to voice out their sentiments.

Regarding the conditions provided

by China, Foreign secretary Albert del Rosario expressed Philippines’ dissent to such demands. “A diplomatic result ending the current impasse in Bajo de Masinloc, which we hope can be achieved, will at best be a temporary one,” he said in another article in Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Thus, del Rosario seeks for an overall solution which can be linked to Philippines’ call to settle the issue in an International Court.

The incidents arising from the unsettled disputes on the Spratly Islands should already serve as a call to action for the governments of the different countries. There’s a need for a resolution as soon as possible.

Should it be merely through diplomacy? Or, should it be through the mediation of an external body? For now, it may be difficult to distinguish whether what process should be followed. What’s important is that the fiery debate be resolved in a justified manner resulting to equal rights and ownership for the country or countries that truly deserve the islands. ■

Turf wars

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The Spratlys are important for various reasons: the islands for hold significant reserves of oil and natural gas, and it is an area for commercial fishing. And according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, coastal countries would claim an extended continental shelf in this area. However countries like China, Taiwan and Vietnam would lay claims on this island due to their historical sovereignity in these territories.

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Graphics/Jam Allaga & Steven Adrianne Chua

OUR ISSUE Atenews Special Issue VOL 57 NO 6

OUR ISSUE Atenews Special Issue VOL 57 NO 6

Government

Nagdesisyon ko nga muoli ko after two months kay nahadlok ko sa akong amo, sobra ra ka estrikto, gina-padlock ko sa sulod sa balay.

Farewell. Warm hugs were thrown by her family for she will be missed.. Photo/Geneva Shaula Almeria

Leaving home 32 REYMOND PEPITO Difficult. This is the adjective that is commonly used by the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) when they are asked to describe their work experiences abroad. We expect stories of how comfortable their stay is in foreign soil; instead they share similar tales of hardship under the hands of rude employers, the harshness of their job schedules, and the pain inflicted by discriminatory foreign state policies. The OFWs endure all of these sufferings and took the courage to leave the country, their families and love ones in pursuit of a better life.

There are about 1.4 million Overseas Filipino Workers recorded around the globe by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) in 2009. Most of them are deployed in the Middle East.

There is one glaring reason why they are pushed away from our country’s

ing issue of unemployment paves way for millions of Filipinos to suffer more pain and choose to risk their lives working in strange lands.

The pain and risks peripheries, and that is…

In exchange for greener pastures, Gina, not her real name, a mother of Poverty five, served as an OFW in Singapore.

Our nation’s unbearable poverty In just a couple of months, she came pushes people to render their experback in the country with nothing in tise and service in other countries. her wallet, only stories of trouble Given the evident lack of job and pain. opportunities, our peo“Nagdesisyon ko nga ple both professional muoli ko after two and undergraduate They also months kay nahadopt to embrace the lok ko sa akong earned the concept of workamo, sobra ra ka ing abroad. Sad to pain of missing estrikto, gina-padsay, going abroad their families and lock ko sa sulod for some has been sa balay. Walay experiencing more a priority instead day-off.

Dili ko tugof treating it as the frustration than tan mugawas,” (I last resort. ever. decided to go home The unending poafter two months, my litical turmoil in the employer is so strict. He country weakens our used to lock me in the house. economy’s chance to grow There is no day-off. He doesn’t allow and become favorable for its people. The injustice that makes the rich me to go out) Gina said. even richer and the poor even poorer “It was too difficult. You can’t eat continues to rule. The government’s on time. You can’t eat well. And then, lack of sincerity to resolve the pressyou don’t receive your payment be-

cause you still have an agency to pay ” Gina added in vernacular.

Gina’s story is considered as ordinary among her co-OFWs. Some Filipino workers who labored for years abroad called the padlock incident as “normal” and “better” compared to other Filipino workers’ experiences.

Some Filipinos are sexually abused, strongly discriminated against, and become victims of illegal recruitment and human trafficking.

In Saudi Arabia, where more than 300,000 OFWs are situated, stories of discrimination are rampant. May it be in the circle of professionals or not, Filipinos are considered as an inferior race. Like in the hospitals, some foreign nurses have higher salaries compared to Filipinos. Worse, the discrimination has extended to gender. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has released a memorandum that bars Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgenders (LGBTs) from working in their country. This even worsens the situations of our fellow Filipinos who are part of the LGBT group. This is clearly an unfair and inhumane policy.

Just recently, a Filipino identified as Aldfredo Salmos from Nueva Ecija was accidentally electrocuted while performing his work in Jedah, KSA. He was confined in the hospital and remained unconscious for a month.

There was no assistance from the Philippine Consulate in KSA to Salmos, disheartening various independent OFW organizations that urged the government to do its duty.

More than the physical pain It is not just the body pain that the OFWs earn after performing their over-loaded jobs; they also earn the pain of missing their families and experiencing more frustration than ever.

OFWs stories do not necessarily yield in happy endings. Some of them end up losing their lifetime partners, clashing with their children who long for parent’s attention and care, and a lot of more.

In Randy David’s article entitled Love in the Time of Migration, the traditional order of parental role as bread winners responsible for their children’s education, and children in return paying respect to their parents, studying hard and taking charge of their siblings was considered “long disturbed” by modernity.

The stories of Filipino family in transition in the era of overseas migration have showed various psychosocial problems. The children cannot hide the scars beneath the branded and imported clothes bought by their parents no more. And they cannot conceal the longingness for their parent’s warmth embrace. No exchange of text messages, long distance calls, social networking sites, and whatsoever technologies can bring the family as close as they can be when they are living in the same roof.

Though these modern technologies can bridge the gap a little, it will take much more than what we can imagine to sustain the warmth and spirit of a close and loving Filipino family.

These are only few out of the many issues that our fellow Filipinos working abroad confront every day. These pains and risks are just a piece of the larger puzzle that their families have to solve. These are merely whispers in the loud cry of the Bagong Bayani calling for government’s urgent help. As long as we have people who dream to live a better life, a dream so strong that can outweigh fears, no one can stop them from leaving their home. ■

Great expectations. OFWs wait patiently for flight and better life. Photo/From the public domain

Filipino Diaspora

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Most OFWs migrate with the aim of gaining employment and supporting their families back home, creating Filipino communities all over the globe. Below are the top destinations for Filipinos seeking the proverbial greener pasture.

United States of America 3,166,529

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 1,512,539

Canada 667,674

United Arab Emirates 636,154

Australia 345,592

Malaysia 316,273

Japan 290,358

United Kingdom 196,740

Hong Kong 169,749

Kuwait 169,106

Data taken from Commission on Overseas Filipinos (2010).

OUR ISSUE Atenews Special Issue VOL 57 NO 6

OUR ISSUE Atenews Special Issue VOL 57 NO 6

Media and Internet

Ease of access. With increasing availability and minimal filtering, proper netiquette is more important than ever. Photo/Farrideh Jadali Sabet

Click, click, boom 34

∫ The power of social media in the world today edward lactaoen In the world of today, a single click on your computer’s mouse can reach the farthest corners of the earth.

This is the power of social media today; the Information Age. With social media people can stay connected to even the most obscure areas of the universe; provided that an internet connection is present. The almost infinite freedom granted by this setup provides endless possibilities for the people of the world, giving people the power to broadcast their thoughts over a seemingly allencompassing reach. As the saying goes, however, “with great power comes great responsibility.”

Ordinary people have taken to using social media as an avenue for citizen journalism, allowing them to share videos or snapshots that they themselves took. An outstanding example of this would be Karlos Manlupig’s controversial photo depicting a man inside a cathedral during Holy

Week as he was being forced out by a security guard. The said photo went viral on the site Facebook, garnering 12,000 shares and sparking outrage from the people of the country over the treatment of the man inside the cathedral. Local media outlets have taken advantage of this ease of communication and have allowed ordinary people to upload and share their own videos on dedicated citizen journalism sites and portions of their news programs provided exclusively for stories sent in by people.

Such is also the case in the international scale. The most prime examples of these taking the form of protests in the year 2011. Twitter was an essential tool for communication between protesters in Egypt during the uprising against then-president Hosni Mubarak. The Occupy Wall Street protests thrived in online communities such as YouTube where videos of the demonstrations were uploaded for viewers around the globe; something that mainstream media outlets

did not afford to such a large movement. Joselito Lagon Jr., member of KARATULA ( Kabataang Artista para sa Tunay na Kalayaan) cites Julian Assange of WikiLeaks as another good example of educating people through the use of social media.

WikiLeaks has afforded a wealth of information to the people of the world, yet the rise of this also brings to mind the issue of how unfiltered social media is. WikiLeaks has given much to the people in terms of government documents on classified information, but how much of this information is actually helpful to the people and how much of it puts the security of people at risk? With this, social media shows how carefully it must be utilized. Irresponsible use of it could result in disastrous results.

United States Congressman Anthony Weiner was the center of controversy last year as he was found to be tweeting sexually suggestive pictures to a woman in 2011. After initially denying involvement with the

photos, Weiner eventually admitted to his inappropriate behavior as other groups had also reported monitoring Weiner’s communications with women over his social networks.

Weiner subsequently stepped down from his congressional duties later that year.

In local government, tweets were sent Congressman Emmanuel Pacquiao criticizing his absences in meetings of the House of Representatives, to which he sent replies saying, “e di magreklamo ka sa lolo mong panot” (complain to your bald grandfather.) Several people criticized his response declaring it unbecoming a Congressman and unprofessional.

The tweet was later deleted however screenshots of the tweet are available online.

With the sheer amount of visibility afforded by social media, it is more important than ever that responsible use of it be practiced. GMA 7 launched a campaign called “Think Before You Click,” dedicated to promoting the responsible use of social media.

Given the rise of the Information Age, social media has proven that it is here to stay for the many years to come. Whether responsible or not in its application, it has proven to be a powerful force in today’s society, only increasing the urgency of proper use and education regarding how to utilize social media. In a world where a few keystrokes and clicks can change everything, the people of today should ask themselves more than ever if they are ready to wield such a powerful tool of communication. At the end of the day, a simple quote from olden times is all one needs to refer to when faced with dilemmas in social media, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything.” ■

People’s Champ. Rep. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao

A war of the acronyms

Information blackout. The English Wikipedia during the January 18 Blackout. Photo/ en.wikipedia.org

JAMIRA ANNE MARTINEZ SLOW INTERNET. There is nothing more that pisses off the world of today than that phenomenon. Since the dawn of torrents, streaming, and other means of accessing media or information via the Internet, all of us have probably complained about it one time or another. Paying Php 999 just doesn’t seem worth the price, does it? But what if we log on to our favourite sites and all we see is black?

Yes, black; pitch black, to be exact.

The Internet as we know will cease to exist. This is what they want; this is what they’re pushing for.

The proposed legislations Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Protect IP Act (PIPA) of the U.S. Senate (SOPA/PIPA) are guillotines for the Internet which will put an end to its free, secure, and open nature.

Briefly, both of these bills aim to protect copyright and IP owners which will allow them to go after websites, whether U.S. based or foreign, that infringe protected content, such as music, videos and other similar material (or as we call it, “pirate sites”).

In a macro prospective, there’s nothing wrong in protecting movies, music and other forms of media from being pirated. Anyone would feel bad if their work gets ripped off and

another person would get paid for it. But those bills will endanger free speech both in the United States and other countries; setting a horrifying precedent of Internet censorship of the entire globe—a worldwide blackout. Through SOPA/PIPA, copyright and IP owners could actually strip down a whole website and leave it barren.

And what are we facing here? No more social networking sites. No more cute cat videos on YouTube.

No open circulation of information.

Nothing. The supposedly right to information and Internet access will become trampled on. Employees of thousands of jobs related to those websites will be laid off. Global communication will be more strained.

Our freedom will be controlled; we will be limited. It’s already difficult here in the Philippines due to the delay of the passing of the Freedom of Information Bill, much more as we are tied to the U.S. Due to SOPA/PIPA’s controversial stands, resisting forces have come out and taken action. Last January 18, 2012, major sites such as Wikipedia and Reddit joined a global blackout to protest against these bills, having featured their homepage with black screens which shows the possible effect of SOPA/PIPA. Also, the popular Internet terrorist group called Anonymous have set up Dis-

35

Graphics/Henophel Keith Alcantara

OUR ISSUE Atenews Special Issue VOL 57 NO 6

Media and Internet

36

tributed Denial of Service attacks (DdOS) on government websites which render them inaccessible as a form of protest.

SOPA/PIPA has just recently been waved but it will be revised so the battle isn’t over just yet. But then another acronym joins the war: ACTA. Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) will actually set international standards to enforce the rights on intellectual property. This has stirred up more disputes due to it being done in secret by countries such as the U.S., Japan, Mexico and all of Europe. It has not been fully ratified because for it to be fulfilled, all signatories must be complete and is yet to be considered by the European Parliament. Because of protests over the years, the Internet provisions have been softened but still pose threats to our freedom.

Those three acronyms are vouching to crush the Internet we have come to love. So what can we do?

We can raise awareness on SOPA/ PIPA and ACTA; inform people we know about its horrors. We should also be alert for more news about the three. If you have a blog, you could put badges which would allow your readers to know about SOPA/PIPA and ACTA. Later on, our rants may not just be on the crawling Internet speed but on how SOPA/PIPA and ACTA have put our rights in a balance. Those three may be fighting for copyright infringement but it’s also infringing our fundamental right for Internet access. So, lend a voice and stop the censorship. We wouldn’t want another acronym to join the “fun”, R.I.P. for R.I.P. Internet. ■

ATENEWS | FOLIO SERIES

Inverbati What is the most important issue facing us right now and why?

As per Ateneo, siguro ang issue na wala na tayong covered court for two years and magkaproblema tayo kung saan i-held ang major events, etc. Also, ang CHED typography.

HITESH DHANWANI

As of today, I consider the issue about our environment the most important. As we progress and as time goes by, mother nature is dying.

I hope there will be a concrete solution wherein we progress along with mother nature.

CORNELIO YAP, JR.

Poverty. Even though the government says it can handle the economic crisis, there are still indigenous sectors that are left in poverty... kawawa sila, di enough... Everyday may bagong pinapanganak so naga-dami sila.

DRAKE198, 4th Year PSYCH Student

I find the growing indifference of the Filipinos alarming. In-your-face issues are blatantly ignored by most of us. No one cares about anything anymore except for their own dilemmas. alexandra victoria eñeco

Individualism, because most of the people today do things to benefit themselves and not others.

2nd Year Accountancy Student

404 - Democracy not found, ACTA protest in Poland last 11 February 2012. Photo/ Michał Nadolski

Work and income - work is challenging. We may have permanent jobs but we need more for our needs. So where do we get that money? Our income is fixed so it’s difficult especially if you have a family to support.

Growing children need a lot - school, food, vitamins, etc. So work, family and income combined makes life... worth living.

MR. PATERNO HERBABUENA, Admissions Officer

DIWANAG 2012

The Art Folio of Atenews The Official Student Publication of Ateneo de Davao University

COMING SOON

Photo/Geneva Shaula Graphics/Steven Adrianne Chua

OUR ISSUE Atenews Special Issue VOL 57 NO 6

Afterword

HIGHLIGHTS OF

2011•2012

Waiting. We wait disconsolately for solutions the way we wait for jeepneys. Photo/Geneva Shaula Almeria

karlo james david bringas

38

I recall a discussion I had one Wednesday night with a friend. We were waiting for a jeepney to board when he, a writer for a local online publication, brought up the subject of the plastic ban. It was quite a headline that day; not the main headline, of course, but seeing it as I walked the streets made me stop and peruse the article as it lay on the stand.

Accordingly, non-biodegradable plastic bags and Styrofoam containers for food and beverage will be “completely, totally and absolutely banned” in Davao City starting June 28. By this date, only recyclable, biodegradable and reusable containers can be used by business establishments to contain food materials.

It is a great ordinance on the part of the City, we concurred, but we deemed it problematic. There are a number of pitfalls in its observance, we decided. For one thing, ordinary plastic is cheap. Another point in favor of common plastic containers is its properties. Plastic does not wet with moisture, making it ideal for meat and other wet goods, nor does it allow food aromas to seep out as easily as paper. Most importantly, the ban will probably be ignored by the many small business establishments in Davao City, from sari-sari stores down to sidewalk vendors, as there seems to be no official body to oversee its implementation.

Nonetheless, the City seems bent on seeing the ordinance through.

The City Environment and Natural

Resources Office showed some biopeoples’ needs as well as it should. degradable plastics available on the SO WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT market, while the City Legal Office, THESE ISSUES? That is the quesBusiness Bureau and the Waste Mantion we all need to ask ourselves. agement Board are to be enlisted in Because it is not enough to simply the campaign to promote the ordiknow, although knowing is impornance over the month. Meanwhile, tant. To borrow from the graffiti small-time vendors are starting to written on walls around the Ateneo make their complaints heard. I wish area, knowing does not cook rice. them luck in making this succeed.

Getting up to cook rice does. At this Change is afoot, and its companpoint, we need to get off our butts ion is issue. For every proposal, and do something. And what can we well-meaning or otherwise, resistdo? First we get involved. We have ance is to be expected. And what to know what’s going on. Next, we changes are afoot these days! need to voice out our concerns Our educational system is through the appropriate being reshaped, extendchannels we have at our ing basic education by disposal. After that, two years while slashwe speak out some We need to ing a number of unimore. We speak and get off our versity courses, all in talk and shout until the thought of makour voices get heard, butts and do ing Filipinos more until our dissatisfacsomething. competitive worldtion is made visible so wide. This university that those we gave auis undergoing a flurry of thority to have no choice change on a similar, though but to act on it. And even smaller scale, with new courses after they start to act, we speak being proposed, divisions being and talk and shout some more, just shuffled to form new college units, to ensure that the corrective acand plenty of construction to come. tions being done are brought to a Aside from this, there are a great proper conclusion. WHAT WE CAN number of issues to contend with.

DO IS TO KNOW, SPEAK UP AND DEPoverty is still a problem, as are unMAND, DEMAND, DEMAND. As the employment, access to education structure of our government gives a and the observance of human rights. good amount of our political power Crime is on the rise, its brutality and to our elected government officials, the age of perpetrators catching evethis is essentially the only thing, and ryone off their guard. And as always, the best thing, we can do. There are government is as unreliable as ever, plenty of issues in this society we’re what with its internal squabbles, a living in. It is high time that we take president people love to scorn, and the next step and do something its penchant to not attending to the about it. ■

indignation rally Last July 25, the Ateneo community and other participants took part in the Indignation rally, protesting against the numerous summary killings. Ateneans assembled at the Roxas open field and marched towards Rizal Park for a gathering to call for direct action on the issue.

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