Table of Contents 3
Faith Beyond Words
4-5
The Secrets Beneath the robe
6-7
Finance announces fees increase
8-9
Why So Silent
10-11
Diploma for sale
12-15
The Sardine Industry in Zamboanga
16-17
Mindanao’s Reveille
18-19
At Gunpoint
20-22
To Greater Heights
23-25
Sugar Coating for Approval
26-27
The Bangsamoro Transition Commission
28-29
The Exchange of a lifetime
30
Continuations
31
Factoids
Ed ito rial Staff Editor in Chief
Kelvin J. Culajara
Associate Editor Sarah Gail C. Galvan Managing Editor Neilson Nick dlS. Alinsañgan Copy Editor
Jam Camille Quintanes
Newsfeatures Editor
Keith Joshua Dumpit
Features Editor
John Xyrious O. Dela Cruz
Creative Director Frances Grace Florendo Head Cartoonist Almira Priscilla Drapiza Finance Officer
Alexa N. Potayre
creative tea m Layouts and Graphics
Photographer Cartoonists
Jessa Kristine del Mar | Farouk Susulan | Windel Opinion Darrylene Clemente Eunice Serneo | Jennifer Bantay | Fahad Alfad
Staff Writers Marie Cyndie Domingo | Ridzanna Abdulgafur | Elimar Pingkian | Barry Barraca | Paola Migelli Cananea | Aseya Khadija Calo | Levin Angelo Lobren | Christianne Dawn Sicat | Fathima Ahamed Kabeer | Angelique Anne Miranda | Maliver Gaas | Franco Rivas Cananea | Trisha Ortega | Ella Galea
Cover art by Frances Grace Florendo
Moderator
Marion B. Guerrero
Publisher
The Ateneo Studentry
Member
College Editor’s Guild of the Philippines
The Beacon Newsmagazine holds office at the Ground Floor, Xavier Hall, Ateneo de Zamboanga University Phone: (062) 991 0871 Loc. 4603
Faith beyond words. by: Paola Migelli Cananea
I have always wondered how different faith would be without the trappings that come along with religion. See, I was born and raised to be a loyal Catholic. My parents religiously follow the faith. I have been studying at Ateneo—a Jesuit school—from my preparatory to college years. I grew up learning that going to church every Sunday is an obligation I ought not to miss. I wear a scapular that my mother gave me, and always carry with me a rosary that she also gave me. I pray before meals, mostly because I want to say grace, but sometimes I catch myself doing it only so I wouldn’t be reprimanded. I’m always curious as to how the religion must have been like in Christ’s time, when all these beads, statues and symbols weren’t as popular yet. One Sunday I went to church with my family, and as is always the routine, we walked to the carriage of the “Poong Nazareno” that is carefully positioned inside the church. I put my palms together, bowed my head, made the sign of the cross, and said a short prayer. Then I approached the carriage, lifted the hem of Christ’s robe, touched his bloody feet, and made the sign of the cross. As I was doing this, I noticed pieces of paper scattered beneath the statue of Christ. I picked one up and read what was on it. It was a novena prayer to the Black Nazarene. But what struck me most was what was written at the bottom of the paper: an instruction to say the prayer six times a day for nine days and to leave one copy of the prayer every day on the carriage—that is, if the person wanted his/her wish granted immediately, “no matter how impossible.”
Right then I realized why there were so many copies of the prayer beneath the statue of Christ. But something didn’t make sense, I thought to myself. What would God want better, for me to visit and stand in front of a stone image for nine days and scatter pieces of paper there, or sincerely say my own prayer every day, no matter where I am? Would he prefer that I visit the church every day in case he finally shows me the sign that I need, probably beneath the pews or the altar? Or would it be better if I was out somewhere else, pursuing my dreams and actually doing things to earn the money that I need or get the promotion that I want? Substance over form—it’s a lesson I have learned in my study of accounting. But it’s also a lesson I’m determined to apply in my life, especially in the practice of my faith. Even in the private recesses of my home, I know that God is with me and that it would not make any difference if I pray there silently on my own, or go to a church and move toward the altar on my knees. The best prayer I can say is not in the form of words that can easily be read and forgotten, but in the form of genuine deeds that will touch the lives of others—sometimes even surpassing the limits of time and memory.
Editors note: This opinion piece was published in the Youngblood section of the Philippine Daily Inquirer on March 31, this year.
January-February 2013 |
3
The Secrets Beneath the Robe words by: Kelvin J. Culajara
If the Pope is heaven-sent and a steward of God, then his resignation should not be contingent to his will, but to the will of the Divine. There must be some sort of intervention. There must be rains of fish and manna from the sky. There must be a bright light in the heavens, or at least a heavenly voice which says, “From this moment, I shall relieve the Pope from his duties”. But no. It was the Pope’s decision, out of pure liberality and discernment that his ailing condition could serve no more. While some fans may have felt awe and admiration over the Pope’s humble admission, what his deed revealed was that the papacy could be more of a job rather than a calling. The Guardian’s Giles Fraser said so: “It reveals that the papacy is simply a job, an office. And by so doing, it rightly challenges some of the cult of personality that has built up around that office, as if the job affords the office holder some special proximity to God. It doesn’t.” Really, if the papacy was a calling, and if the Pope has been specifically selected by the heavens to rule over the flock, it should have not been that easy to say, “I quit”.
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There must be signs. His term should be subject to the approval of the One who ‘may have’ called him. And really? If the papacy was a calling, then his decisions must have been directed towards upholding peace and love and justice, just as how the Messiah preached men. After eight years of reign, Pope Benedict VI finally said adieu and opened the chamber for the election of the newest pope. What lies beneath his term? What were his successes and failures? Has he really been a true and loyal steward of God?
The evangelization
Stubborn and insistent were some of the descriptions of Benedict. Benedict was a conservative and insisted on the importance of retaining conservatism in the midst of the modern world. With this, he rejected pleas for debates on clerical celibacy, and even sealed the Church’s stand against abortion, gay partnerships and euthanasia. So far, one of the greatest blunders the Church has had was the significant decrease of Catholics who patronize the Catholic faith, most especially in liberal democracies in America and Europe. The growing rates of openness for tolerance and acceptance of “radical norms” such as homosexuality have been some of the factors why many seemed to have slipped away from the Church.
Has he really been a true and loyal steward of God? Fairly, Benedict was quite responsive to this. In fact, he had become quite considerate on how to imbibe the Gospels and the teachings of the Bible to the changing world without much need of renouncing conservatism. He created a new Vatican department to craft a new evangelization, a fresher approach to address teachings to cultures which may be hostile to the Church. This has been apparent when he revised the Church’s stand on condoms and other forms of contraception. Historically, the Church opposed contraception and deemed it as inherently evil. Under his tenure, he made a compromise by stating that contraceptives can be acceptable to certain extents especially in the midst of permeating sexually-transmitted diseases.
The governance
While his leadership was notable for his stance agaiWhile his leadership was notable for his stance against issues, he may have had fell off from the tracks of governance which many believe he had only began working on the margins. Clifford Longley, a former consultant to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference on England and Wales, said that Benedict was not able to mend the rival factions within the Catholic Church, and at least resolve accusations of corruption in the Church’s high office. On January 2012, whistleblower Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano reported that leaked letters from the Vatican revealed that the Vatican was a “web of corruption, nepotism and cronyism linked to awarding contracts to outside companies at inflated prices” to the extent that the Church lost $2.5 million in a single transaction in 2009. Benedict removed Vigano from the Vatican. Even until now, the Church still faces the same predicaments regarding its governance. Furthermore, while Benedict has advocated for religious freedom especially when he pleaded to leaders in Pakistan, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia to stop the per-
secution of their Christian guest-workers, such proved to be driven only by lip-service as Christian persecution persists until now. It is with this reason that many continuously perceive the Vatican as a “dysfunctional institution”.
The women and children
Throughout his term, Benedict has almost been equated to bigotry based on his complacency over varying treatments between the nuns and the pedophile priests. During the Apostolic Visitation by the nuns of North America where they aided at providing education, health care and security to the communities, they were subjected to rigorous investigations regarding the alleged doctrinal errors which were believed to have been espoused by the sisters. According to Dr. Gemma Simmonds of the Religious Life Institute, there was a clear case of bias especially when Vatican has never been as stringent to its pedophile priests and those guilty of sex crimes. Observers believed that the rigorous investigation on the sisters’ service in contrast to the Church’s loose punishments on pedophile clergies is a scandal and indicative of the Church’s non-appreciation of women within it. Furthermore, David Clohessy, executive director of the Survivors’ Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) was not pleased on how Benedict handled cases of pedophilia and sexual harassments within the Church. Clohessy said that since 1981, when Benedict led the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, he was the one who dealt with primarily with clergies accused of sex crimes. His complacency and his weak disciplining of guilty clergies were further worsened as he assumed papacy. Instead of demoting them and prosecuting them in criminal courts, Benedict almost only settled for public apologies and any other similar gestures as sufficient means in mending the wrongs. On February this year, a new pope has been elected by over a hundred cardinals: Jorge Mario Bergoglio, now renowned as Pope Francis I, an Argentinian Jesuit. His record may be of competence, but the world keeps waiting on how said pope will resolve the three most publicized controversies, and the hundred others hovering over the crumbling Roman Catholic Church.
January-February 2013 |
5
Finance announces fees increase,
students speak Words by Kelvin J. Culajara
6 | thebeacon newsmagazine
Tuition and miscellaneous fees increase na naman? University Treasurer Bro. Raymund Belleza, SJ revealed during the consultation on February 12 that the tuition and miscellaneous fees are set to increase at 5 percent for the next semester. In his comprehensive presentation, Belleza remarked about the necessity of such increase in order to finance the university’s operations, capital expenditures and salaries and benefits for its faculty and staff. Belleza said that as mandated by law, 70 percent of the increase would support the 4 percent acrossthe-board salaries increase of the faculty and staff, while the 20 percent and 10 percent would be for the operations and capital expenditures, respectively. From a Php700.89 per unit tuition, students shall pay Php735.93 per unit in the next enrolment. Furthermore, Belleza also revealed that since 2009, Ateneo has increased tuition approximately 17 percent. One of the students commented that the high increase in just a matter of three school years was alarming. The said student even suggested a review of the costing of the miscellaneous fees in order to have an accurate collection of fees from the students. “One of the third year [Accountancy] students said that they are paying for computer fees [worth Php3,663.00] but they are not using the computers in class.” “It would be better for you to review your costing of the miscellaneous [fees], because there could be an excess which can offset whatever increases in tuition there are,” the student said. Belleza responded to this by saying that they will be looking into it, and that they are open for the said suggestion. Meanwhile, University President Fr. Antonio F. Moreno, SJ, in his closing remarks said that he does not see the need to apologize for the high increases. “We will not apologize for the increase, what we will apologize for is if you do not get quality education.” Moreno also said that the university has improved its facilities including the construction of new buildings. He said that these facilities benefit the students, in the same way that the fees
increase will benefit the students in the end. “We do not do this for ourselves [if you are thinking that we are imposing increases for our self-interests.] I cannot tolerate corruption.”
Mad students
A week before the actual consultation, random students expressed their thoughts and comments about the tuition and miscellaneous fees increase. “Hindi na daw iyan consultation, no matter how we object it, [the increase will] still happen. More on sa structures and facilities ini-improve nila, [what] about the invisible aspects like support for the faculty? Kasama na rin diyan ang dissatisfaction ko with my course and the curriculum.” “The tuition fee increased in the previous yars and yet we did not really feel any actual improvement. The armchairs are still broken, the rooms are still warm, the comfort rooms are still smelly, and the campus is still flooded during heavy rains.” “Butas ang bulsa wala sa oras. Buhay nga naman.” “Do they mean that if we, the students of Ateneo, find with good and reasonable cause that there should be no increase, then both admin and students will come to a compromise, or do they mean information dissemination?” “I find it funny that it’s called a consultation [because] what happens is that the tuition fee increase is something that will inevitably be imposed, whether or not the students will agree or disagree. It is already a fact. The ‘consultation’ is merely a formality. In fact, there’s more ‘informing’ than ‘consulting’ that is happening in these events.” Responding to these, Belleza said that they are serious with the consultation and that it does not exist for formality’s sake. Furthermore, accordingly, his office takes the students’ feedbacks seriously, as they are the stakeholders directly affected by the fees increase. “We gather these concerns, but [the tuition fee increase] is subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees.” Under the Civil Code on Law on Partnerships and Corporations, the board of trustees is the highest governing body of a nonstock and non-profit corporation, such as the Ateneo de Zamboanga University.
January-February 2013 |
7
ZU?
ang Ad s b u l c g n i m a mara
“Hindi b
Many students are in a state of curiosity as to what happened to the existence of the other clubs and organizations in AdZU. When asked about the organizations that highlighted competence, output maximization and initiative, students interviewed all had Ateneo Debate Union, Liturgical Society, and Society of the Knights of Ignatius as some of their answers across the board. The above-mentioned orgs also had a long history that sealed their names in the list of ‘elite’ clubs and organizations in the Ateneo. Currently, there are thirty-nine student-run organizations in the Ateneo but only a handful seems to be serious in meeting their organizational goals and objectives. Why so silent?
“After grumaduate ng mga higher years, parang grumaduate na rin iyong gana ng iba. Kaya heto, walang magawa.” 8 | thebeacon newsmagazine
w
?” n o y a g n a l i s Nasaan na
The ‘meek’ ones
“Nawala na ang Blue Vigors. Wala na kasing mga social events for intermission numbers,” as cited by one CSIT freshman. “Anong ginagawa ng CLC ba iyon or ACIL? Ewan.” “Ngayon ko lang nalaman na may Sitio Bisaya na org sa AdZU!” “Bakit sa OrSem lang nakikita ang SALT?” These are some of the many questions asked by the students regarding the clubs and organizations which seemed to have lost their trumpets along the way and for some that are yet to blow their horns and let themselves be felt. “Why is still there a need for these clubs to exist if they are not doing anything or to be exact, they are not engaging in activities that are inclined with their goals?” “I think dapat bawasan na ang clubs sa AdZU. Hindi naman lahat active eh,” a blunt suggestion coming from a sophomore student. If students would want to form a club or organization, they must submit to the Office of Student’s Affairs a written documentation that contains their official list of members, set of elected officers, appointed moderator, organizational purpose, bylaws and their goals or vision. Having these requisites, how do these clubs and organizations remain in existence even though they are not really felt, or worse, even when they have not organized activities in line with their objectives? Can we just drop them from the list? According to Director Stevan Dimaguila of the OSA, the clubs and organizations cannot just be expelled easily because “they are accredited entities”.
? T N o E s L wh y SI . Dela Cruz
n Xyrious Q Words by: Joh
Dimaguila also pointed out that the OSA is responsible for the accreditation and re-accreditation of clubs and organizations for it to be recognized by the university, and “...so long as they work within the bounds of the guidelines of AdZU, there is no reason for [that] club to be dropped from the list.”
Initiatives to lead
It is noticeable that it is not required for the clubs or organizations to have activities conducted or implemented or to in various competitions and the like. As long as they submit the appropriate documents and as long as the officers are diligent enough to apply for the annual re-accreditation, then by all means these organizations can have an accredited status. Dimaguila responded that there is no pressure on the part of the OSA to require every club to implement at least one activity primarily because from the very start, the initiative to form a club or an organization comes from the students themselves. He also said that they must initiate the activities of the club. “To pressure the club or organization might tend to become over bearing and will curtail the initiatives of the students to lead,” Dimaguila added.
Unspoken factors
As identified by some members of at least one club in the Ateneo, sustainability is said to be one of the blunders why most organizations remain dormant. “After grumaduate ng mga higher years, parang grumaduate na rin iyong gana ng iba. Kaya heto, walang magawa.” Most of the time, members belonging to the lower years are dependent on the decisions, actions and initiatives made by their senior members. Most of the officers in an organization are either
third or fourth year students. How unfortunate and disappointing to know that when these seniors have finally graduated, most of the time, the clubs which were once under their leadership have become synonymous to a human body where the brain is disposed and its arms are amputated thus ending up to being incapacitated. Dimaguila stressed that such should not be the case since the younger members should equally learn the rudiments of club management in order to sustain the legacy left behind. Furthermore, one of the factors identified is the complacency of most club moderators. Club moderators are not paid for their services, thus, most of them see no incentive to help shape the management of the organizations under their care. The students interviewed said that moderators are crucial in “giving encouragement and direction” and sometimes are providers of “connections [which] will help us find for resources to conduct some of our activities”. One club officer even said that they once planned to organize a university-wide project but they did not know who and how to solicit for sponsorships. He said that their moderator could have had the solution for their problem, but apparently, said moderator seemed to be always missing in action. Dimaguila clarified the fact that club moderators are not the sole reason for a club’s inactiveness. He highlighted the underlying truth that as a club, it is the members and the officers’ responsibility to do what is for the best interest of the club in line with their organizational goals and purposes. Most clubs and organizations have been switched to their silent modes, but they are still alive and breathing. “There is nothing wrong for a club not to have an activity; no pressure at all,” says the OSA. However, if they really are an accredited club, then there should be something else to prove. After all, they themselves have set their purposes, goals and visions. So why not live up to those?
January-February 2013 |
9
Diploma for Sale words by: Kelvin J. Culajara Tata* was this year’s valedictorian of a national high school in a far-flung barangay of this city. She has been described by her teachers as a smart and talented kid, and having topped consistently in most exams and academic activities, she sealed her position at leading the rest of her batch to graduation. While she may have enjoyed an advantage of graduating on top of all her batchmates, she was certain that she could go on to college no more. “Maskin tiene man scholarship dale comigo, pero dol mas quiere ya lang iyo trabaja para puede ayuda na miyo parents. Biyeho y biyeha ya canda Mama [y Papa](Even if I was offered a scholarship grant, but I’d rather work to help my parents since they are old already).” “Man-bawi ya lang iyo na miyo maga hermana. Trabaja yo para sigurao sila puwede ase caba de ila estudyo (I will make it up for my other siblings. I will work hard to ensure that they could finish their studies),” says Tata. Tata is the second eldest sibling in the family. Her mother is a lavandera who earns roughly Php500 a week, while her father is a construction worker who has to rely on occasional wages. While most of her classmates will be enrolling for college this June, she will begin working as a house helper for a middle-class residence in Barangay Sta. Maria. According to her, she shares the fate of her elder brother who, upon graduating from high school, was sent to a Chinese merchant to work as atindero and delivery boy. Like Tata, many others are hopeful to be able to finish schooling and finally achieve their ambitions and dreams. Sadly, only a few have access to these opportunities, and worse, many others are forced to withdraw from
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realizing their dreams as their conditions and constraints are what pull them to an early life of employment, and sometimes, exploitation.
Robbed Filipinos
Cohort Survival Rates (CSR) of 2005-2006 reveals that out of 100 pupils entering first grade, only 63 are able to reach grade 6, and out of these pupils, only 55 will be able to make it to first year high school and only about 40 pupils will finish fourth year high school. Out of the high school graduates, only about 20 will be able to enroll for first year college, but only 10 will be able to graduate from college. On 2012, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) estimated that on average, a student in a regular private college needs to pay Php237,600 to fully complete a four-year course while a student of a public college needs approximately Php233,600 to finish and receive a college diploma. These reported figures are devoid of any assumptions on scholarship grants. CHED also reported that a completion of a four-year college course in a high-caliber university approximately amounts to at least Php400,000. According to statistics, 80% of Filipinos are living behind the poverty line, earning as low as Php96 per day, or approximately Php35,040 per year, and Php140,160 in four years. The aggregated fouryear earnings of ordinary
Filipinos are even significantly short from the average spending for a four-year course, as stated previously. Josh Weinstein, a microfinance and development economics enthusiast, believes that it is almost impossible for average Filipinos to afford college education given that their economic constraints are what hinder them from having access to this ‘right’. Weinstein also attributed the problem to the persistent corrupt culture in the Department of Education and other government agencies, which make financial resources more inaccessible to those who are in need of educational resources and scholarship grants. “Embezzlement, nepotism, influence peddling, fraud and other types of corruption also flourish. Corruption has become so institutionalized that payoffs have become the lubricant that makes the education bureaucracy run smoothly,” Weinstein said. “The result: an entire generation of Filipino students robbed of their right to a good education.” Furthermore, insufficient budget allocation for education by the national government seems to be another blunder of a poor quality of education. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), every government needs to allocate at least 6% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for education but in the Philippines, only 3% or less is being allocated for public education since the state’s priority is debt payments. Data reveals that the Philippine government spends US$138 per student, way less than US$852 of Thailand, another developing country in Southeast Asia.
A Vicious Cycle
Most societies have become adaptive to the concept of a “knowledge society”, where economic development and international competitiveness of a nation are substantially factored by the level of educational attainment of its people. The higher the level of educational attainment by the citizens, the more contributory it is to the nation’s economic development. Likewise, the higher level of economic development of a nation, more employment opportunities are made available to people, and the more such government can provide for social security and services to its citizens like free education, housing, health care, life insurance, and others. For most analysts, the fear is more on the opportunity cost of not utilizing the full potentials of those who are uneducated. In the case of Tata and millions of others, it is the fear of not utilizing their full potential of becoming teachers, doctors, entrepreneurs, and others who could have been among those of greater significance for the public benefit. Accordingly, if the state only realizes their potentials as economic and social agents, they could have been complementary solutions to the deficiency of teachers, doctors and other professionals in the public service. Furthermore, millions of those who deal with the same fate as Tata’s often work for low-earning jobs, even lower than the prescribed minimum wage policies of the government. In this city, the minimum wage policy for non-agricultural laborers is Php267 a day, but Tata and many others are paid by their employers even
as low as Php50 a day, or none at all. “Abla aquel mujer, paga daw le comigo Php1,500 cada mes (My lady employer said she would pay me Php1,500 per month),” Tata said. In her case, she would be paid Php50 a day, Php217 short from the prescribed per-diem minimum wage by the government. Many analysts believe that the fact that there is loose implementation of the minimum wage policy, and that many are victims of this form of exploitation, these people do barely have enough opportunities to live and provide a decent life for their families and eventually fund for their children’s education. The end result is that the children of these ‘victims’ often become like their parents as well, and sometimes, even worse.
Silver Lining
Robert Meinandrus, in his notable opinion article, provides two alternative solutions for the crisis of public education in the Philippines. Firstly, Meinandrus proposes the increase of state subsidy for education. An increase in state subsidy will enable the state to build more classrooms and fund for better school facilities, and as well provide more scholarship grants and educational subsidies to those who cannot afford for college education. However, the pressing realities of Philippines’ indebtedness to international credit institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, and other trading partners such as USA and Japan are what pull its efforts from allotting more funds to education and other areas. Furthermore, the heightened insurgencies by militant groups within the domestic sphere and the territorial conflict it has against China may have pressured government to allot more of its budget to military and national defense. On 2011, state universities and colleges (SUCs) suffered a massive budget cut of Php400 million while the Department of National Defense, Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines enjoyed approximately 6% to 10% subsidy increase. Secondly, Meinandrus also proposes a systematic population policy which aims at reducing the number of births, but he is aware that the Church’s constant intervention to state’s measures on the population problem seems to be one of the major hindrances. “Given the very aggressive and active intervention of the Church addressing the population problem is very hard to tackle,” Meninandrus quoting Representative Reyes of the Congress. For Tata, she says she waits unwearingly on what lies ahead in the future. While she remains determined to abandon her dream of becoming a nurse, but she hopes that change will come maybe not now, but hopefully not too late for her other siblings. _____ *Tata is a mere pseudonym of the interviewee, and such pseudonym does not intend to imply interviewee’s real name and gender. *Photo is from Josh Weinstein’s blog. Visit http://www. joshweinstein.wordpress.com
January-February 2013 | 11
The Sardine Industry in Zamboanga
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Fish for now, or fish for ever words by: Yen Blanco—Delgado
Inside their shoebox-like apartment, Nano*, 24, watches his wife and two children eat. The plastic table is too small to fit them so he sits on the single bed, his plate propped on his knees. Dinner is steamed rice and a stew of canned sardines, made heartier with the addition of a cheap type of egg noodle called odong.
and sugar. A go-to food of the minimum and belowminimum wage earners, its price is closely monitored by consumer groups and government agencies alike. The slightest increase is used as evidence of failed economic policies.
Canned sardines is the perfect food for the poor Filipino: it is cheap, has an intense flavor and texture that provide a good counterpoint to the bland main Filipino staple – rice, and it is nutritious besides. Fresh sardines is called “tamban”. Although it is cheaper by weight when fresh, it is far more convenient when canned: no need Like millions of other Filipinos, Nano and to go to the wet market to buy it, no need to gut it, nor Carolyn have learned to be creative with canned sardines. refrigerate it. No need to buy other ingredients to cook According to the Food and Agriculture Organization it with either. (FAO), canned sardines is one of the main sources of inexpensive animal protein for lower-income Filipinos. The Sardines capital of the Philippines Filipinos consume roughly 15 million cases of Nano earns 185 pesos a day as kitchen assistant canned sardines per year. Almost all of these come from in a big restaurant. Carolyn used to work there too as Zamboanga City where 11 of the 12 sardine canneries in dishwasher but had to stop when the second baby arrived. the country are located. Both wish they can feed their small children the chicken, pork, and beef that the restaurant serves. But sardines, The canneries and the fishing boat operations 13.50 at the supermarket, is often only what they can that supply them sardines make up the commercial afford. fishing industry in Zamboanga. The Ph 3 billion industry directly employs about 15,000 workers. Another 15,000 Canned sardines is a popular barometer of the are indirectly employed. Among these are the “kargadors” Philippine economy, alongside such staples as rice, milk, or the men who help offload the fishes. Fisheries StaVolume of Indian Sardines Production (Metric Tons) tistics of the Region/Province 2009 2010 2011 Philippines 2009PHILIPPINES 324,128.27 334,030.26 232,907.42 2011, Bureau of Agricultural Zamboanga Peninsula 222,271.81 223,255.82 132,600.63 Statistics, DA Bicol Region 14,021.40 15,730.94 16,802.69 Two days ago, dinner was sardines sautéed with eggs. Before that, when Nano’s wife Carolyn, 25, was with fever, he simply dumped the contents of a can of sardines into a bowl and squeezed calamansi over it.
MIMAROPA
14,961.94
14,514.26
13,054.67
Continue to page 14
January-February 2013 | 13
The Sardine Industry in Zamboanga (Continuation) Fisheries Statistics of the Philippines 20092011, Bureau of Agricultural Statistics, DA
Volume of Indian Sardines Production (Metric Tons) Region/Province 2009 2010 2011 PHILIPPINES
7,116,128.33
7,623,608.74
7,055,765.58
Zamboanga Peninsula
4,097,570.15
4,505,334.19
3,886,203.78
Northern Mindanao
330,362.56
379,103.31
481,005.67
Eastern Visayas
420,012.10
393,218.59
397,640.27
To address the issue, BFAR’s mother unit, According to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, 80% of the total sardines caught per year go the Department of Agriculture (DA) together with to the canneries. The rest goes to the local wet markets Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) issued in 2011 a Joint DA-DILG Administrative Order and the dried fish processors. No.1 entitled “Establishing a Closed Season for the In turn, the bulk of what the factories produce Conservation of Sardine in East Sulu Sea, Basilan Strait goes to the domestic market. Although the industry has and Sibugay Bay”. The conservation areas cover a total made some inroads into the foreign, especially European, of 4,078 nautical miles in the waters on one side of the Zamboanga Peninsula. market, exports are still negligible. The order decreed that for the next three years, Annual catch of commercial fishers is decreasing. Last year, total sardine catch was 109,000 metric tons, catching of sardines will be banned from November 1 until February 1. To allow for transition however, the first down 24% from the 144,000 metric ton catch of 2010. year ban period was moved back to December 1, 2011 to March 1, 2012. The Fishing Ban
Two decades ago, Zamboanga had a vibrant The ban period was chosen based on an initial commercial tuna fishing and canning industry. Then the tuna stock collapsed. Factories either closed shop research finding that these months were the sardines’ or metamorphosed into sardine canneries. Two of the spawning season. canneries continue to process tuna alongside sardines but The object of the ban is to ensure sustainability stocks are brought in all the way from General Santos of stocks as well as to produce a bigger harvest of biggerCity and elsewhere. sized fishes during the open season. DA and BFAR BFAR senior researcher Romeo de Guzman said mounted four separate researches in sardine spawning in that if things are allowed to continue, sardines will go area for the duration of the ban. the way of the tuna. Stocks of galunggong (round scad) Initial finding shows for every one ton of fish and bulinaw (anchovies), also staple fishes of the poor Filipino, collapsed at around the same time as tuna, all left to spawn, a three-fold increase in the biomass of the fish can be expected. However, considering the migratory three gone because of overfishing. nature of sardines as well as the vastness of the fishing
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For BFAR, fishing in November is tantamount to fish infanticide – pregnant sardines are caught before they get the chance to expel their eggs.
ground, the change will not be felt until after the next three months, thus the three to four month ban.
The industry vehemently opposes the idea of not fishing in November. The November catch is bountiful: big sized fishes in great numbers.
The industry does not have a problem complying with the December and January ban because they normally Violators risk jail time of six months to six years, shut down operations on these months because harvest is a fine of six thousand pesos, forfeiture of the catch, as small both in size of the fishes and volume of the catch. well as cancellation of fishing boat and gear licenses. Being allowed to resume fishing in February is almost meaningless to the industry. Sardines at this time Three coast guard patrol vessels were fielded from are small and scarce. Small sardines are less profitable for Manila to patrol the fishing grounds covered by the ban. the canneries because processing them is labor intensive Each vessel was manned by at least 15 armed men. The and forces the plants to put more of it into the cans. research ship MV DA-BFAR complemented the armed vessels in monitoring compliance. BFAR and industry representatives met last month to discuss the schedule of this year’s ban. They Both the canneries as well as the fishing companies have agreed on December 1, 2012 to March 1, 2013 – just back the ban. In fact, the ban resulted in part from the like last year pending more conclusive research results. sardine management plan that the industry itself crafted. Roberto Valerio, spokesperson of the Industrial Group of Zamboanga (IGZI) and an industry insider who used to be a senior officer for one of the bigger canneries, said that the commercial fishers and canneries have been trying for years to get BFAR to implement a fish management plan which they crafted to ensure sustainability of the industry. This vested interest, along with regular armed patrols, found the industry largely compliant with the 2011 ban.
Fish for now or fish forever?
Aside from ensuring sustainability of the sardines stock, the closed season is indirectly improving the state of other species. Galunggong share the same waters populated by sardines and thus have become unintentionally protected.
Some fishermen in Zamboanga del Norte also noticed that the abundant sardines near the shores caused high-priced fishes like jack (talakitok) and even yellow fin tuna to go on a feeding frenzy, making them easy targets The Struggle for November for small-time, municipal-waters fishermen. This caused While both parties agree that a closed season a marked increase in the income of small fishermen at is necessary for sustainability, they cannot agree on the greatly reduced fishing effort and cost. timing of the ban. BFAR wants sardine fishing banned in November, December and January. The canneries and Moreover, they can sell their catch at higher fishing operations think it should be December, January than the usual prices. The scarcity of cheap sardines and and February. galunggong has caused prices higher-end fishes like tuna, snapper, and jack to increase. Even mid-priced fishes are affected by the scarcity of cheap options. Matangbaka (big-eyed scad) that used to sell for 80 to 90 pesos per kilo are now 100 to 120 pesos per kilo.
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reorganize and align towards this framework, we were the one who blew the horn of calling – an audacious step forward for the century-old university. “Mulat tayong lahat sa imahen ng Mindanao na matagal naitatak sa isipan ng marami: pugad ng hindi matapostapos na hidwaan at karahasan, pook kung saan naghahari ang iilan, habang habang buhay na nakagapos sa siklo ng kahirapan ang karamihan” was in the opening statement of President Aquino during the first day of the forum, as he was the keynote speaker.
“S
chools Serving Society: Top Level Action Agenda of Higher Education Institutions for Mindanao Peace and Development” was a three-day forum hosted by the Ateneo de Zamboanga University in line with the Aquino administration’s Mindanao 2020 Framework on Education. Done last January 16 until 18, it gathered about 433 Higher Education Institutions heads and administrators from all over the island, an achievement not only for the Ateneo but also for the city of Zamboanga to host such a magnanimous event to which supposedly would stir anew the tapestry of
Looking back at Mindanao’s not-so distant past, it is indeed clouded with the reputation of being unsafe and an epicenter of destabilization, and a land with no development possible. The voices of Mindanaoans cannot be heard because it is overwhelmed by the sound of gunfire. Aquino relates an example: the MILF, Mindanao’s largest separatist group, is now engaged in talks for lasting peace and cooperation to uplift the island from poverty a nd underdevelopment. He affirms that the time for change has come at last where Mindanaoans must go hand in hand towards growth and not demise.
Words made flesh “Kritikal po ang ginagampanang papel ng mga kolehiyo’t pamantasan sa pagpapalago sa mga produkto’t kaalaman ng kinabibilangan nilang komunidad” is Aquino’s say
Mindanao’s Re Mindanao.
on the burden that each HEI has to bear.
Astoundingly, the new vision and mission of the University hymns almost the very same tune as President Benigno S. Aquino, Jr.’s framework – with the focus on Mindanao, with the emphasis on greater heights in terms of societal influence and development. Could this be a missing link leading us towards how our new vision and mission was manufactured? Nonetheless, Ateneo is now certainly in the front of this all. Not only were we are one of the first to
“Ang nakakalungkot po [ay] sangkatutak na research papers na hindi napapakinabangan ang naitatambak sa mga library hindi naman ho pinupuntahan ng ating kabataan dahil wala nga ho saysay sa kanilang lipunan, milyun-milyong pondo ang ibinibigay para sa mga research and development ng mga produktong hindi naman likas na napapayabong sa kanilang lokalidad” he continued.
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Reflecting on the former statement of Aquino, the challenge indeed of every institution is to literally make “words into flesh” – making real each study, each research, each thesis whose foundation is rooted in service, and in Ateneo’s case, in the drive towards excellence, spirituality, and citizenship.
in the raising of Mindanao.
“Paano naman maibabalik sa komunidad ang santambak na mga research papers kung nakababad lang sa mga lumang pag-aaral ang mga institusyon? Dahil nga sa mga gasgas at de-kahon na pag-aaral, kumakapal nga ang curriculum vitae ng kanilang mga dalubhasa, pero nakinabang ba ang komunidad na kinabibilangan nito? Syempre ang sagot po—hindi” he also stressed.
It is the weapon an individual possesses to combat poverty, injustice, and all the abominations that society creates out of the blight of ignorance. Now, more than ever, there is a call for it to be used not only for the benefit of one or few, but for all. And as Ateneans, each must internalize this cause. In every decision, action, or reflection, one must remember his fellow men. As it is due, each who takes Pro Deo et Patria as his creed must put in mind that by submitting to the maxim, he plunges into a life of extreme and dedicated service – for others, for Mindanao, for God, and country.
Truly, how many institutions in Mindanao, including this University, have significantly improved their locale through research? Needless to say, the answer is – no, or if there is, it is futile. That is why, in the first place, Aquino is calling out the campaign to intensify and focus on this concern.
Education may take time. Education may be expensive. It may be hard to toil for, wish for, aim for, or achieve. Nevertheless, it is the lasting tool each person has to which he would use to support not only himself but others also.
Words by: Barry Barraca
It’s time “They dared to dream, they saw the situation and they said this is wrong. They refused to give up, they took up the challenge, and we are where we are now because people dreamt and worked on their dream. There is no limit
eveille to where we can go to so long as we have faith in God and so long as we continue to dream and believe in the capacity, in our capacity or collective capacity, to take care of each and everyone. That is the essence of where we have to go to and how we will get there. We are responsible for our fellowmen” Aquino leaves the audience with food for thought. Now, the President had called on to use education for the building of peace and progress through greater involvement
Photo source: Ateneo de Zamboanga University Portal
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Words by: Keith Joshua Dumpit
T
oy guns are fixtures of childhood, and looking back at how we used to play with them makes us yearn for the past. As children, we knew what guns were for but we never attached to them the notions of violence and aggression. However, with the recent surge of gun mismanagement and brutality, toy guns have been discouraged because they have been impaired by negative impressions, so as to keep children away from associating guns with violence and so as to prevent them from carrying that notion as they grow older. At that, guns have now become synonymous to violence, and its influence has now reached an astounding scope. Children, as young as nine, may have the means to access such devices. This “influence” holds true as in the case of a 15-year old boy in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA who was accused of killing his parents and siblings using the former’s rifle.
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Internationally, shooting incidents are prevalent, as evidenced by the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre and “The Dark Knight Rises” shootout which took the world over. Nevertheless, to make matters clear, gun violence does not only encompass circumstances where body count has to be more than one and intent is deliberate. Proof of mismanagement of the apparatus is sufficient, as the purpose why guns were made to cater to certain conditions becomes defeated. Much ado about the international scene, gun violence is also growing in the Philippines. As we zoom into our context, we see that we also have our fair share of gun violence incidents. Consider the case of Stephanie Nicole Ella, who died amidst the 2013 New Year celebration, when she was hit by a stray bullet from a celebratory gunfire. Apparently, the act, although not deliberate in its intent, reflects utter negligence and, to an extent, violence since firing gunshots is definitely
unnecessary and uncalled for in events such as that, but in among nations, and it is the same thing that deters many the end, still, the act took its toll on someone. In our time parts of the world from attaining the element much now, nobody turns off the television every day unscathed needed by a society: peace. by horrendous news of shooting here and there. The reason why we are so concerned with gun violence even when it happens beyond our territorial Even more so, here in Zamboanga, the local scenario is very different, as shooting incidents are jurisdiction is because it is so searching in extent that prospering in number. As tracked by the Universidad sympathy transcends boundaries, and because of the de Zamboanga, whose president was killed by gunshot, realization of how one device can potentially burn to the figures for gun-related fatalities were, indeed, pretty ashes one’s hopes and dreams. We have recently seen this alarming. Especially in our locality where armed conflicts kind of response to the Sandy Hook shooting incident, lurk, our imperilled citizenry are constantly terrorized by where people from all over the world mourned over the the possibility of gun violence and every gunshot heard deaths of children whose lives have been taken from them because of gun violence. becomes a warning. The question now is, how will we, citizens and government alike, be able to combat this rising phenomenon in the soonest time possible? Actually, the solution has already been established, but is not really accompanied by complete obedience from possessors and proper enforcement from the government so as to really manifest change. The gun ban, as a deterrent to possible violence this election season, may be seen by some as a worn-out remedy, but it can actually work its wonders when it is given utmost attention and enforcement by the
Various measures have been taken by antigun violence groups to combat such problem and they have expressed their aim to halt the dilemma by way of signature campaigns and social media promotion, to name a few. It is only in time when the fruits of these crusades can be seen, but as of now, these campaigns need a much stronger push to exact change. As aforementioned, gun violence may be appeased by the mutual obedience of handlers towards the
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As of January 2013, the number of recorded violations of the gun ban has amounted to 281.
....................................................................... proper authorities. As of the moment, the gun ban is not yet at the level of efficaciousness at which it is capable of attaining. As of January 2013, the number of recorded violations of the gun ban has amounted to 281.
instructions of authority, and all it takes is the cultivation of discipline among them, that is, they must know, and always bear in mind, what guns are for and use them at no one’s expense. But with depictions of violence in media also rising up, will this advocacy to end gun violence be As much as gun violence is committed at an an easy road? individual level, that same type of violence persists at the next level in the hierarchy, where armed conflicts continue to take lives, terrorize the world and cause much division
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To Greater Heights:
Fr. Tony as New Father Provincial
I
“
came here for a mission, and that mission is over and that’s it.” Six years ago, Ateneo de Zamboanga University experienced a transition in presidency as long-time (18 years to be exact) Father President William H. Kreutz, SJ ended his term and the university leadership was handed over to Fr. Antonio Moreno, SJ.
This time, history is about to repeat itself.
Words by Jam Camille F. Quintanes to think of the broader area, the Philippine Province and how we also relate to the wider Society of Jesus,” he adds. In taking such a huge position and the responsibility it entails, one can only imagine the long process that transpires in order to achieve a name for this appointment. “We conducted a consultation of the local community here in Zamboanga City. We consulted the Jesuits, first, the qualities of a Father Provincial Superior and then second, the demands of the Society of Jesus particularly in the Philippine Province.”
Big responsibility
“Then we had a straw vote. The Jesuits were asked to list down names of their three candidates, in order of priority. Votes were summarized and about six names were selected – that includes mine. Then there was some kind of a deliberation, because we don’t do it by election. There was a caucus among the Jesuits who occupied key positions to deliberate the suitability of the six names.”
Upon announcement of the appointment, many were surprised but at the same time congratulatory greetings were all over. As many would agree, the position of Father Provincial is not quite as familiar to some.
“Current Father Provincial Jose Magadia, SJ with his consultors met and tried to finalize the terna (three names in order of priority) that they sent to Rome,” Fr. Moreno explains.
The Philippines is considered as a Jesuit Province. Hence, being the Father Provincial means the appointed person is in charge of the entire area. “I look after the Jesuits in the Philippine Province, the ministries and the apostolates,” Fr. Moreno says. This includes the foreign Jesuits who are part of the Philippine Province, as well as the Filipino Jesuits in Europe, United States, Cambodia, and East Timor who are part of the Philippine province. “With regard to Jesuit ministries and institutions, I look after them through the board of trustees. For instance, AdZU has a board, AdMU has a board. Therefore I sit in those boards and then I also try to make my own views where the direction of the whole Philippine Province should be in consultation with others. And normally that’s done through dialogue and conversation. I will have
Moreover, according to Fr. Moreno, their big boss Fr. General Adolfo Nicolas, SJ also conducted his own consultation by sending his representative, Fr. Danie Patrick Huang, to talk to some 50 Jesuits and asked them about the names chosen. Basically, two simultaneous consultations were done and eventually Fr. Moreno was appointed.
In the next school year, it is expected that AdZU will be under the wings of a new president, who as of now remains to be unnamed as Fr. Moreno will be taking on the position of the new Father Provincial of the Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus.
Fr. Moreno shares that his election as a Procurator in the Society of Jesus last year , one who visits all the Jesuit communities and comes up with a status report of the province to give to the Father General, somehow shows “some level of confidence that the Jesuits have of me, although it has nothing to do with my appointment.” Continue to page 22
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The Bangsamoro Transition Commission:
Roadmap to Peace?
words by Neilson Nick dlS. Alinsañgan illustration by Priscilla Drapiza
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President Benigno S. Aquino III issued Executive Order (EO) 120 creating the Bangsamoro Transition Commission as stipulated in the Framework Agreement on Bangsamoro (FAB). The said Transition Commission will function mainly to draft the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) which will be consistent with the FAB. It is to be recalled that on October 15, 2012, the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) signed the Framework Agreement that would pave the way to creating the Bangsamoro Political Entity. The Bangsamoro will then supersede the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which President Aquino labeled as a “failed experiment”, thus making it basically an amendment to Republic Act 6734, the act which created the ARMM. The EO was signed amidst
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the “technical impasse” that stems from the question as to who would lead the said Transition Commission. The parties have not reached a joint conclusion during the discussion of this issue as the MILF warned the government on their decision that the Bangsamoro will lead the Commission stating that it might lead to “struggle of the fittest and chaos.” Despite the impasse, the government still expressed optimism in the progress that was made.
Organization of the Transition Commission
The said Transition Commission will be composed of 15 members, 7 will be from the GPH and 8 will be from the MILF. Presently, the MILF has finished selecting and has submitted 8 nominees to be members of the said commission. President Aquino reserves the right to appoint members of the commission from the GPH and from the MILF’s list of nominees. The Malacañan Palace then has to act fast in appointing members of the commission, as it must be complete before March 29 this year. According to Section 261 (G) of the Omnibus Election Code, the government is barred from making “appointments or hiring of employees, creation or filling up of new positions,
Tengku Datu Ab Ghafar Tengku bin Mohamed, the Malaysian third-party facilitator, chats with members of the GPH delegation during a break in the third day of the 34th GPH-MILF Formal Exploratory Talks. Photo from OPAPP’s Facebook account
promotion or salary increases” from March 29 to May 13 of this midterm elections year. Section 9 of the said EO explicitly stated the Transition Commission will be appropriated a budget of one hundred million pesos (Php100, 000, 000.00) which will be taken from the contingent fund of the Office of the President. Moreover, “appropriation for succeeding years shall be incorporated in budget proposals under the Office of the President.” The order provided that the said commission will be put into office and will directly coordinate with the House of Representatives and will also be able to call upon all government agencies including government-owned or controlled corporations and government financial institutions to seek aid whenever necessary. The Bangsamoro Political Entity is expected to be officially in effect on 2016, before President Aquino will step down from office. At the same time, when the Bangsamoro Political Entity is officially created, the Transition Commission will cease to exist.
Bangsamoro in Aquino’s Term?
The question now is will the establishment of the Bangsamoro Political Entity hit the said schedule? A roadmap of the progress was made available, detailing all the steps necessary toward the creation of the Bangsamoro Political Entity. So far, the creation of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission is still on the first few steps within the roadmap. Due to the “technical impasse”, delays as to the
agreement regarding the remaining annexes of the FAB were incurred. Originally, the drafting of the annexes was to be completed by the end of the year of last year. Chair of the GPH Peace Panel, Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said “That was the target but we are always flexible. Let’s not rush. It’s the better part of prudence to really go through the documents and the issues to really study this and to really agree. We can mutually adjust the target.” The annexes are to be finished by March. According to Section 3-a of the EO 120, one function of the Transition Commission would be “to work on the drafting of the Bangsamoro Basic Law with provisions consistent with all agreements entered and that may be entered into by the parties.” Within the scope of the so-called “all agreements” are the annexes. This would then imply that the BBL could not be completed if the annexes are not yet settled. Ferrer, however, dismissed the issues regarding delays saying that the task of the Transition Commission and the crafting of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro are separate and that the delays regarding the annexes would not produce any significant impact on the peace process.
Peace in Mindanao?
It is to be remembered that the proposal of the creation of the Bangsamoro Political Entity was met with varying reactions and opinions. Enthusiasm, especially among inhabitants of the ARMM, was among those reactions yet it received a negative reaction from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). MNLF leader Nur Misuari called the agreement as an “act of betrayal” and saying that it would not grant Bangsamoro full autonomy. Despite the threats raised by the MNLF, the GPH does not consider the MNLF as any threat. Another government panel member Senen Bacani stated that the MNLF is also playing a role in the Bangsamoro peace talks, contrary to what Misuari believes. “In fact, a major force of the MNLF was involved in the talks and its development since the very start,” he said. The proposal for the creation of the Bangsamoro Political Entity is for the closure of the 15-year long peace negotiations between the GPH and the MILF. The Bangsamoro Agreement is just the start of the process to finally bring peace in Mindanao.
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CONTINUATIONS The Sardine Industry in Zamboanga
Sustainability of the industry
The plan of BFAR to extend the ban from three to four months can mean serious human resource problems for the factories. The long no-work period will force laborers to look for other jobs to tide them over until the next fishing season. Companies run the risk of losing workers for good.
Even as consumers have to shell out more for all kinds of fishes at the wet market, they cannot expect relief with the canned version. Banning fishing in November will likely result in a shortage of canned sardines in the supermarkets by January or February, forcing an In the first year of the increase from the going retail ban, BFAR set aside 2.5 million price of 13.50 pesos. pesos for a livelihood project for In the short term, identified workers. For every 1000 the industry can absorb the mangrove trees a worker and his potential losses of 1 to 3 per family plants, they will be paid 5,000 cent that might result from the pesos. Although this is more than a ban. Or there might not be any cannery worker’s monthly take home, losses at all, if the anticipated BFAR’s budget is only enough to outcome of better harvest pay 500 workers for a month, or 3% during the rest of the year of the industry’s direct workers. In any case, BFAR Regional Director becomes reality. Ahadulla Sajili said this program did It is the workers that not materialize because the other stand to lose the most. About agencies that pledged to add to the 80% of them are contractual, funds did not come through. no-work, no-pay hires. While they are used to the practice of factories shutting down on December and January, a November shut-down is another matter. Valerio said that if they stop operation in November, then canneries have to give the Christmas bonus in November too. Long before Christmas day comes around, most of that money will have been gone.
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It is the impact of the ban on the workers that worry Zamboanga City First District Representative Isabelle Climaco the most. Silvie Agravante, Climaco’s media relations head said that they are waiting for the final results of the research before they intervene.
Solutions
Edgar Lim, general manager of the cannery Permex, predict that a longer ban period will result in a
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shortage of canned sardines. “If we will be allowed to resume fishing in February yet, there will be no more sardines in the grocery shelves by March and April”. This will cause retail prices to shoot up. Some factories have experimented with importing sardines from Taiwan and Japan. This solution does not bode very well for the ordinary sardine-eating Filipino. Imported sardines are at least 30 to 40 per cent more expensive than locally sourced ones. He adds that retail price of will shoot up by around 5 pesos if this practice becomes the norm. Valerio however notes that the poor do not really have a choice but to continue buying sardines, even at 18 pesos. For Nano and Carolyn, it will still be the cheapest animal protein. The next option, fresh galunggong, is still more expensive at 40 pesos per kilo. _____ Ms. Yen Blanco—Delgado is a journalist and a faculty member of the Communication Arts Department under the School of Liberal Arts. Ms. Delgado granted The BEACON’s request to publish her article in this issue.