volume xxxvi, ay 2014-2015, october- march
Bagwis 2
ABOUT THE COVER
Sophocles, in his magnum opus Oedipus Rex, taught us one thing: Not knowing who one really can lead to tragedy. Deep inside the heart of human existence lie a longing to know oneself and a desire to belong to a greater scheme of things. What is a person but a summation of self-definition and social belongingness? And in this social web of human survival, is there such thing or feeling as being alive without a sense of identity?Thisis to question, then, the ultimate nature of an MSUan in the context of self- and social identification: As MSUans, who are we? One, as expected, will always answer that an MSUan is someone who is lagom, hingaon og pastil, kusog mulakaw, dako og bagtak, lapukon og sapatos, kaspahon, and so on. Although it is undeniable that there are nuggets of truth—and, in a way, comedic value—in such characterizations, and that there seemingly is a consensus on the matter, they are only accidental and they fail to fully grasp the fundamental nature of an MSUan. They do not speak about what and who an MSUan essentially is. The question of identity and the search thereof do not operate on the level of superficiality. The aforementioned characteristics, furthermore, are just social structures—with the arbitrariness of a label and the rigidity of a stereotype—attached to us, which, in the long run, might lead to danger: Such arbitrary and stereotypical constructs create only a room where certainty and growth do not take place. So what could be the possible source of identity as MSUans—as individuals, and as anTheinstitution?answer is simple: core values. Unfortunately, however, we do not have those. Commonly, core values, as well as the vision and mission of an institution such as a university, can be found in the student handbook. Tragically, we do not have a student handbook, either (or we do, but is still in the process of revision that seems to be taking an eternity).Corevalues, defined basically, are values that serve as foundations on which we anchor our actions as members of a group, an organization, or an institution. They also function as catalysts that drive the members to perform well to achieve a common goal. With this, core values as source of an identity is not only confined in the domain of being: It also transcends to the realm of becoming. To further clarify what core values are, let us present some examples. The University of the Philippines (UP) has three: excellence, leadership, and service—all of which are represented in the three pillars of their Centennial Cauldron. The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), on the one hand, has five and are signified in each point of the star in their logo: integrity, ingenuity, industry, intelligence and internationalism.
DAVIDEditor-In-Chief:JAYSONB. OQUENDO Associate Editors: JADE MARK B. CAPIÑANES SHELLA MAE PAJOTA Managing SHARLENEEditor:MAEH. LAPIZ Circulation Manager: KAREN MAE G. CRAMPATANTA Features Editor: MAYSHELLE PALMA Sports Editor: REMWIL G. MAXILOM News Editor: JADE MARK B. CAPIÑANES Photo Editor: JAYSON DEODOR Layout Artist: ERICKSON E. CAUYAO Cartoonists: FELIX D. ESIC JR. • JOSE JERRY R. TAYACTAC ROIEN CARL C. ROJO • JUPHETER FRANCO Videographer: JOSEPHINE U. TEJADA Advisers: PROF. RUFA CAGOCO-GUIAM • PROF. JESSE ANGELO L. ALTEZ Trainees: DIXTER GLENN C. TANDOG • RONNIE BARRIENTOS EDEN MAE SOMODIO • RAFAEL C. ROMERO KEVIN AUTOR • HANNAH MAE G. ORELLA RONALD II E. SURILLA • REYLAN JAY N. MAGNO JONALYN MEJELLANO • ANNA MHARIZE TANO NICOLE LAURENCE DE VEGA • EDWIN SALAZAR
It is important to note that the fact that their core values are incorporated in their university symbols and logos suggests a totality, a deeprooted integration of their institutions. What does this mean? Not only do core values serve as foundations and driving forces but also as unifyingMoreover,forces.the importance of the presence of something can be exemplified by the possible circumstances arising from its absence. The very absence of core values—values to live by and to live with; values that unify and drive us to a shared goal—leads to the inability to know oneself as a part of something bigger; and, in one way, brings forth a sense of alienation and separation: That we are not unified by a common social identification makes us merely individuals and not a part of an institution, of a greater cause.
LOST: In Search of the MSUan Identity by Jade Mark Capiñanes
This magazine issue’s cover features a photographer’s representation of the stereo typed MSUan—traversing the desert-like terrain with the ever iconic pastil in hand. This attempt to make a dramatic satire of how an MSUan is viewed if we sum up all of the stereotypes. (Photo by Jayson Deodor)
In a universe where values are stars, core values serve as the heart of a solar system, very much like the sun in our solar system; they are the primary source of light—so primary that despite the presence and the passage of other light sources, in times of darkness, we seek for and always look back to them. Knowing our identity, in the individual and social level, is a form of signification: It is when we find our individual and social meaning and purpose. Without core values, we are nothing but static fragments; with core values, we become a dynamic whole. In an ever-changing world, what remains intact is who we are—our identity. The problem arises when we don’t know what it is.
For a very long time, we have been blinded by stereotypes and—frankly—have not known who we really are, as individuals and as an institution. Fortunately, however, unlike Oedipus, the moment we find our true identity, we won’t need to gouge our eyes out. For it is when we can finally see clearly.
The challenge and necessity for student activism is at its zenith and it is no longer an option to stay uninvolved. The Philippines is riddled with social and political issues concerning peace and order, the constitutionality of laws and the actions of those in power, and even the socio-economic effects on groups of people, especially in Mindanao. The Iskolar Ng Bayan cannot and must not remain in a safe, uninvolved stance. While the Iskolar ng Bayan must indeed be involved actively in such encompassing issues, he might be handicapped because he lacks identity. For years, an MSUan is branded with superficial things, associated with material and unnecessary stereotypes of being dark-skinned, pastilhungry, and strong-legged. He therefore lost his real identity, he has lost the essence of what an MSUan really is. In the absence of an identity comes the absence of a goal or a purpose, and as such, the MSUan has been basking in a pool of complacency while boasting of the glory of the excellence of select graduates of this school. This semester’s magazine issue of BAGWIS is about the search for this identity. Subsequently, it is also about being involved with the issues Mindanao, and the Philippines are facing. More than being an MSUan, we are also people of Mindanao. We must raise our voices despite the forces that try to muffle them, and aim for a better MSU and a better Mindanao. Browse through the pages of this issue, or you can check out the PDF copy online posted on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/msu. bagwis. May the libertarian streak prosper even more, and may we find who we really are, and may we stand up for the things we need to stand up for. David Jayson B. Editor-inOquendo-Chief
the Best Festival “Hall of Famer” award last year for the Culture and Arts- City Level Category. It was cited for having successfully retained its stature as the Country’s Best Festival- City level in the last three consecutive years since 2011. This award was from the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) –the implementing arm of Department of Tourism. ATOP collaborates with local government units and other tourism stakeholders nationwide. Several events were scheduled during the entire Kalilangan festivities. Among its highlights were the Kadsagayan sa Kalilangan and the Parada ng Lahi. The kadsagayan was the grand street dancing competition that depicted the diverse cultural traditions, colors, through its music, dances and floats. The Parada ng Lahi was a memorial parade marking the historic landing of General Paulino Santos upon the city’s shores. It was participated by civilians, men and women in uniform, and academicians.. “We may have an amalgam of cultures and diverse backgrounds but this fusion, blend, and mixture help us become what we are today, an embodiment of success stories,” said City Mayor Hon. Ronnel C. Rivera in his speech in the opening program. “Now we have our own brand and identity, Kapag galing Gensan, Panalo ‘Yan! Magaling, Mahusay –We are building our future in the strength of these characteristic traits,” Mayor Rivera added. Other highlights of this year’s Kalilangan included the Pakarajan sa Gensan: Moro day; the Kadsengal (song writing competition); the 1st Kalilangan Debate; Kulay, a digital art competition; Rakrakan sa Gensan (a rock music concert); a Strings Acoustic competition; Sayawitan Alay sa Kalilangan, and Survive, an urban dance Pakarajancompetition.isaMaguindanao word for festive gathering within a grand celebration. Pakajaran sa Gensan featured demonstrations of practices iconic of the city’s Moro constituents. The Kadsengal competition featured original music compositions of Gensan’s budding musicians. The members of the MSU-Gensan Debate Society were declared champions in the first ever Kalilangan Debate Tournament. The winning team included our very own David Jayson Oquendo, Bagwis Editor-in-Chief. Ms. Herlyn Faye de la Rosa, of the College of Business Administration and Accountancy, led the winning Debating Team. The other member is Mr. Ronnie John Barrientos, of the Political Science Department, College of Social Sciences and Humanities, also a member of Bagwis. Ms. De La Rosa was also declared Best Speaker in the tournament, with Mr. Barrientos as the third Best Debater. This year’s Kalilangan also featured activities that have been the regular fare of the celebration, like the Agri-Live Stock Fair, Mini Zoo and Forest, Job Fair, Fun Run, Zumba, Traders Fair and Flea Market, Sports Events, Fashion Show, Ang Parangal Kasaysayan: Photo Exhibit, Karnabal sa Kalilangan, and the Mindanao-wide Battle of the Bands.During the closing ceremony, the organizers presented Kariktan, showcasing the city’s best and brightest artists in the Oval plaza stage, and this was preceded by a giant dance off in the city oval plaza grounds and a spectacular fireworks display. Organizers said the dazzling fireworks and other highlights of the closing ceremony were expressions of gratitude to all constituents of Gensan, to all “Generals.” Mayor Rivera said declared during the closing ceremonies that “Today we are no longer the last frontiers, we are now one of the premiers –one of the premier cities not only in Mindanao but also nationwide.” We should always remember our founding pioneers for we are now experiencing the gains and the fruits of what they have started more than 76 years ago. The success that the city is having now truly makes it deserving to have the tagline, “Magandang Gensan!”
News | Bagwis 4Bagwis | News3
activityrepeatedthatHowever,University17-18,awarenessManagementadvocatinginCause:theme,Studentthe1stCityGeneralUniversity-StateMindanaoSantoscelebratedtheEnviUdaysthroughinitiativeofSupremeCouncilwiththe“ActionforaGreenerUpliftingEcoEthicsMSU-GSCCommunity,”SolidWasteandenvironmentalintheUniversity,February2015.EnviUdayswassupposedtobetheweekcelebrationofMSU-GSC.UniversityAdministrationwarnedactivitiesoflastIntramuralshouldnotbeduringUweek.Thus,theyfocusedtheirinenvironmentalawarenessandadopted
by Eden May Somodio by Eden May Somodio by Karen Mae Crampatanta
Boys Dormitory Main (BDM) outshined all dormitories of Mindanao State University-General Santos City during the celebration of their 15th Pasiklaban with the theme, “Strengthening the Spirit of Camaraderie and Building Harmony amidst Diversity” last February 25, 2015. The boys of dormitory main dominated in all the events of the whole day activity, showing unity and superiority in all the games. Games included darts, amazing race and volleyball (boys). BDM also won the Mass Dance contest and their representative was declared Mr. Pasiklaban 2015 during the culminating activity.BDM was declared champion and was followed by the Lady Dormitory Main (LDM). LDM gained points from scrabble, volleyball (Girls), hat and T shirt design and shined and won the Ms. Pasiklaban 2015 title. Lady Dormitory Annex (LDA) won the third place and led in the tug of war game, word factory and multi-media presentation while Boys Dormitory Annex (BDA) ranked fourth. They won a few games like chess and paint me a picture. Residents of all the dorms in the university (dormers) have organized the Pasiklaban on a yearly basis. It aims to promote unity and to showcase the different attributes of the dormers who come from different regions in Mindanao, with diverse cultures, religions, and personalities. This year’s celebration included out-door activities (tug-ofwar, paint-me-a-picture, amazing race, and volleyball), as well as some in-door activities (chess, dart, scrabble and word factory) and Mr. and Ms. Pasiklaban 2015. Mr. & Ms. Pasiklaban 2015 Both representing the dormitory main, Mark Anthony Ayuban of BDM and Gesha Wynna Obero of LDM were crowned as Mr. and Ms. Pasiklaban 2015. They stood elegantly on stage as they were crowned with the title. Showing their charismatic, beautiful and handsome faces, they walked confidently with their colorful attires. Mark and Gesha took over the crown from previous Mr. and Ms. Pasiklaban 2014. Mark Anthony Ayuban was also named as the one who had the Best in Smart-Casual Attire and Best Formal Attire. On the other hand, Gesha Wynna Obero collected several awards such as Best in Creative Denim, Best in Interview and was chosen Ms. May 2015. Together with Mark and Gesha, there were three more partners who joined the said competition representing their dormitories. Regin Timothy Bazar of BDM received a number of awards that included the Best in Production, Best in Creative Denim, Best in Interview and Special awards such as Mr. Photogenic and Mr. May 2015 and was declared as 1st runner-up together with his partner, Arriane Tanbukong of LDM. Arriane was also proclaimed Best the Ecological Solid Waste Management Program (ESWMP) Act of 2000. “Solid Waste Management is the focal point of implementing EnviUdays. It is a way of mitigating sa atuang waste dire sa University. So through implementing SWM and then part na to siya sa educational awareness sa environment. Kumbaga it’s an innovative way of implementing SWM,” said Hon. Vanjo Belinda, SSC President, during the interview through cellphone call. Said event was a two day activity having various programs and contests include the Queen of MSU, held at MSU Gymnasium as the opening salvo, night of February 17. As for second day of activity, SSC conducted Clean up Walk at 6:30 am from Sarimanok to MSU Gymnasium which participated by 112 LTS Students from College of Education and College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Symposium on Environmental Awareness and Disaster Preparedness, and Pastil sa Kasadya. Other activities had conducted and the results as follow: Extemporaneous Speaking (English), Ronnie Barientos declared as the first placer, followed by Shiela Manucay (2nd placer) and Paul Genesis Montejo (3rd placer); Poster and Slogan Making contest winners were Janine Mae Magbanua as champion, Angelou Samillano (1st placer) and Jezza Mae Nunez (2nd placer); Jonalyn Sioco (1st placer), Nathaniel Eigo (2nd placer) and Kimberly Navaja (3rd placer) won the Essay contest; the Team of 3rd year BSEd Biology namely, Mae Pearl Martinez, Jude Anne Mae Navarro and Cemalyn Ibrahim, claimed their victory in Eco-Quiz Challenge, Photography won by Jayson Cunanan (1st placer), Val Estal (2nd placer) and Jayson Deodor (3rd placer), and Maria Madel Palen shined in Infographic Making. As part of the celebration of EnviUdays, SSC awarded the top ten MSUan in Gawad Karangalan Para sa Iskolar ng Bayan based on their performance in academe. These Iskolar ng Bayan as follow: John Mark F. Miraveles, 4th year BSBA Economics with Grand Weighted Average (GWA) of 1.3597; Jean Claire P. Polancos, 2nd year BS Accountancy with GWA of 1.4239; Kaye Cristelle P. Lavarte, 2nd year BSEd English with GWA 1.4250; Fernnie M. Magalona, 5th year BS Civil Engineer with GWA of 1.4489; Carl Jay O. Gokotano, 3rd year BS Electrical Engineer with GWA of 1.4500; Aivee Ann H. Didulo, 2nd year BS Electrical Engineer with GWA of 1.4578; Rea Mae A. Hamiladan, 2nd year BS Biology with GWA of 1.4632; Ava Clarisse A. Santander, 5th year BS Accountancy with GWA of 1.4726; Rosaifa H. Radi, 2nd year BS Accountancy with 1.4819; and Alex R. Racines Jr, 2nd year Accountancy with GWA of 1.4855. Together with the mentioned top achievers, top ten of Dean’s Lister of every college of the said University has also beeninawarded.Production, Best in Smart-Casual Attire and Ms. Photogenic. The Best in Buhay-Dorm Attire was given to a partner from BDA and LDA, Ricardo Narvaiza and Nichaela Ayra Perin and also declared as 2nd runner-up. Nichaela has earned two more awards namely, Best in Formal Attire and Ms. Charmee. Syme Ray Benwaldo of BDA and Elaine Dubongco of LDA were the s uprunner-3rdpair.
“Magandang Gensan!” Heard anywhere in General Santos, this tagline will always be part of our ethos. It evokes of a beautiful place, and of people with diverse cultures and history; of a gentle home, that will always be a part of our system. From being tagged as “the dust city,” General Santos has evolved into a city of champions, into “the tuna capital” of the country. All of us are definitely proud of our diverse cultural heritage and in the pioneering spirits of our forefathers,. Such legacy has helped in forging an identity as a city of achievers. As we celebrate General Santos City’s foundation anniversary with the theme, “Kultura ko, Identity ko.” (My culture, my identity) we express our endless gratitude to our city pioneers and current leaders for having nurtured the spirit of cultural diversity by paying tribute to the cultures of the indigenous peoples as well as the migrants who made this city their homes. Kalilangan–a Maguindanaoan word for “celebration,” aptly encapsulates our city’s foundation anniversary festival: a celebration of cultural diversity. The Kalilangan Festival is celebrated for at least one week, from February 22 to 27 every year. The culminating day of the celebration, February 27, has been declared a local public Gensanholiday.haswon
by Rafael Romero Editorial | BagwisBagwis
If this is the general sentiment, then we can assume that Northerners in general are calling for genocide. Now, if their premise of scrapping peace talks and launching all-out war, regardless of collateral damage, is borne out of their fear of an ISIS-like genocide from Moros, what makes those Northerners different from them? Didn’t the troublemaking groups themselves gain at least some credibility among their own people because of some distant Northerner polity trying to impose the centralist dictum of “One Nation, One Law” for so long? Didn’t the Moros espouse the struggle for self-determination because they were tired of groveling to some distant central authority for handouts, groveling to an “august” body dominated by Northerners who couldn’t even understand the Moros and their grievances? Weren’t they tired of that overly-clingy big brother from the North who forces them to play under his rules in spite of the fact that the two grew up in very different sociopolitical environments?Thatiswhy we Southerners could sometimes look to our Moro neighbors with a hint of sympathy when the Northern dogs of war are baying for blood, for war hidden ostensibly in the cloak of “justice” and “retribution”. We know more than any Northerner that the reason why they are calling, praying fervently for the success of the peace process and the avoidance of a return to war is because they are so much tired of playing bakwit, tired of the sounds of gunfire, tired of the prospect of having your relative killed and your properties or livelihoods all turned into ashes. In the end, we don’t need the opinion of ignorant Northerners to decide what happens to us Southerners. “Are we ready for democracy?”
The recent Mamasapano incident (call it massacre, or “misencounter”, or whatever you like), one which will be forever remembered in the annals of this country’s history, recalls to mind two things. First is that the high-risk operation conducted by the PNP’s Special Action Force (SAF) could be a nod to Indonesia’s Densus 88 (Detachment 88). The Detasemen Khusus 88 is the Indonesian police’s elite special forces unit heavily specialized in counter-terrorism ops, and which has been considerably successful in disrupting Central Javan terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah’s activities by capturing or killing (mostly killing) top JI operatives and leaders. Similar to our SAF’s 84th Special Action Company, Densus 88 was trained by various US and Australian intelligence agencies. Unfortunately, the famed Densus 88 raids in Poso and Surakarta were conducted in urban environments, and not in swampy sanctuaries deep inside the territories of heavily-armed insurgent groups.
The second thing is that Oplan Exodus turned out more like the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu. Here, US Army Special Forces contingents mounted an operation to capture a local Somali warlord’s lieutenants during a meeting at the Bakaara Market, at the heart of the warlord’s territory, using air assault/ aerial insertion by helicopter and mechanized ground maneuver. The mission was initially successful, but not before stirring the hornet’s nest – hundreds of Kalashnikov-toting militia soon surrounded the Americans, shot down two helicopters and trapped them for the night before the crisis culminated in a dawn rescue by US/UN tanks and a retreat on foot. This Pyrrhic tactical victory, which we now know as “Black Hawk Down”, cost the lives of 18 American soldiers, led to the US withdrawal from Somalia and even influenced (or haunted) US foreign military policy until 9/11. Mamasapano, by virtue of its socio-political impact, could very well be the Philippines’ equivalent to Mogadishu. Though no helicopters were actually downed, the death toll of 44 theamongelite Philippines for: the controversy surrounding a multimillion villa in Nueva Ecija, and his complete and utter obstinacy or stubbornness to take account or explain for the controversy. Now, it was revealed, he was calling the shots for a high-risk operation that went horribly wrong. It defies logic and understanding as to how a disgraced general “on leave” or “preemptive suspension pending investigation” managed to usurp and bypass current chains of command to mount his own covert, unilateral wet-dream operation. No wonder a lot of people are very pissed off. Admit it, we pretty much were amused or enjoyed listening to firebrand Senator Miriam unleash a no-holds-barred verbal Ilongga beatdown on Purisima as it was being broadcast on live radio and television. It can be surmised that only Purisima might have been given crucial US intelligence information, but Miriam was probably correct in telling Purisima that “had he not dipped his fingers in the pie, the 44 could have lived.”
Screw your Northerner “democracy” if that is the case.
| Editorial5
The squabble over who really messed up could continue well into the future. Heads may eventually roll for this disaster, but unfortunately even that could not bring the fallen commandos back to life.And neither would all-out war. What happened at Mamasapano has opened up another wider dimension for national debate: the ongoing peace process between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front; and the issue of the Bangsamoro. Doubts have now been cast. The drums of war rumble loudly, and we can hear them on the grapevine, in media and more importantly, on social media. From the looks of it, one might be tempted to see that the conflict is presented in the “Christian versus Muslim” sort of dichotomy – as it has always been. But if one tends to look closer, it would turn out that it is more “Northerner (Luzon/Visayas) versus Southerner (Mindanao).”Where else, after all, does the McCarthylike haranguing senator – whose is both utterly shameless and obstinately unapologetic for his disrespect and ignorance – hail from? Certainly not from the South. Where else do all those who cry out for “all-out war” come from? Surely, not from Mindanao.Thewarmongers who at least try to make their argument of trashing the peace process look smart, on one example, exhort people to learn from the “Sri Lanka Final Peace Process (SLFPP).” That thing should be made required reading for everyone in the Philippines. Sri Lanka this, Sri Lanka that. The majority Sinhalese Sri Lankan government, after all, did beat the living snot out of the rebelling Tamils for good. Never mind that Google never yields a SLFPP as it were a real thing, and reading on the Sri Lankan Civil War in Wikipedia reveals that tens of thousands of civilians died in the crossfire and atrocities during the 2009 final assault. But hey, at least they managed to wipe out the troublemakers and bring peace to the island! Never mind that Mindanao is a wholly different case from Sri Lanka. Never mind that the Moros are a totally different bunch from the Tamils. Never mind that the Moro issue goes way back, and that the Moros have been fighting for centuries. Fighting for domination, or at least self-determination? Who then, is to blame for a people’s psyche of independence borne out of a different cultural Becausebackground?itisveryeasy to surmise that many Northerners, especially the vociferous ones, are pretty much ignorant of history and the situation over in the South. We couldn’t be far from the truth if we’ll say that they look at Mindanao and its issues as a mere bane to their existence. At least we Southerners learned a bit from our History 3 classes. Never mind making Histo3 nationwide: the Northerners would only see it as history tainted, twisted and manipulated by Moro propaganda.All-outwar, they clamor up North. Set things on fire to save us? When the retaliation for all-out war comes, it would be us who would be paying the price, not those clueless Northerners. We will bear the brunt of the bombings, the strafing, ambuscades, assassinations and abductions. They can call it out so loud because war will never touch them there. Would we expect Bulakenyos or Pampangos to become bakwits themselves because of all-out war? Will we expect widespread bombings in malls, marketplaces and transportation in the north? Never. That’s why they’re so much into egging the armed forces to conduct all-out war. “Kill all the rebellious Moros! Shoot the damn relatives who’ll support them too!”
There is also the debate regarding as to why the military failed to mount an overwhelming response to the besieged SAF men. The Army quickly pointed its finger to both the cease-fire agreements and policies in place at the time, to which a general described as, “having their hands tied by ceasefire mechanisms”, as well as the fact that the military was plain unaware of the operation. (The SAF had this legit fear that informing the army or coordinating agencies would tip off the MILF or BIFF.) To be honest, had the military came in Leeroy Jenkins-style – with artillery support and chopper gunships blazing – the intervention would have been enough break the ceasefire. Then more people would die. Pragmatic move then, it may seem, but we would like to assume that it was still very painful for the military to witness the bloodbath of fellow men at arms whilst being compelled to pretty much stay put because of wider politicomilitary realities and consequences. But the controversy over Mamasapano which probably takes the cake is the shocking revelation that disgraced police General Alan Purisima was actually calling the shots for Exodus, despite being suspended from the post of chief of police, without the knowledge of both the Interior Secretary and then OIC police chief. The pot-bellied general had become a household name thethroughout
police commandos (with one unit, 55th SAC, almost having been wiped out to a man) proved too high a casualty rate and sparked both national mourning and outrage, fueled even more by leaked footage of desecration and pilferage of the dead commandos’ weapons and personal effects, as well as the battlefield executions of the wounded.Focusof the heated debates nationwide has been largely pointed at finding those accountable for the debacle, both at the tactical and strategic level, from the operational realm to that of the political. First is the tactical (or battlefield) error committed during the operation. One would be baffled as to how they even considered entering an area that serves as the bailiwick and sanctuary for hair-trigger heavily-armed groups (read: the BIFF 1st Brigade and the MILF 105 and 118 Base Commands). These units have been known to be aggressive and impetuous, and understandably they wouldn’t take kindly to intrusion of their territory of any kind, especially one that comes in the dark of dawn. It is known that the SAF commandos got pinned down in a cornfield, with basically no cover, while they were being picked off by treetop snipers. The 105th Command is notorious for being the “largest and best equipped of the MILF’s various field divisions”, with recent footage showing marksmen in their ranks sporting local versions of the .50 caliber Barrett rifle - which explains the gruesome head injuries sustained by those killed, apart from those executed.(We also know that Ustadz Kato, the BIFF leader, once commanded the 105th before he and his ilk took their own path at insurgency, which tells a lot. The BIFF could’ve “borrowed” 105th BC weapons which were used to deadly effect against the commandos. Both camps were also, theat time, co-located at a very neighborly distance from each. Secure haven indeed for the mad bomber-man Marwan.)
6
Ang katotohanang ito ay dapat na magsilbing hamon din sa mga kinauukulan. Kung hindi tayo kikilos ay patuloy tayong mapag-iiwanan ng iba at mananatili na lamang nakakulong sa tanikala ng disyertong ating pinanggalingan. Kung patuloy tayo sa pagsasawalang bahala ay kawangis na rin ito sa atin mismong pagtalon sa kumunoy na hihigop sa atin upang hindi na makaahon pa. Wala namang MSUan na bobo at mangmang, nakakalungkot lang na tayo’y nananatiling nakagapos pa sa mga kakulangan ng isang institusyong hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin pinupunan. Nakakapanlulumong isipin na ang mga taong may hawak ng susi sa kung ano mang nakagapos sa ating aking kakayahan ay ayaw naman tayong pakawalan.
Sharlene
Usapin ng Represyon
Kabilang na rito ang censorship o ang pagpipigil sa pagpapalabas ng katotohanan, pamamagitan ng administrasyon ng unibersidad, di makatarungang pangingialam ng advisers sa mga gawain ng pamahayagan, withholding of funds, libelo, panghaharas, suspension o expulsion at marami pang iba. Nakakapanlumo na hindi lamang isa o dalawa sa mga paglabag sa karapatan sa pamamahayag ang nagiging mitsa sa diwa ng campus press freedom, marahil lahat sa mga ito’y naranasan na ng bawat indibidwal sampu ng lahat ng pamahayagan sa kampus. Ang mas nakakapanlumo pa rito, walang penalty clause ukol sa mga Campus Press Freedom Violations na nabanggit sa unahan. Ang Campus Journalism Act of 1991 ay hilaw pa upang tuluyang mawakasan ang opresyong bumabara sa pag-usad ng katotohanang karapatang malaman ng lahat, naghihintay pa ng amendasyon.Kungsusuriing mabuti, maraming balakid ang hinarap ng pamahayagang pangkampus noong mga nagdaang taon na humamon sa tatag ng pamahayagan. Kabilang na rito ang paghawak ng pondo ng isang adviser na kung saan, dapat ay pinamamahalaan ng Managing Editor ng pamahayagan. Ito rin ang nag-ugat upang hindi maipalabas ang dalawang magkakasunod na issue ng pamahayagan sa taong iyon. Hinarap din ng matinding opresyon ang mga manununulat mismo na kung saan kontrolado ang mga artikulong nailalathala sa pamahayagan. Subalit ngayon ay iba na ang ihip ng hangin. Ngayon ay unti-unti nang binibigyang-buhay ang kalayaan sa pamamahayag, ito ang dahilam kung bakit nababasa ninyo ngayon ang artikulong ito. Hindi na lingid sa ating kaalaman ang mga balakid na kinaharap ng ating pamahayagang pangkampus at ng mga pamahayagan sa bawat kolehiyo. Iilan lamang sa mga ito ang napabalita nang pagka-unsyami ng pagpapalabas ng dalawang semestreng isyu ng pamahayagang pangkampus dahil sa mga paktor na maihahanay bilang Campus Press Freedom Violations. Layunin ng mga estudyanteng mamamahayag na maging bihilante sa mga pangyayari sa kampus at magpaalam ng tamang impormasyon subalit paano nila ito magagampanan kung ang kapalit nito’y pananakot mula sa mas nakakatanda’t may kapangyarihan sa pamantasan? Ang takot na baka hindi makapagtapos sa tamang oras dahil sa opresyong natamo mula sa layuning maisiwalat ang pawang katotohanan? Ang bawat pamahayagang pangkampus, bilang instrumento ng malayang pamamahayag sa isang pamantasan, ay nagsisikap na matugunan ang layuning magpaalam dahil ito ang rason ng kanilang pagkakatatag. Kung titingnang maigi, hindi itinatag ang pamahayagan upang kalabanin at mamuna lamang ng mga gawain sa administrasyon ng pamantasan at pangkalahatang isyu ng bansa, ang pamahayagan ay nariyan upang maging boses ng katotohanan at magpabatid ng maaaring solusyon sa mga suliranin. Kung ang pamahayagan ay nakatali sa walang pundang na opresyong maisakatuparan ang kanilang layunin, paano nito magagampanan ang tungkuling magpahayag?Angpamahayagan ay hindi isang puppet ng pamantasan. Ito’y hindi isang brochure na ipinapakita lamang kung ano ang kanais-nais. Ang katotohanan ay dapat manaig at ang kasamaan ay dapat masupil. Kung tayo ay kumikilos ayon sa etiko, wala tayong dapat na ikatakot. Hindi lamang umiikot ang relasyong pampahayagan sa pamahayagan at sa mga mambabasa, may responsibilidad din ang administrasyon at lahat ng nasasakupan nito na suportahan ang pamahayagan sa pagpapalabas ng tamang impormasyong hindi dumaan sa represyon.
| Bagwis 8
kooperasyonatkumpetisyonASEANINTEGRATION
Ang Mindanao Development Authority at Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Mindanao ay bumuo na ng Mindanao Trade Policy Center upang maging katuwang sa pagbuo ng koneksyon sa mga kalapit na bansa, at upang maiangat na rin ang estado ng pagpapalitan ng produkto, turismo, at iba pang usapin sa pananalapi. Ngunit ang pagpasok ng Pilipinas sa bansang ito ay hindi lamang magdudulot ng epekto sa ekonomiya. Dahil sa napipintong kooperasyong ito, magkakaroon din ng malaking epekto sa yamang tao ng bansa dahil na rin sa katotohanang ang ating mga manggagawa ay isa sa mga bumubuhay sa ating ekonomiya.
Bagwis | Editorial7
Ang Campus Press ay isang direktang ekspresyon ng Press Freedom sa isang kampus, may sariling kapangyarihang pamahalaan ng mga estudyante at kumikilos ayon sa layuning nais makamit. Gamit ang kapangyarihang garantiya ng Campus Journalism Act of 1991, sinisikap ng bawat pamahayagang pangkampus na maisiwalat ang katotohanan para sa saklaw nitong mambabasa. Subalit kung oobserbahang mabuti ang kapaligirang saklaw ng Campus Press sa ating unibersidad, masasabi nga ba nating nakamit natin ang Press Freedom? Ayon pa sa Bill of Rights of the 1987 Constitution, may demokratikong karapatan tayong makapamahagi at makatanggap ng impormasyon at mga ideya sa tulong ng kahit anong midyum, ito ay ang Press Freedom. Hindi rin maikakaila ang talamak na aplikasyon ng Press Freedom sa social media at maging sa mga usap-usapan ng mga estudyante pero kung titingnan ang kalagayan ng pamahayagang pangkampus ng mga kolehiyo at ng unibersidad bilang kabuuan, nakakamit nga ba ang diwa ng Campus Press Freedom? Naipapahayag nga ba ng mga publikasyon ang kanilang mithiing maging boses ng mga nabubusalan? Oo. Ang pamahayagang pangkampus ang boses ng kanyang nasasakupan at nagsisilbing gwardiyang tagapagsita sa mga kamalian sa buong unibersidad. Kaagapay ng bawat mamamahayag ang probisyon ng Campus Journalism Act of 1991 na walang estudyanteng mamamahayag ang maaaring isuspende o patalsikin sa pamantasan base sa kanyang mga isinusulat. Masasabi nating makapangyarihan ang bawat salita at tintang sagisag ng ating kamalayan ngunit sa likod ng probisyong ito ay nagkukubli ang masidhing pagyurak sa pinaniniwalaan nating kalaayan. Ito ay ang mga Campus Press Freedom Violations.
Kung pasilidad lang din naman ang pag-uusapan, tiyak na dehado tayo sa labanan. Marami pa ring mga silid-aralan ang kailangan ng pagkukumpuni. Ang ating library, na tinagurian mang pusod ng institusyon, ay hindi pa rin napapakinabangan sa ngayon. Sa mga aklat naman ay nahuhuli din tayo kung ikukumpara sa mga kalapit na unibersidad sa lunsod. Nakakatuwa mang isipin na kasalukuyan ng ginagawa ang IT laboratory at Engineering laboratory, pinaniniwalang salat pa rin ang mga bagay na ito upang marating natin ang tugatog ng sinasabing kaledad ng edukasyon. Kung susumahin, isang malaking hamon ang AEI sa mga mag-aaral ngunit mas malaking responsibilidad ang nakapataw sa balikat ng mga tagapamahala ng paaralan.
Ang pagpapalitan na nabanggit sa rationale ng AEI ay hindi labang limitado sa ating mga produkto, kasama na rin dito ang inaasahang paglobo ng bilang ng mga dayuhang papasok sa bansa hindi lamang dahil sa pagpapaunlad ng ating turismo kundi dahil na rin sa ang mga dayuhan ay mabibigyan din ng pagkakataong magtrabaho sa bansa. Dahil dito nakikita ng ating pamahalaan na hindi lamang kailangan ng bansa ang reporma sa mga polisiya sa ekonomiya at nangangailangin ding repasuhin ang mga kakulangan sa sistema ng edukasyon upang ang mga Pilipino ay hindi mapag-iwanan ng mga dayuhang papasok sa bansa.Bilang paghahanda sa kaganapang ito, naipatupad na ang K-12 apat na taon na ang nakararaan. Sa mga bansang kasapi kasi ng ASEAN, ang Pilipinas na lamang ang mayroon lamang 10 taon sa elementarya at hayskul. Parte na rin ng paghahanda ang hakbang na ginawa ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas at iba pang mga paaralan sa Maynila sa pagbabago ng pasukan. Mula sa nakasanayang Hunyo hanggang Mayo, ay naging Agosto hanggang Hulyo na. Inaasahan din naman na ang hakbang na ito ay susundin ng iba pang mga State Colleges and Universities (SUCs) gaya ng Mindanao State University System na kinabibilangan ng ating unibersidad.Kunglayunin lamang ang pag-uusapan, walang dudang dapat lamang na bigyan ng pagpupugay ang ating mga lider na nanguna sa kanilang mga inisyatibo sa pagpapaunlad ng rehiyon. Ngunit kagaya nga ng isang batas na hindi naman naipatutupad, nangangailangan din ang programang ito ng maayos na implementasyon. Dahil kung hindi mauuwi lang din naman ito sa wala. Kawangis ng isang mabangis na hayop ngunit wala naman palang pangil, magmumukha lang itong katawa-tawa. Dito sa Pilipinas,maraming mga eksperto pa rin ang naniniwala na ang pagkamit sa mga layunin ng AEI ay nananatili pa ring suntok sa buwan. Lumalabas sa pag-aaral ng The Economist noong taong 2013 na nasa 6.3 bahagdan lamang mula sa bilang na 147 kumpanya sa SEA ang naniniwalang makakamit ang AEI ngayong taon. Ito rin ang kinalabasan ng pag-aaral ng Asian Development Bank at Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. Nanatiling matatag naman ang positibong paniniwala ng National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) at ng Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) sa kabila ng salungat na pananaw ng ilang mga negosyante sa bansa. Ang kooperasyon kasi na dala ng AEI ay kakambal din ng kumpetisyon sa negosyo, edukasyon, at iba pang larangan. Nanindigan si Nestor Tan, pangulo ng BDO Unibank Inc., na hindi pa handa ang industiya. Ito rin naman ang paniniwala ng Standard and Poor’s na nanatiling banta ang katotohanang mapag-iiwanan ang mga lokal na bangko dahil hindi nito kayang makipagsabayan sa nakaambang na kumpetisyon. Dagdag pa ni Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Diwa Gunigundo, kahit pa pagsama-samahin ang lahat ng ari-arian ng mga bangko sa Pilipinas, katumbas lang nito ang isang malaking bangko sa Malaysia. Kung pagiisahin naman ang tatlong pinakamalalaking bangko dito sa bansa, katumbas lang nito ang isang bangko sa Thailand. At nakapanlulumo mang aminin, ang pinagsama-samang kapital ng buong Philippine Banking System ay baka hindi pa kayang mapantayan ang isang bangko sa bansang Singapore. Inaasahang kulelat din ang bansa sa larangan ng edukasyon. Sa susunod na taon pa lang kasi magsisimula ang programang K-12 na nasimulan na ng ibang mga bansa ilang dekada na ang nakararaan. Sa mga pananaliksik naman ng Quacquareli Symonds, nangangamote ang UP kung ikukumpara sa National University of Singapore. Ano naman kaya ang magiging implikasyon nito sa ating mga MSUan? Maituturing mang tanyag ang Mindanao State University – General Santos City dito sa ating rehiyon, ngunit hindi maikakailang nananatili pa ring pilay ang pundasyon ng sinasabing kaledad ng edukasyon na ibinibigay ng unibersidad kung ikukumpara sa UP, at lalong-lalo na sa iba pang tanyag na paaralan sa Southeast Asia. Kung mabibigyan ng kalayaan ang mga dayuhan na sa pagpasok at pagtatrabaho ng bansa, mas malaki ang posibilidad na mas pipiliin sila dahil sa kaledad ng edukasyong kanilang natamo. Katotohanan itong masakit man isipin, ngunit hindi natin kailanman matatakasan. Bilang mga MSUans at tinagurian na ngang Iskolar ng Bayan, ang tinatawag na kooperasyon ng mga kasaping bansa sa ASEAN ay nangangahulugan din ng kumpetisyon. Kaya ba nating makipagkumpetensiya sa kanila?
Nakararanas ang Pilipinas ng samu’t saring krisis panlipunan. Nangangandarapa pa ang ating Senado sa paghahanap ng katotohanan sa mga nangyari sa Mamasapano. Dahilan din ito kung bakit kasalukuyang kinakaharap ng ating Pangulo ang isyu ng pagsasampa ng impeachment. Patuloy pa rin sa ngayon ang laban tungo sa kapayapaan dito sa Mindanao. Sa kasalukuyan marami pa rin ang ating mga kababayang lumalangoy sa putik ng kahirapan. Sa kasagsagan ng pangangapa natin upang umahon sa lahat ng mga ito, marahil ay hindi na natin nabatid na isinasampal na naman pala sa atin ang responsibilidad at pagsubok sa pagsasakatuparan ng mga layunin ng Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Integration. Taong 2003 nang napagkasunduan ng 10 na estadong kasapi ng ASEAN na bumuo ng single production base at market pagdating ng taong 2020. Sa muling pagpupulong ng mga lider ng mga estado, napagkasunduang mas madaliin ito sa taong 2015. Inasahan ng ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) na sa pagtutulungan ng mga bansang Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pilipinas, Singapore, Thailand, at Vietnam magkakaroon ng isang matatag at maunlad na rehiyong kayang makipagsabayan sa mga bansang higante ang ekonomiya sa mundo. Kakambal nito ang pagkakaroon ng pagkakapantay-pantay na paglago ng ekonomiya, pagtuldok sa kahirapan, at iba pang pagpapaunlad sa iba’t ibang dimensyon ng lipunang nasasaklaw ng rehiyon. Kung tuluyan ngang maisasakatuparan ang mga layunin ng AEI, magiging madali na ang pagpasok at paglabas ng mga produkto mula sa bansang kasapi ng rehiyon. Binibigyang diin nito ang pagtutulungan upang punuan ang kakulangan ng mga miyembro. Halimbawa ang kakulangan ng bigas sa bansang Pilipinas ay maaring punan ng bansang Vietnam na kasapi rin ng samahan. Samantala ang paglabas ng bansa ng mga Pilipinong manggagawa patungo sa mga bansang Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, at iba pa ay mapapadali dahil ituturing na tayong iisa.Dito naman sa Mindanao, lalong-lalo na sa Lunsod ng Heneral Santos, ang AEI ay inaasahang magpapalakas sa dati ng Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-MalaysiaPhilippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) sub-regional cooperation.
Sa ni Mae Lapiz ni Kevin Autor Editorial
Agri and Fish top list of in-demand courses
7 more cases in 3 weeks! Health authorities in General Santos City are alarmed with the increase in the number of young professionals who were diagnosed as infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). If not treated early, this will result to the condition Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Alarmingly, most of the confirmed HIV/ AIDS cases in the city included 99 males and 30 females and mostly are among male professionals in the 22-25 age bracket who engage in “risky sexual behaviors.”
Miting de Avance highlights
News| Bagwis 10
On March 2014, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has released the official list of in-demand and priority college courses for A.Y. 2014-2015 and A.Y. 2017-2018. Agriculture and Fisheries on the areas of Agricultural Engineering, Agribusiness/ Management, BS Fisheries, and Agricultural Economics topped the list of the most indemand college courses for 2014-2018. Engineering ranked 2nd, Science and Math in 3rd, Information Technology in 4th, and Teacher Education in 5th.
DOTA to be banned in GenSan?
The said game was first banned in Brgy. Salawag, Dasmarinas, Cavite due to the death of two young students. The ordinance imposed a penalty and would eventually result to closure of the internet shop if proven to have this game in their files, or if they are shown to have allowed young students play DOTA in their shops.
STAND regains SSC top posts
HIV cases on rise among young professionals
Donna Jane Simeon, ASAP’s candidate for councilor, was obviously irritated when asked about her resignation in her Presidential post in the PESO Office in time for SSC Elections and her evident participation in the organization’s recent event even after her resignation. “Yes, I resigned. Pero hindi ako nang-iwan sa ere.. tinapos ko yung mga activities na pinlano namin ng mga kasama ko.”
Dr. Mely Lastimoso, coordinator of the City Health Office’s (CHO) Social Hygiene Clinic, raised the apprehension as she disclosed that seven more residents have turned out to be positive of HIV in the last three weeks, bringing the total incidence in the area to 168 from 161 in October 2014. “Our new cases all involved young professionals and that has been the trend these past months”, she said in an interview over a local television station.
SSC Presidentiable of STAND party, Sharene Joy Chatto, mistakenly used the word “plantsado” in her reply to ASAP’s Presidentiable, Jordan Amadora’s question during the so-called ‘Versus Round’ where each candidate was given a chance to ask one question to his/her adversary. “...hindi naman kami magbibigay ng financial statement na hindi plantsado.”
In a series of inter-agency meetings conducted last September 30 and October 24 of 2013, the representatives from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC), and Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU) agreed that students should be encouraged to take the following priority courses in the next five years.
City councilor Richard Atendido in an interview said that he proposes to pass an ordinance banning Defense of the Ancients, better known as DOTA, in the local internet cafes because of its negative effects to the youth.According to the councilor, the addiction causes the students to skip classes and be absent just to be able to play the game. Moreover, profanity and swearing are also some of its evident ill effects.
MSU-GSC STAND party continues its way of leadership as all of its major candidates plus a majority of its candidates for councilorship won in the recently conducted Supreme Student Council (SSC) Elections, March 13. Chatto-Doroja-Parcon (STAND) team won against Amadora-Agang-Melicor (ASAP) tandem for the top 3 posts--President, Vice-President, and Secretary-General respectively. For the posts of councilors, Reyes, Diaz, Bazar, de Jose and Labrador from STAND won. Meanwhile, Belonio and Simeon from ASAP secured seats in the council. The sole independent candidate for councilors, Tacbil, also won in the elections.
truth.reflectandlove,noseehate,noSee thisofeyesthesoul,theofwindowsThe cornerstheinalmsforbeggingboyyoung curiosityglintedMarketPublicGenSanof thisforbeggedtheyasinnocenceand tohimallowwillAlmsfuture.boy’syoung live.himletwilleducationbutsurvive, { {kwento10 kwento 9DeodorJaysonbyCaptionandPhoto
INTOXICATED MayshellePalma gasps,solidmoans yourlipsagainstmine breaking,Iam againstthestrengthofyourpersistence honey,galaxies;expanding wemeltweblendinto onesweetmelody amidstthehumdrumnight webreathesilently daybreakpassionlustlove?chillsIwoke apluckedflower a placid,woman.You-bland washedfromalcoholyoureek ofapathy,ofpride,ofmanlystance thesightofyourbackscreamed forgetaboutme Hormones.Lust. Icry Ibreak Istand I “Fucksayyou.” thenbreakagain Athumpingoffeetisheardinthehallway.Thedooropens.‘’Hey, whereisyourfather!?’’,heasksyou. Onequestion.Onequestion,onesentence—offivewordsthat youwishyouhavenotheard. “Butwhy?” Hesitsonthecouch,andyourheartpummelsfastashe comesnearyou.Damn.Youdidn’tknowthatthismancondemns homosexuality.Evenworse,you’reinarelationshipwithhisson, whichiscertainlythereasonofhisstartlingvisithere. ‘’Totalkaboutmorality,dear,’’themanrespondsinaverysimple yetsarcastictone. TheSmithsareprofoundlyknownasstronganddignified soldiers.Belongingtothisfamily,andasyourfather’soneand onlyson,youareexpectedtobeone.Followingtheordersofyour father,ofyourfamily,hasalwaysbeenregardedasatraditionalduty. Youreyebrowsmeet.“I’llbreakupwithhiminstead.Justpromise meyouwon’tsaythattomyfather.’’ ‘’HowwouldIknowthatyou’retellingthetruth?Youknow,that relationshipisseriouslyimmoral.’’Thesecretsyouhavekeptfora longtimewillsoonberevealedandwillsubsequentlybethereason whyyourfatherwoulddisownyou.He’lldisownyouforbeinggay. Tearsfallonyourface.“Oh,Sir,please.Don’ttellhim.Istillhave dutiestodo.Idon’twanttolethimdown.AndIdon’twanthimto seeme yourfail.’’‘’Faceweaknesslikeasoldier,”hesaysbeforehedarts throughthedoor. “I’msorry.’’
We,sittingonGumasa’swhitesandstrand, sawTimeslowlystrollingalongshore. Timewalkedingentlepaces,withfeet asthewaves,andfoamitsfootprints. I,lookingupontheheavens, ponderedoverthesettingsun hidingbehindthickfiveo’clockclouds: I,insooth,neednotseethesun towitnessthebeautyofasunset. You,besideme,beaming likeathousandGumasasunsets; Andyougentlyshowedyourself,bright, raybyray,asthesunhiditselffromus. ItwaswhenIthoughtthat Ididn’thavetowaitfortomorrow toseethesunrise.
kwento8 kwento 7
Kislotngiyonglabiaytalinhagangkayhirapliripin.Hindikoalamang naismongipabatid.Ngunitkungmaypagkakataongtayoaymagtatagpong muli,magtunggaliangatingpaninginsaiisangpuwangatsaglitkang madungawmularoon,marahilaysusuplingangtalinhagangiyongngiti. Malamignaangkape.Yumaonaangusoknitongdapataynasa kalamnankona.Magingangbolpenatpapelaypinag-isanangtintang pumalahawrito.Nagmanhidnaangdaliriko’thindimagawangsumulat.
GumasaSunsets
Upangmailigtasangmganakakaawangsangkot Saengkwentrong,sayawannglirikongpaikotikot
Naangtanginghangadlamangaykapirasongbunot Bunganginaasahannamagkaloobngkatarungan Gayunpamanaynagbigayngdaansakarahasan Dahilanngpagamoysanapakabahongkahirapan, Nakahittakpanpanatinangmgasugatngkatotohanan, Dialintanaangnakakaawangkahihinatnanngatingbayan LigawnabalangugataydilasapnamgaPilipino ‘Dimaipangalandakanangkapayaannanakakalito Mabuhaykaparinbangtukuyin,OhPilipino? Nahatisadalawaangpintigngiyongnasyonalismo Nararapatkabangipagbigay?Oilataglahatngitosahinto?
Pabalik-balikakosasilidnaunakitangnakita.Babalikkarinkaya? Lilingoninmobaako? Pero‘dimoakokilala. Pero‘dimoakomaalala. Nagahisakongayonngpanghihinayangmalibansahiya. Ba’tkasihindikonahagilapangpangalanmo. SanaayisinambitkonaitosaharapngMaykapal. Sanaaynaisigawkoitomulasakalayuan. Sananamanaymaibubulongkoitohabangpinapanaginipka. Atkungmangyarimangpagbigyan, Sana’ydimagingbalakidangnahihiyamongtandong... Tik-tak,tik-tak,tik-tak... Subalititoangkatotohanan. Walangpaglalaananitongakingliham.
JadeMarkCapiñanes
ayawsngindanawm CamilleGraceTapec Niyogangtanginghiling,hawakangpathaw Angdagtanitongpinakamamahalngdugongbughaw Nalapatanngmakulaynasapatngkapakinabangan Nanagsilbinglamat,attinakpanangkatuturan
Uminitnangaangpuwitkosakauupo.Matakoaynakatuonsawala habangnaaagnasangakingulirat. Paanokobasisimulanangsulat? Mahal?Sinta?Iniirog?Liyag? Anobaangtamangpambungad? Tik-tak,tik-tak,tik-tak...
Masalimuotnaitimnabuhokatyumayakapnakahabaannitosaiyong balikat.Mapupungaynamata,maputlangpisngiatmalarosasnalabi.Iyan angnakakintalsaakingpuso. Lahatngiyannapilitikinukublingmapusyawnalilamongtandong.
Theloudmonstroussoundofthe45-calibregunreverberates inthewholeneighborhood.Bloodsplatteredallovertheplace, paintingitbloodyred.Then,inamoment,hesluggishlyturnshis bodytowardsyou,withanoddexpressioninhisface.Then,he dear.collapses.“No,You’renotgoingtosayadamnedthingtohim.’’
Sanaaymaypag-ikotdinangoras. Sanaangnakalipasaydaratalpalang.
Taonglunodsakahinaanngunitbalotngkatapangan Sisirinmoangdagatngmakapatnadugo Pahiranmongpilyego,angsugatangPulo
Kinuhanginaangkumotatibinalotsamuntingkatawan nganak.Hinimasangnoo’tmalambingnahinagkan.Pinatayang ilawatdahan-dahanglumabas. Naiwangkumakabogangdibdibngmuntinganghel. Ibinabalotsabuongkatawanangkumotnanagsisilbingpangharang sasakitnabumukaspaparating.Mayngpinto.Yabagngmgapaangpapalapitang kanyangnaririnig.Lalongbumilisangtibokngdibdib.Nanlalamig angkanyangkatawan.Naisniyangtumayo,magwalaattumakbo ngunithindisumusunodangkanyangkatawan.Naramdamanniya anghaplosngmgapaladnadahan-dahangtumatanggalsakumot nanagtatanggolsakanya.Madilim.Hindiniyamaaninagang mukhangbumibisitasakanyatuwinggabi.Ngunitdimanmakita ngmgamata,nakikilalanamanngkanyangibangpandama.Ang bawatbulongngpagbabanta,mgayakapngpagnanasaathalikna walang-awa-lahataykilalalang-kilala. ‘’Bakit?’’Angtanginiyangtanong. “Dahilmahalkita.”Sagotnitongwalangpag-aalinlangan. Dahan-dahannitongisinagawaangkanyangpakay. Habangwalangtigilsapagluhaangmgamatangmusmos,tahimik nanawawasakangpusonginanghindimakaimiksakabilangdako ngLumipasdingding.ngilangtaon,ngayonaynakayukosiyasaisang kahon.Saloobnitoytinititiganniyaangmukhangnagtatagosa kadilimannoongmgagabingiyon.Ngunitngayonaywalang luhangumaagossakanyangpisngi.Walangbakasngtakotang kanyanganyo.Walangibangnagigingtanongkundi,‘’tay,bakitmo nagawaLumapitiyon?’’anginangnaghihinagpis.Niyakapanganakna punong‘’Patawadgalit.anak,walaakongginawa.’’ Namanhidangbuoniyangkatawan.
kwento6 kwento 5
‘’Nay,ditonapokayomatulogsakwartoko.Bakapomay pumasok,natatakotpoako.’’Pagsusumamoniya. ‘’Huwagkangmag-alalanak,sasamahankanitatayuli ‘’Ikawmamaya.’’poanggustokonay.’’Sabayyakapngmahigpitsa inangnasinusuyo.‘’Sigenak.Matulogkana.Walakangdapatikatakot. Babantayankangpanginoonsaiyongpagtulog.’’
3am. Afacelessblackfiguresatdownandtalkedtoher: Youaregoingtobeverysickinthenextyearsofyourlife.You willhavelungcancer-yoursweetestlover.Shewillpinyoutobed andloveyouthehardestshecould.You’regoingtoloveherback anyway…masochismwasyourthingright?Irealizedthatwhen youtoldmeyou’reachainsmoker. Rememberthatbabyyouoncehadwhenyouwere20?Oh rightsheneverreallyhadmuchchoicetobecomeafullydeveloped humanbeingsinceyoudidn’treallywanther.Shewaslucky-the sewersacceptedherwholeheartedly.Heck,Iwillstrangleyouif youdaresayyoumissher…youdon’thavetherighttofeelthat anymore.DoIhearyouright?Youregretdoingthat?Backoff,she’s minemother?now.YourWhydoyoucare?Youlefthertofendforherown afteryourfatherdiedfromworkinghisassoff.Hejusthadtoget youthroughcollegeandhaveyougraduateontime…Hadyounot spentyourprecioustimeondrugsandcasualsexwithmenwho didnotevenseeyouasawoman,youcouldhavegraduated.Your fathercouldhavelivedalittlebitlonger…Ahbutdon’tworry,your goodparentsareinthehandsofthe“powerful”one.Justincase youendupwantingtoseethem,don’tsweatit.You’renotgoingup Whenthere.you’regone,noonewillbotheranywaysocheerup.The friendsyouoncehadwillcryalittlebutmoveonwiththeirlives afteraweekorso.TrustmewhenIsayit’sthatfast.Afterall,you didn’tmatteranyway.Totheworld,youarejustsomepassingbug, smallandveryinsignificant. Yourintelligencewillfailyou.Asyoustudyforyournextcareer, youaregoingtoscrewthingsupandgetcaughtinapassionate affairwithamarriedman.Hell,youhavebeenwantingtheguy foryears,yourfirstguytohavesexualaffairswith…sowhenhe returnedtoCebuafteryearsofbeingawayfromhiswife,theblow wassohardonyou.Youaregoingtobesodistraughtitwillruin almosteverythingyou’veworkedfor.You’vealwaysbeenstupid, youhavealwaysbeendumb,inmattersoftheheart. Desperationinseduction.Soyoubecamethemistressof amarriedmanwithtwokids.Hiswifewillfindoutsoonerthan expectedbutshewilljustcryoveriteverynight.Hertearswillfeed yourego,hersufferingwillsustainyou… Hey…doyouknowwhattheycallwomenlikeyou?Aslut.Not thatyoucareaboutit… Andthenyou’regoingtobepregnantwithhissonandjust likebefore,youarenotgoingtowanthim…youShestoppedhiminmid-sentence…. Iwillproveyouwrong.Yourfakestoryofmyfuturewon’t workforIamthecaptainofmyship…themasterofmysoul. 3:15am Fiveyearslater. Anopenwindow.Anoteonthefridge.Apositivepregnancy result.Adisfiguredbodyofawomanontheroad…andafaceless darkfigurecalmlysippingteaacrossthetable.
‘’Napatawadmonabasiya?’’Tanongngbabaengmayhimig ngpag-aalala.Hindisiyanakaimik.Biglangnanootsakanyangkamalayan angmgasalitangbabaengitinuturingniyangkapatid.Masakit, mahirapatnakakapangilabotanghatidngmgasalitangkanyang narinig.Nanumbaliksakanyanggunitaangisanggabingpunong ‘’Nay,pagtataka.mahalpobaakonitatay?”tanongngmusmos niyang‘’Siyemprekatauhan.naman‘nak.Lahatngginagawangtatayaypara sakapakananmo.’’Sagotnginahabangsinusuklayangbuhokng inosentengniyaanak.‘’Kayapobaginagawayun?’’ Kumunotangnoongina.Tinitiganniyaanganak.Bakas samukhanitoangpagkabalisa.Tilamaypinagdadaanangmabigat nahindipangkaraniwansamurangedad. ‘’Hayaanmonaanak.Lagimongtandaannamahalka ngtatay.Kayamagpakabaitkaatsundinmolagiangutosniya. Maliwanagbayun?” ‘’Okpo,’’nakayukoniyangsagot.Kinukubliangluhang dumadaloysakanyangpisngi.
Iwanttoendthis,nowAlbertsaidtohimself, shaking,pointingagundirectlytohishead, around3o’clockinthemorning. Albertwasacontemplative,ifnotbrooding, man.Hewantedtofindtheanswerstolife’s mostpressingquestions.Afamousauthor,he wasrenownedforhisrapierwitmergedwith philosophicaldepth.Butlittledidhisavidreaders knowabouthisdilemma:Despitehisfame,hefelt somethingwasstillmissinginhislife. Hecouldclearlyrememberhisexcitement duringthefirstclassofhisintroductorysubjectin Philosophywhenhewasstillincollege;hewas, however,sodisappointedwhenhisprofessor’s firstquestionwas“Doesthischairexist?”
“Uh—““Well,Itakethatasano.Followingyourlogic, won’tbelieveinNietzsche,too.Butthequestion ofGoddoesn’toperateinthatlineofreasoning. Albert,Imyselfdoesn’tknowifGodreallydances. ButbelieveHedoes.Faithisnotknowing,Albert. Itisbelieving.”“ButifonlyHewouldgivemeasign!Like, makingmeseeHimdancetothebeatofGimme Gimme.Or,makingmewinthelottery!” “Doyouplaythelottery?” “No.” “Then,howwouldyouwin?” “That’sHisproblem!Hecandomiracles,can’t “Yes,He?”Hecan.But,youcannotdemandit.When youasksomethingfromHim,youcannotjustsay, ‘Gimmethis,gimmethat,gimmegimmegimme!’ Hedoesn’tdoitthatway,Albert.Goddoesn’t dancethatway.” No!Hedoesn’tdance!Albertbrokethe reminiscence.I’mpullingthetriggernow.I’m pullingthetriggernow— Thegunclicked.Asfatewouldhaveit,Albert hadforgottentoloadthegun.Frightened,Albert involuntarilythrewit. Aclickofa,gunAlbertsaidtohimself,is morefrighteningthanagunshot.Agunshotis thesoundofdeath;aclickofagun,ontheother hand,isthesoundofdeathbeingaround,lurking, looming.Whatislife,then,butconstantlyhearing thatclick? Arayoflightpeekedthroughthewindow.Itwas alreadymorning.Helookedoutsideandsawaleaf falling,driftingthroughthewind,asifdancingto themusicofthesingingofthebirds.Perhaps,he saidtohimself,Ineedtobelikethatleaf. He,then,tookhisjournalandwrote: Today,Iattemptedtocommitsuicide.Ididit notbecauseIwastiredofliving:Ididitbecause, ironicasitseems,wasafraidofdying.Iwas soafraidofdying—ofdeathgrabbingmylife stealthily—thatIwantedtodothejobwithmy ownthehands.Unlikequestionofthechairmyphilosophy professoronceasked,thequestionofGoddoes notrevolvearoundHisexistenceorwhetheror notHeexists:Itiswhetherornotyoubelievein Him.DoIbelieveinGod?Iamnotsure,butI feelthatImust.Ihaveto;otherwise,howcouldI takeawaythisfearofdeath?DoesHedance?IfHe does,then,perhaps,Hisdancehasthisunknown, complicatedchoreography. Albertclosedhisjournalanddecidedtogoout forawalk.Whilewalking,forsomemoments,he feltlikehewasRilke,thepoetheidolized,and, alludingalinefromoneofRilke’spoems,he thought:amgraspedbywhatcannotgrasp.
kasamaangingTkatahimikanang niRinasakanyangsilid habangmakailang-ulit niyanginalalaangsenaryong nagdulotsakanyangisangbuwang bangungot…peropinilitniyang buhayinangnalalabingtapangatsinimulan itongtipunin,ibinuodsamgatalatang magigingmitsangkanyangbuhay. SiRinaSanchezayisangmamamahayag. Batidngkanyangmgakasamahanang peligrongdalangkanilangpropesyon.Kahit samatindingopresyonhinggilsapagsisiwalat ngbaluktotatbuloknamgasistemang nanlinlangsamgataongnapinsalanito’ydi silanagpatalosakahitnamumuntingpagiimbotupangmaipahayagangkatotohanan. Parasakanila’yisangpangangailanganang pagsisiwalatngkatotohanankaya’tbuong tapangsilangnangangalapngmakahulugang impormasyongsasagotsamgaisyung pangkomunidadatpolitikalhabang tumutuligsasasinumangmapatunayang nagkasala.Sila’ywalangpatumangga, subalitsalikodngmgamababangisna Leonghandanglumapagamitangpangilng katotohananaynagkukubliangisangPusa; siya’ysiNoongRina.nakaraangbuwanay maayosnanaibalitangSaksi,anglocal broadcastingcompanypinagtatrabahuanni Rina,angnaganapnapagpaslangsaisang mamamahayagsakabilangbayan.Ang Saksilamangangtangingnaglakas-loob nanagsiwalatsapagkadawitsamayorng bayangiyonsanasabingpagpatayatito’y ayonsaisangekslusibo’tsikretongpahayag ngeyewitnessnasiSui,angEditor-inChiefmismongSaksi.Tandang-tandapa niSuiangwalanghabasnapamamarilsa mamamahayagnahalosikabutasnang katawannito.KumbinsidosiSuinaopresyon sapagsisiwalatngtalamaknakorupsyon angpuno’tdulongpagpataysubalithindi siyanatakotnaisiwalatangsenaryong nasaksihanniyadahilalamniyangitorinang naisngnasawingmamamahayag,atitorin ngnaisniya.Mataposanginsidentengiyon ayagadniyangisiniwalatsakinauukulan angpangyayari’tngayonaynahaharapna saisangpagdinigangkrimengikinakaharap ngmayor.Subalitmakalipasangilangaraw magmulanangunangpumutokangbalitang iyonaynatagpuannalamanganguloni Suisaharapngkanilangbahay.Angibang partengkatawanaydipamatukoykungsaan omarahilaypinaglalapanangmgaasong kalye.Subalithigitkaninuman,walangibang nakakaalamsamatindingtakotnaininda niSuimataposniyangisiwalatangkrimen noongnakaraankundisiRina. SiRinaangpalagiangkasamani Suisamgalakadniya.Malibansamatalik silangmagkaibiga’ymagkaklaserinsila sakolehiyo.BatidniRinaangdepresyon niSuimataposanghearingdahilsamga deaththreatsnanatatanggapniyaarawarawsubalitnasaksihanniyarinkung paanoitonilalabananniSui.Datapwat mapagkakatiwalaandawanghanayngmga pulisya’tkinauukulangumasikasosakrimen ayhindikapani-paniwalaanglumabasna resultasapagkamatayniSui.Ayonpasa kanila’ypinataysiyangisangnegosyanteng nasangkotsapagtutulakngMarijuanana kanyaringnakabanggaansamganakaraang balita’teditorial,subalitangnasabingsuspek aynatagpuannalamangnapalutang-lutang saesteromakalipasangdalawangaraw. Hindiniyapinaniwalaanangmgabukambibig dahilsakaibuturanngkanyangkonsensya’y nakahimlayangkatotohanangilanglinggo nangumuusigsakanya.Angkatotohanang nasaksihanmismongkanyangmgamata bagopamangumulonganguloniSuisa lupangmamasa-masapangkanyangsariling dugo.Angmala-demonyonghalakhakng mayorsampungibangkasamahanmulasa isangdipanglayosaulongnapapaliguanng dugo. Mataposanginsidentengiyon aynagkaroonngmasidhingpagbibingibingiha’tpagbubulag-bulagansabayan, magingangSaksi’y“Magnanakawng sinampay,nahuli”angheadline.Nanatiling duwagangpamahayagandahilsatakotna mapagbalingan,nagsipagtakbuhanangmga huwadnaLeon. “AkoangSaksi”,angtangingnaisambitni Rinasaloobngtatlongorasnaginugolsa pag-iisipsalahatngmgapangyayarinoong nakaraangbuwannanagpaibasatakbong kanyangbuhay.Ilangminutoniyangtinitigan angenterkeysakeyboardngkanyanglaptop ngunitsabandanghuli’ypinindotdinito. Kinabukasanaynatagpuannalamang angbangkaysiRinasasarilingbahay.Ito aynapapalibutanngmahigitsa15basyong bala.Nabulabogdinangsocialmediang ilangre-uploads,libu-libonglikesatshare ngvideongpagpataymismokaySuina kuhangcellphoneniRina.Matagumpayniya itongnai-uploadsasarilingblog,Facebook accountatwebsitengSaksikasamaang hulingnewsarticleateditoryalnakanyang naisulatnoongnakaraanggabi.
kwento4 kwento 3
“Iamheretoknowthemeaningoflifeandof itall,”hecomplained,“andnottoarguewhether ornotthatgoddamnchairexists.”Hisprofessor, angeredbyAlbert’srudebehavior,threwthechair tohimandexclaimed:“Ithurts,doesn’tit?Thatis howyouprovethatthatchairexists!”Albert,then, droppedthesubject;and,intheyearstocome,he wouldlearnphilosophyhimself. “Loveissilly,”hewouldalwayssay.Hewasa bachelor.Onetime,afriendtoldhim:“Youknow, perhapsyouwillfindtheanswersinlove.Thomas Aquinassaidthattobefulfilled,onemustlove.” “Yeahright,”Albertanswered,“that’swhyAquinas hadsomanywives.” Despitethefactthathewasalearnedman, equippedwithextensiveknowledgeonphilosophy andletters,hestilldidnotfindtheanswers.He viewedlifeinapessimisticlensandgrewoldwith afirmconvictionthatlifeisabsurd.Inoneofhis mostfamousnovels,entitledTheAbsurdityof LifeandLove,hewrote: Whatislifebutastringofcyclesofmomentary happinessandextendedsadness;andaconstant struggleandfailedattemptstohaveadate?One momentyouarehappybeingsingleandalone, watchingamovieinacinema,assuredthatyou canhaveallofyourpopcornandthatnoone willsnatchsome,butthenextthingyouknow, there’sacoupletorridlykissingnearby,andyou’re wasjealous.HebornasaCatholic;hewas,however,not areligiousman.Forhim,religiondidnotalsogive himtheanswers.Actually,hedespisedreligion, asreflectedinhisbookFoodandReligion: Religion,inanutshell,isjustasetofdietary laws.Eatthisorthat,andyou’llwindupbarbecued inhell;Catholicismhasmoretoleranceonthis matter,though.Butallreligionsteachthesame: dothis,andyou’llgotoheaven;dothat,and you’llgotohell.Can’twedogoodthingsnotfor itsreward?Can’tweavoiddoingbadthingsnot forits said:punishment?KarlMarxonce“Religionistheopiumof themasses.”Indeed:religionmakesonesohigh tothepointofseeingtheimageofChristina burnttobibingka.Attemptingfinallypullthetrigger,Albert rememberedaconversationhehadearlierthat daywithFr.Soren,which,incidentally,wasthe veryfirsttimehehadatalkwithapriest: “I’mlonely.Verylonely,”Albertsaid. “Why,myson?”thepriestasked. “Idon’tknow.Itseemsthatthereisagaping holeinmyheart,inmyverybeing.Iknowso manythings,butIfeellikeIdon’tknowanything.” “That’stheproblem.Youknowtoomuch.And youdependtoomuchonwhatyouknow.” “Doeslifehaveanymeaning?Ifyes,whatisthe meaningofitall?” “Albert,Icannotgivealltheanswerstoyou, butletmeaskonething:DoyoubelieveinGod?” “IrefusetobelieveinaGodwhodoesnotknow howtodance.” “Isee.You’reaNietzschean.DidNietzsche knowhowtodance?”
Thevoicecamefromaboveme,soIlookedup.Itwas abird.Abirdcouldtalk?IwasdebilitatedthatIcouldn’teven move,couldn’tshoutbutmyearswereveryactive.Isitreal orsurreal?ButIjustletitbe. “Yourmothertaughtyouwhatmustandmustnotto do.Ifyoudisobeyed,youwillreceivesanctions,”thebird “Wecontinued.playtheroleswhatsocietyhasgiventous. Ourculturetaughtuswhattodo.Followthescriptandact excellentlytoamazeyouraudience,”anoldmanpassedby and“Hesaid.isright.Butsometimesactorsandactresses improvethemselvesthroughtherolestheyhavechosen. Pretendingwastheirexpertisebuttheylearnedfromthatand appliedittothemselves,”arabbitsuddenlyinterrupted. “Whowashe?”Iasked. “IrvinGoffman.Whybother?Youdon’texistanyway,” abirdtalkedagain. Themanwasgone.Thebirdflew.Therabbit disappeared.Thetreesweredancingwiththewind. “Run!Run!Run!”Iheardanothervoicebutnowfrom behindme.“Whathappened?”Iasked. “Thehuntersarelookingfortheir prey.Stopdaydreaming.Runandsave yourlife.Damnreindeer!”
“Whatdoesitmean?”Iasked myself. “Justthinkaboutwhoyouwerewithout cultureandlaws.”
Iheardclaps.Iheardlaughs.Itseemedeverybody washavingfun.IhitsomethingandIfeltsomeonescurry towardsme,thenIopenedmyeyes. What’sgoingon?AmIflying?DoIhavewings?How coulditliftedbe?Imyheadtoseewhograbbedme.ItwasTorrey, mybestfriend.Sheseemedhappy. “HeyTorrey,what’sgoingon?Howcouldthisbe happening?Howcouldwebebutterflies?Thenshereplied, “Hey,howdoyouknowme?” “What?You’remybestfriend.HowcouldInot recognizeyou?Wegrewuptogether.Iknoweverythingabout you.Now,tellmewhat’sgoingon?” Shestoppedandtoldme,“Youdon’tknowme. Nobodydoes.EvenImyselfdon’tknowwhoIamreally.We onlyknowpeoplethroughhowsocietydefinesus,Claire.” Sheleftmestartledandpuzzled. Thebreezechangeddrastically.It’sverypowerfulthat nobodycouldescape.Iscreamedandscreamed,andthen motherwokemeup.Itwasjustonlyadream. Istrolled,thinkingofwhatI’ddreamtof.Itseemed real.Itwassostrange.Isatunderneaththebigmangotree. WhileIwasfilledwithcuriosity,amango leafsuddenlyfellbeforeme.Itwasnotan ordinaryone,somethingwaswrittenon it. “Alltheworldisastage.”
Despiteofthingsbotheringme,Iwas onceabutterfly,thenahumanandnowa reindeer!EvenifIdon’tunderstand,Ifollowed theanimals.Withmyfourlegs,IranasfastasI could.
kwento2
