T H E O F F I C I A L S T U D E N T P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES - MANILA VOLUME 31 • ISSUE 6 • NOV 27, 2017
NEWS
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FEATURES
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CULTURE
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OPINION
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YOLANDA VICTIMS YET TO RECOVER FULLY AFTER 4 YEARS DESPERATE MEASURES IN THE NAME OF THE BROTHER PAGAL
ASEAN SUMMIT 2017, GINANAP SA BANSA 02 NEWS
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ASEAN Summit 2017, ginanap sa bansa Pagpupulong, sinalubong ng mga kilos-protesta EUNICE BIÑAS HECHANOVA AT ARIES RAPHAEL REYES PASCUA
Kaalinsabay ng ika-31 na Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit noong Nobyembre 10-14, nagsagawa ng laksa-laksang kilosprotesta ng mga mamamayang lumalaban sa pamamasista ng rehimeng US-Duterte at pambubusabos ng imperyalismo. Sa komperensiya, tinalakay ng mga pandaigdigang lider ang ilang mga usapin upang mas mapayabong ang mga polisiya sa ekonomikal, politikal, at sosyo-kultural na mga proyekto.
International Convention Center (PICC) na pinangunahan ng Anakbayan upang salubungin ng pagkokondena ang pagdating ng iba’t ibang pinuno ng bansa. Samantala, noong Nobyembre 12, sinabayan ng mga progresibong grupo ng kilos-protesta sa SMX Convention Center kung saan ginanap ang magarbong gala dinner ng mga lider. Sa pagpapatuloy, noong Nobyembre 13, nagluto ng kilos-protesta ang mga grupo na magmamartsa patungong Buendia diretsong PICC. Sa kabila ng
Nagsama-sama ang mga grupo sa Mendiola upang mas igiit ang kanilang mga panawagan. Kuha ni Shaila Elijah Perez Fortajada
Lumalabang Mamamayan Sa pagpapatuloy, hindi pinalampas ng mga progresibong grupo ang pagkakataong ito upang isigaw ang kanilang mga panawagan. Nagsagawa ng limang araw na magkakasunod na mobilisasyon ang sambayanan sa pagkondena ng mga neoliberal na polisiya na nakapaloob sa mga adyenda na tinalakay noong ASEAN. Nagsimula ang pagtulak ng mga pagkilos noong Nobyembre 10 sa embahada ng Estados Unidos upang maagap na itambol ang pagtutol ng batayang sektor sa pagdating ng iba’t ibang pangulo mula sa mga bansa na miyembro ng ASEAN. Sinagot ito ng estado sa pamamagitan ng pagharang ng kapulisan sa mga nagkikilos-protesta sa Mabini Street kung kaya’t doon na lamang isinagawa ang programa. Sinundan naman ito ng pagkilos noong Nobyembre 11 sa Philippine malawak na hanay ng mamamayang lumalaban, hinarang muli ang bulto ng kapulisan kahit nasa Kalye Padre Faura pa lamang ito.
Sinunog ang "Fascist Spinner" effigy ng mga nagpoprotesta sa Taft bilang simbolo ng pagtuligsa sa pasismo ng estado na sinusuporta ng US. Kuha ni Aries Raphael Reyes Pascua
Walang humpay na binombahan ng mga water cannon ang hanay ng mga mamamayan upang mapigilan ang usad ng pagmartsa. Ginamit din ng kapulisan ang Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD), na nagbuga ng malakas na tunog na maaaring makasira sa pandinig ng mga nagkikilosprotesta at mga taong nasa paligid. Layon umano nito na maistorbo
ang konsentrasyon ng mamamayan at magulo ang kanilang hanay. Dahil dito, sa Kalye Padre Faura na lamang isinagawa ang programa kung saan sinunog ang effigy na “Fascist Spinner” na sumisimbolo sa pasismo ng rehimeng US-Duterte at pandarambong ng imperyalismo. Matapos ng programa, nagmartsa pabalik ang hanay sa Liwasang Bonifacio upang lalong igiit ang kanilang mga panawagan. Para sa huling araw ng kilos-protesta noong Nobyembre 14, nagtipon-tipon
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ang iba’t ibang sektor sa Mendiola para higit pang kondenahin ang iba’t ibang isyu tungkol sa pag-uugnayaan ng mga bansa na miyembro ng ASEAN. Pangkalahatang tinapos ang programa sa pagsunog ng replika ng bandila ng Estados Unidos upang idiin ang paglaban sa imperyalismo.
Lumalalang Krisis Sa pangkalahatan, tinuligsa ng mga grupong Kadamay at Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) ang paggamit ng gobyerno ng badyet na umaabot
ng P15.5B upang mapaghandaan ang pagdaos ng ASEAN Summit sa bansa. “It is indeed ironic that Duterte and the other country will host many powerful leaders in the subsequent conferences that were largely extravagant. The government has been using the Filipino taxpayers money for the grand preparations while neglecting those in need like the homeless residents of Floodway who are just right outside the front door of his Palace,” iginiit ni Kadamay National Chairperson Gloria Arellano.
Dagdag niya, na mas nararapat na gamitin ang bilyon-bilyong pondo pa upang suportahan ang mga nawalan ng tirahan sa pagpapaalis ng mga residente ng East Bank Road sa Floodway, Pasig City. Maliban rito, isiniwalat ng Kadamay ang nagpapatuloy na pagsasapribado ng serbisyo, lalo na sa ‘Build, Build, Build’ na programa sa ilalim ng gobyernong Duterte. Binanggit din ng grupo na ang mga adyendang pinapaunlakan sa ASEAN ay nagpapalawak ng interventionism sa ating gobyerno.
Isinaad ni GABRIELA SecretaryGeneral Joms Salvador na hindi nabuo ang ipinangakong ‘independent foreign policy’. “The tightening race among corporate giants in banking, trade and weapons between US, China, Japan, and EU fuels military buildups in the South China Sea and Indian Ocean, opening the possibility that the Trump administration can trigger a major regional conflict in Asia to settle trade imbalances between rivals,” wika niya.
JUSTINE VINCE AMANCA DE DIOS Sinunog ng mga rallyista ang bandila ng Estados Unidos. Kuha ni Aries Raphael Reyes Pascua
Figure 1. A timeline depicting the relations between the US and the Philippines since Duterte's term.
Tinuligsa ng mga rallyista ang mga neoliberal na polisiya na nagpapakita ng pananaig sa interes ng US sa bansa. Kuha ni Patricia Anne Lactao Guerrero
Tinuligsa ng mga rallyista ang mga neoliberal na polisiya na nagpapakita ng pananaig sa interes ng US sa bansa. Kuha ni Aries Raphael Reyes Pascua
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Yolanda victims yet to fully recover after 4 years Of the 205,128 target housing to be built by the government, only 50,891 (less than a fourth) were successfully constructed and only 27% were occupied. Furthermore, of the 86 resettlement areas, only five have water. The government reported that 59 resettlement areas have power but Guzman said that only 12 of these sites actually brought power to the houses. These are some of the reasons for the low occupancy rate for the replacement houses. Majority of the complaint is that the housing is substandard – its foundations or walls are filmsy.
ARTHUR GERALD BANTILAN QUIRANTE
Student groups from UP Manila gathered at the PGH Oblation Plaza last November 8 to condemn the slow rehabilitation and disaster response of the government in relation to the wreckage left in the wake of Typhoon Yolanda in 2013. Photo by Ryana Ysabel Neri Kesner
Four years after the catastrophe, Yolanda ‘survivors’ still face problems left behind by the disastrous typhoon such as delayed distribution of aides, and incomplete provision of housing replacement. Last November 8, student groups and progressive organizations of the University of the Philippines Manila (UPM) held a candle-lighting ceremony and mobilization in front of UPM-Philippine General Hospital (PGH) Oblation Plaza to decry the government’s lack of response, which caused thousands of victims to remain homeless and jobless.
Overdue emergency aid Nearly two years after the onslaught of the super typhoon, a total of P18.4-B provided for emergency shelter assistance (ESA) has already been released to local governments in Western, Central, and Eastern Visayas, including municipalities affected in the MIMAROPA (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan) region as of October 2015. According to then Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman, the delay in the distribution of the
With super-typhoon Yolanda being a global news in 2013, IBON Executive Director Sonny Africa indicated this could have challenged the 'usual' government response and alleviated problems in disaster and risk management. “If there are fake news — the spread of wrong information to sway public perception – there is also fake rehabilitation”, stressed Africa.
ESA was due to the late release of funds and countervalidation of the list of beneficiaries to make sure that only those deserving would get the monetary assistance. Unfortunately, many families affected by the typhoon whose houses and livelihood were extremely affected, were classified as ‘ineligibles’ and prohibited from receiving assistance from local governments. These ‘ineligibles’ were tagged as those who have permanent income greater than P 15,000, according to the memorandum issued by Secretary Soliman in November 2014.
Housing woes for victims Based on a research published by IBON, an independent think-tank organization, the government is overachieving in the reconstruction of roads and bridges by neglecting the needs of the victims. In addition, according to head of IBON Research Department Rosario Guzman, the government’s focus has been more on rehabilitating the needs of big businesses rather than the needs of the people.
Student groups from UP Manila gathered at the PGH Oblation Plaza last November 8 to condemn the slow rehabilitation and disaster response of the government in relation to the wreckage left in the wake of Typhoon Yolanda in 2013. Photo by Ryana Ysabel Neri Kesner
Martial Law continues despite liberation of Marawi
Government to focus on the city’s rehabilitation SHAILA ELIJAH PEREZ FORTAJADA
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Progressive groups opposed President Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao as it will amplify human rights violations and killings during the war in Marawi. Despite objections, the government stood firm in their decision until the Marawi crisis was declared over on October 23.
Militarization in Marawi The Maute armed group, which was reported to consist of Moro leaders and some foreign terrorists, attacked and took hostages in the city of Marawi. Even if the armed group was only concentrated on the city of Marawi, the implementation of martial law (ML) covered the whole of Mindanao. As reported by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, the Marawi siege is expected to last in less than 7 days. Moreover, as President Duterte cited rebellion as a reason for declaring ML, it should have been only be effective for 60 days in accordance to the constitution. Despite these pronouncements, the siege lasted for 148 days and martial law in Mindanao was extended up to the end of the year. Marawi City was announced to be redeemed after two Maute leaders were killed on October 16, and with the death toll of 920 terrorists and 165 soldiers.
Dissenting Fascism Progressive groups called for the lifting of martial law and objected the suspension of writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao since this would allegedly involve threat towards civilians. Following this, the National Union of Students of the Philippines stated that martial law will not help in solving the terrorism in Mindanao but will only exacerbate military violence leading to deaths and damages in the city. Likewise, national minorities, along with mass organizations, asserted their rights and rallied against martial law in Mindanao during the Lakbayan D E S P E R AT E M E A S U R E S be blind followers and passive servants keen on carrying out the oppressive state’s unscrupulous biddings. By taking advantage of the people's short-term amnesia regarding repressive policies that have failed them in the past, the government has time and again colluded with its fascist military arm, the AFP, and the big businesses in suppressing genuine nationalist sentiments in the youth today, all the while gradually depriving them of their democratic rights behind the scenes.
ng Pambansang Minorya this year. After being declared free by the President, groups including Suara Bangsamoro demanded for the investigation of the human rights violations such as forced dispersal of the residents by the military forces that happened during the Marawi siege. The Moro group insisted that both the Philippine and U.S. governments take responsibility for different abuses during the war.
Marawi Rehabilitation Progressive groups were further aggregated despite the liberation of Marawi, as martial law will continue and military presence will remain to help in the city’s rehabilitation. Consequently, Task Force Bangon Marawi was formed to make decisions regarding the city’s recovery, particularly in handling foreign aid for Marawi. It was announced that of the several institutions and countries have offered aid, European Union’s was rejected by the president. Furthermore, foreign aid that would exert unfair conditions will also be rejected, according to Foreign Secretary Alan Cayetano. Moreover, Vice President Leni Robredo encouraged the private sector to get involved in the rehabilitation. The rehabilitation would focus on making sure that the evacuees will be in homes clear of bombs, booby traps, and improvised explosive devices. Temporary shelters were set up to house locals who lost their houses. Duterte specified that martial law will end upon the complete
eradication of all terrorists, and until rehabilitation in Marawi is complete. Meanwhile, the United States has promised a P730M aid for Marawi rehabilitation, following the statement of U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim September 5 this year. “We all look forward to the end of the crisis, and the end of the fighting and suffering. We have been and will continue to support the Philippine government’s efforts to deal with the crisis”, pronounced the ambassador. The first visit of U.S. President Donald Trump in the Philippines coincided with the country’s hosting of the ASEAN summit, attended by member countries from the Southeast Asian region. With this, U.S. involvement in the country’s development became more apparent by being involved in the said summit even if the U.S. is not part of the ASEAN nor the Asia continent. In line with this, League of Filipino Students (LFS) Northern Mindanao Region Chairperson Kristine Cabardo urged the people to express protest against U.S. imperialism, as well as the visit of Trump. She furthered that the Marawi crisis is part of the U.S.instigated war on terror. “We shall not forget how our ancestors heroically fought for our land. We shall not honor any foreign intervention much more US imperialism that preys on the poverty and hunger of the people to continue its hegemonic rule. To let them take over our lands is a betrayal to our ancestors and heroes”, she stressed.
| FROM P.7 Amid the intensifying attacks on these nation's marginalized and underrepresented sectors, these backward, deliberately onesided policies efficiently serve as smokescreens in distracting attention from the heart of the issue. Such matters are not to be even deemed worthy to be considered as feasible alternatives to work with, as urgency is more demanded in attending to
the dire needs of an independent foreign policy, genuine land reform, and national industrialization. In following a progressive direction, policies will increasingly be in line with the rights and welfare of the masses, whose needs and concerns are necessarily interconnected.
NEWS DOSE ISYU SA ESPASYO (PART 2/3) SOFIA MONIQUE KINGKING SIBULO
Ang kasalukuyang kampanyang #WeNeedSpaceNow ay patuloy na iginagaod ng mga estudyante sa pangunguna ng University of the Philippines Manila University Student Council (UPM USC). Inihain ang mga panawagan ng mga estudyante noong panahon ng pagpili sa magiging bagong Chancellor ng UPM. Nakipagtulungan ang USC sa Office of the Student Regent (OSR) para maipaabot ang ilang pangangailangan ng mga estudyante. Ibinahagi ni UPM USC Chair Miguel Aljibe, na patuloy ang konsultasyon at pag-alam sa kalagayan ng mga kolehiyo at mga organisasyon. Nagkatipon ang iba’t ibang organisasyon noong Oktubre 27 sa isang General Assembly ng Organization Accreditation at dito inalam ang estado ng mga organisasyon lalo na sa usaping espasyo. Ilan sa mga nakalap na problema ay ang malamok na tambayan at limitadong oras kung saan ang iba ay sinisingil ng malaking halaga dahil kailangang mag-ensayo na lumalagpas sa itinakdang oras ng administrasyon. Kaugnay rito, nakita ang malaking kakulangan sa espasyo dagdag pa ang mas mataas na pagsingil sa mga pasilidad. Kung titignan, naging mas mahigpit at mas mahal na ang paggamit sa UPM Theater na noo’y College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Little Theater. Kasama sa kampanya ay ang pagsasaalangalang ng kaligtasan ng mga estudyante kaya humihingi pa nang mas mahabang oras sa silid-aklatan at matuloy ang hinihiling na “Kapihan sa UPM,” kung saan maaaring mag overnight ang mga mag-aaral tuwing UPM hell week. “Madalas kasi lagpas ika-10 ng gabi na at sa mga coffee shop nag-aaral ang mga estudyante at hindi tiyak ang kaligtasan dito,” sinabi ni Aljibe. Idiniin ni Aljibe na magtatagumpay ang kampanyang ito kung ang bawat estudyante ay sasama sa mga pagkilos sa nasabing kampanya.
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DESPERATE MEASURES
O PURSUE THE TRUTH IS TO UPHOLD ACADEMIC FREEDOM.
Article XIV, Section 5 of the Philippine Constitution guarantees academic freedom in all institutions of higher learning. With this right, students and faculty are empowered to express and challenge their views without fear of sanctions. However, recent attacks on campus freedom interrupt the supposed execution of this right. Such acts are utilized to influence the students to remain silent regarding the abuse of power prevalent in the institutions. For as they were once hailed as the “hope of the future,” they are now molded to become unknowing accomplices to the continuous offenses of the administration.
Coercive Constraints The present and previous regimes have been targeting the youth sector with its repressive tools of policy-making, enabling them to silence dissent for their own ends. On August 3, 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte signed the “Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act” into law. In effect, students from 112 state universities and colleges are no longer required to pay tuition fees and other miscellaneous fees. However, the supposed implementation of the free tertiary education policy was not completely transparent in the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) where students were still obliged to pay tuition fees, energy fees, exam fees and facility rental fees for this academic year. The continuous collection of tuition fee and other school fees pushed several student organizations, such as the SAMASA-PUP, ANAK-PUP, and the school publication, The Catalyst, to lead a widespread opposition against the administration. The PUP administration retaliated by shutting down the tambayans and offices of the student organizations that supported antiadministration movements. Renovation continually was employed an excuse, along with the students’ incapability to comply with the costly mandatory uniform code.
The university’s official media platform The Catalyst was not spared from the brunt of such strong-arm tactics, which was especially noted for boldly fulfilling its mandate to the student body during this period of repression. The PUP administration has recently revived the Student Publication Section (SPO), the office responsible for controlling the funds, printing, distribution, administration and editorial policies of the student paper. With its re-establishment, what was supposed to formerly perform as the students’ mouthpiece will cease to function as such, due to comprehensive censorship and extensive interference which will only favor the school management. This move, coupled with influencing the university student council and board of regents by means of administration -installed officers, will significantly ease the resistance in manufacturing spurious consent from the intended stakeholders---the students. Student media repression has been intensifying as of late, with manifestations of state fascism creeping in closer to educational institutions as well. The Independent Sentinel of the Lyceum University of the Philippines (LPU) experienced a similar fate when it has also been taken over by the school administration and had their budget withheld. Meanwhile, The Spark of the Camarines Sur Polytechnic College, The Pillars of Ateneo De Naga University and The Seafarers' Gazette of Mariners Polytechnic College Foundation have been harassed and intimidated by the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP). The students of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) share the sentiments of PUPians regarding the fight for free education and no tuition collection. The first day rage protest led by the University Student Council (USC) was not acknowledged by the administration that opted to lock the students out of the main library. The students were left with no choice but to forcefully enter the building, breaking the glass door and injuring at least two students. Here it is evident that academic freedom no longer functions as a right, but a privilege that the administration can withhold for its convenience. The rage protest participated by approximately 800 students only emphasizes the urgency of their demands – which was merely belittled and ignored by the administration.
ILLUSTRATION BY ERIN CAMYL VELAZCO ALVIAR
MARGARET ANNE LANDICHO ELARDO AND RONALD SATORE SIMYUNN, JR.
For a country that prides on democracy, it is ironic for campus tyranny to gradually dominate the academia. The culture of debate and discourse as promoted by the constitution is downright violated. By silencing student orga nizat ions a n d publ icat ions, the student body becomes detached to the legitimate injustices thriving in the institutions. Such division between the student body and the administration will foster an atmosphere favorable for the latter.
cadets from Benguet State University and the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasig were
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Indoctrination The fascist and militarist inclinations in the school-setting will even more prosper with the restoration of the mandatory ROTC.
The national reimplementation of the Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC) was approved by President Duterte on February 7, 2017. The program will be incorporated into the curriculum of Grade 11 and Grade 12 private and public school students across the country. This move completely disregards the previous cases which show the program’s inefficiency. Reports gathered by Gabriela Youth,
even subjected to physical and sexual abuses. The unjustified violence taking place in the University of MindanaoTagum was exposed when a video of the ROTC cadets being hit on their chest and stomach went viral. The violent history of the mandatory ROTC shows the violation of
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Scrutinizing the Implications of Campus Repression by the UST Department of Military Science and Tactics and the Department of National Defense which is in charge of the ROTC in the said university. Following their expose, the pair received death threats through text messages. Four months later, Chua was abducted and murdered—his corpse, wrapped in carpet, found floating in Pasig River, Manila. The autopsy states suffocation as the cause of death. Guised to foster patriotism and defense preparation, the ROTC is yet another form of repression. Students, now at a younger age, are taught to blindly follow the orders set by their officials, who are controlled by the fascist-inclined government. The aforementioned cases of violence highlight the defenselessness of the trainees in the hands of their superiors. The trainees perceive silence as the only way to evade the wrath of their officers. Disobedience is not an option if their lives are blatantly on the line.
huma n rights caused by the military nature of the program. However, the ultimate case that led former President Gloria Arroyo to lift the requirement of ROTC was that of Mark Chua. Mark Chua and Romulo Yumul, former students of the University of Santo Tomas, reported the alleged bribery and extortion committed
According to Alfonso Labrague, spokesperson of the National Union of Students of the Philippines – Eastern Visayas, ROTC encourages the AFP to monitor campus activities and figures, particularly student organizations and publications. Labrague further cited the case of two student publications, the UP Vista and The Pillar, which were harassed and classified by the AFP as supporters of the New People’s Army. The mandatory ROTC simply proves how the administration is willing to resort to unnecessary, violent methods in order to instill fear and filter the actions of the youth. In fact, the ROTC also serves as a recruitment pool for the Student Intelligence N e t w o r k (SIN), which monitors the activities of such legal and democratic organizations within the premises, while simultaneously branding them as terrorist groups. By inculcating its tradition of blind obedience, reprehensible practices such as physical and verbal abuse, bribery, and extortion will otherwise be allowed to perpetuate in the next generations. Also, given the spate of political killings in the present, the AFP must not be permitted any
longer to infiltrate schools as it remains to be the number one human rights violator in the country. This has been exemplified in the losses in lives and property sustained in Lumad schools in rural communities due to massive militarization of the AFP and its paramilitary groups. Cleansing their ranks, which is easier said than done, would prove to be more difficult if their fascist tendencies were to spill over and be inherited by unsuspecting students in their sincere hopes of protecting their fellow citizens. Requiring the ROTC allows the government to easily mold the minds of the students for a fascist-inclined environment will blur the lines between what is right and wrong. This type of environment instills fear in the minds of the youth and thus, prevents them from asserting their rights. The program discourages the students from being critical of the government. This just allows further abuse of power and violation of human rights under the ROTC program. Its continued implementation will also impinge on academic freedom, considering that it has also been used as an instrument to specifically single out members and would-be members alike of progressive youth groups as targets of harassment.
Costly Measures The K-12 program is yet another antipoor policy that transforms education as a basic social service into a profiteering scheme, which is designed to generate subpar graduates fit only for foreign labor-intensive production. Administrations are increasingly burdening and exploiting SHS students by discouraging college education while producing low-skilled workers locked in contractual employments. The overall state of education, which heavily concerns the aspiring future graduates, is still compromised at large with the full force of the K-12 program felt in its thorough implementation. Indeed, it would be an understatement to say that the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the previous administrations, with among them the Aquino regime being the most noteworthy, have been consistent in opposing the rights and welfare of the Filipino students. Thanks to the largely unaffordable costs of the additional two years’ worth of tuition and OSFs, the majority of whom mostly hail from the poor will be compelled to opt for the Technical-Vocational-Livelihood
track in hopes of providing for their families’ needs earlier than expected. The voucher system that DepEd boasts of only provides a meager partial subsidy of P 17 500 to P 22 500 a year, which still leaves parents and breadwinners an estimated hefty sum of P 11 000 for indigent families to settle, exclusive of the additional expenses in transport fare, food, and school supplies among others. Hence, in their efforts to compensate for the high costs in SHS, these families are being pressured to have their children enter employment immediately upon graduation rather than pursuing college; thus the increased demand of technicalvocational subjects. In the long run, they will only find themselves exported to developed countries as cheap, low-skilled human labor force, whose skills are actually designed to cater to the latter’s needs in mass production. With both tertiary and SHS levels attacked on vulnerable fronts, CHED is obligated to check student handbooks and removing provisions found inconsistent with the Bill of Rights of the Philippine Constitution, as reported by the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP). Yet, its lack of initiative in addressing these repressive policies is all too apparent, even with the students’ democratic rights, including campus press freedom, directly at stake. Youth leaders and activists continue to be threatened here in the city, with the right to expression and to organize blatantly constrained and school publications being encroached upon by their administrations. Large-scale repression continues unabated as local and foreign interests of the ruling elites go hand-in-hand in assailing students’ rights and welfare. Administrations have managed to masquerade its anti-people policies by carrying its façade of caring for the youth’s welfare. Instead of instilling genuine patriotism in the minds of the young people, this anti-student, and anti-people approach will only suit the interests of big foreign and local capitalists. This orientation aims to indoctrinate them to CONTINUED ON P.5
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MGA FULUNG-VULUNGAN NG NAGJIJISANG
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ITANONG KAY ISKO’T ISKA L O L A PAT O L A M I S S H Y U E A R T H E D I S H U U U N! Halllloooowwww mga super duper mega duper byutiful kong mga afoowwsss!!! Na-mish niyo ba si Lola Patola niyo? Sufer busy kasi si Lola niyo sa pagtratrain umawra ng candidate natin for Misssh Earth 2017! Sufer galing ng lola niyo mag teach ng mga awra moves! Fero, mash magaling ang aking afow! Kitakits? Nanalo nga siya for Missshh Earth ehhhh! I’m so froud of my BB naman hahaha. Kaya, dafat mga afows, galingan din natin ang pag awra kahit naglalakad sa hallway! Lezz go extra! Meanwhile naman, havang busy gumawa ng gowns ang lola mo ay avuh! Inuulan pa din aketchiwa ng mga sumvhongs from my afows in UPM! I’m streshed kasi hindi aketch makafocus in knitting gowns mga mums! PANGFANISH ONE: UVOX
NG GANDUH NUMVAH NA ANG DUGO KO!
Divahh mga madir kapag may shakit tayo and uvo uvo ay dafat hindi tayo inistress? Anetchiwa dis plaze with long lines! Sovhrang stressful daw for my afows this puhlace coz sovhrang vagal daw ng serviche ditechiwa! K a w a w a kel z naman ang aking mga sick na afows kashii baka mash lumala pa ang shakittt nila coz of the stressh na inaavot nila sa flace na ito! Dagdag fa diyan, sovrang shungit daw ng ilang mga staff! Yung tifong hindi mo talaga alam ang gagawin tafos mag tataas ng voses kaagad? Tafos, kapag may kausaf na God, aba, nagjijiva ang tono! Minshan fa daw, the Gods in this flace gives wrongy wrong diagnosis to my affowss!! To some fifol of this flace, hallerr mga madame, ang jugal niyo nang ganyan! Lola affreciates naman your efforts talaga fero shiguro if you have froblems with managing fifol, sana ay maglagay kayo ng mga signs or shomething to guide them at fara hindi na din sila tanong ng tanong sa inyo at hindi kayo makulitan! IPAALAM ANG SISTEMA! Hay nako, if ganyan kayo palagi, magtatayo na lang shi lola niyo ng sarili niyang flace for all her sick affows to go to!
PANGFANISH NG GANDUH NUMVAH TWO: MAFAGFANGGAP, SUMMIT PA MORE! Anetchiwa naman ang feelz ng aking mga afows noong na treat sila as second clash citizen ng mishmong government niya? Shabi ng aking afow, shinarado noong inshert this summit week ang mga kalye, vinigyan ng world-clash a c c omo d a t ion s ang mga foreign leaders! Aneq? Shamantalang ang daming friendlalu ang aking afow na walang pagma maya r ing haus at all taposh gagastosh yung government niya ng vonggang vongga sa accomodations ng mga peeps na hindi naman niya mamamayan? Aneq? Finilit pa dis government to fanggap fanggap para kunwari daw ay malinis, maganda at no froblemo daw this country! Wow ah! Shi Lola P mo lang ang maganduh at ang mga fow niya! To dis government namern, dapat ay gamitin natin ang datongs natin sha mga people natin na finaka nangangailangan! And there you go my affowwss! Kumunot ba ang noo ng aking mga afowsss? Sharrehh na mga afows ha, wez need to chika this fara naman magwerq werq na dis fifol to reduce da thrriguurss na nagfafavawas sa vyuti ng lola niyo! Anyway, my dear afows, chika lang kayo ng chika ng sumvhong sa lola niyo ah! Labyu ol mwah mwah mwah! STAY
BYUTIPUL
UPM!
 GOT SUMBVH0NGS?! I-SPLUK MO NA BEH!
ANO ANG MASASABI MO PATUNGKOL
DAHIL NAEXTEND NG ISANG LINGGO
SA PAGLAAN NG 15.5B NG GOBYERNO
ANG KLASE SA UPM, ANO PA ANG
SA PAGHAHANDA PARA SA PAGDAOS
GUSTO MONG MAIEXTEND SA BUHAY
NG ASEAN DITTO SA BANSA?
MO?
"di bale na magutom basta maganda itsura natin sa mga kapitbahay." -not so witty howitzer, CP 20boom-boom
gusto ko din i-extend ang sanidad ko. ang daming gawain nkklk -not so witty howitzer, CP 20boom-boom
Second class citizen naman kagi ang turing ng gobyerno sa Pilipino. -Caulfield - CPH 2019-***** We have become too hospitable to a fault. humihithit ng mikmik, white college
Iextend ang pagkakataon kong makabawi sa life hahahaha. -Caulfield CPH 2019-*****
Why do we please our guests to the point that our own citizens are disadvantaged? This is already too far - the government has shown that it really does prioritize the interests of the elites and foreign powers, over the Filipinos. -powta2, 2012, CAS Bakit mas generous pa ang pag-allot ng pondo para sa pagpapabongga sa mga bisita eh ang mismong kalagayan ng bansa hindi maiangat or maipabuti gamit ang available na funds -skeptic CAS Eh kung tama na ang pagpretend na mayaman ang Pilipinas, alam naman naming ineexploit naman tayo ng mga kapitalista at imperyalista -lights lights lights, 2015 All I can say is nakakahiya nanaman ang gobyerno. Hindi man lang siya nahiya sa mga tao. Ang kuripot sa pagsubsidize ng basic social services - you'll have to prove that you're indigent and very on the verge of helplessness BEFORE THEY HELP YOU! Meanwhile, all the ASEAN and additional leaders (Ahem ahem) are in no need of all these super-expensive and luxurious SH*T pero sila they were readily provided funds for. Meanwhile, all kinds of inconvenience and adjustments were done and asked of the people. We couldn't even use our own roads! We basically paved way for these rich-*ss leaders by stepping on the people. -Ms Rants, 2012-3**** Height ko, puwede ba 'yon i-extend? Keri lang naman kung hindi huhu. -2014, Sunflowers 'Yong gobyerno 'yong kakilala mong may iPhone pero walang load, mamahalin ang wallet, pero walang laman, ganern, hanggang yabang lang sa luho. --2015, What Thesis? Napakabida-bida ng gobyerno sa ibang bansa, samantalang hindi nito tinutugunan ang tungkulin nito sa kaniyang mamamayan. #Pabibo -2014, CAS, palaveerrn
paki-extend naman yung length ng... ano ko... kwan... *wink wink* -. humihithit ng mikmik, white college I most probably want to extend all my deadlines as well, just so they won't clash and kill me during their impact. -powta2, 2012, CAS Gusto kong maiextend ang pangunawa at grasya ng mga propesor ko. Kailangan kong grumadweyt (nawaý di pa maextend ang stay ko sa UP). -skeptic, CAS YOWKO NA. Tama na extension plss -lights lights lights, 2015 Gusto kong maextend yung extension namin kasi bitin, di maaabot phone ko para macharge. -annoYING, College of Arts and Sciences, 2015-xxxxx Waldas, kumbaga sa linya ng nanay natin, akala yata nagtatae ng pera ang sambayanang nagbabayad ng buwis. –2014, Sunflowers Extend 'yong 24 na oras sa isang araw, kasi hello kulang kaya siya para sa mga ganap sa acads!!! -2015, What Thesis? Yung NMAT score ko. Kahit kaunting push pa ganern. -2014, CAS, palaveerrn
VOLUME 31 • ISSUE 6
GRAPHICS 09
N O V. 2 8 , 2 0 1 7
ABIGAIL BEATRICE OCAMPO MALABRIGO
SIGNOS
PAGLUBOG
siyang pagkanta nito nang buong husay at todo-todo, animo’y senyales na ng kanilang magiging relasyong kasaysayan na ata ang nagtakda at nagukit sa bato—markahan niyo: ito na naman ay ugnayang tuta at amo.
sistema ng lipunan, kung saan hungkag ang bawat kataga at pangakong namumutawi, liban sa hinagpis at dusa, kamulatan at umaalimpuyong paghahangad ng katarungan at hustisya ang nananatili.
At habang sila ay nagsasaya sa tagumpay ng mga hindi pantay na tratado at patuloy na pananamantala at pambubusabos, ang sambayana’y patuloy na dudustahin ng kahihinatnan ng mga ito. Dudulas at bubulwak ang lagak, tambak, at kalat na regalo ni Uncle Sam—pasasalamat ‘di umano sa pagtanggap at pagsuporta ng Pilipinas sa kanyang muling pagpapalakas.
Magsaya man at magdiwang silang mga nakakaangat ngayon, sila ay bibiguin pa rin ng laksa-laksang lakas ng mamamayang nagpapakita ng organisadong lakas at paglaban.
Nakakasulasok, ngunit hindi na dapat nakapagtataka. Sa kasalukuyang
*Erratum: Si G. Lee Joseph Castel ang punong patnugot noong 2001-2002. Hindi si LJ Castillo na nakasaad sa ikatlong isyu. Aklas Sining ang lumikha ng effigy, hindi Ugat Lahi na nakasaad sa ikaapat at ikalimang isyu
KYLA DOMINIQUE LACAMBACAL PASICOLAN
Walang hustisya para sa mga pinunong may dalawang pinagsisilbihang amo. Walang dispensang karapat-dapat tanggapin mula sa mga taksil at pakitang tao.
SANGANDAAN L AYA V E R G A R A
PAKITANG TAO
Maunawain naman akong nilalang, kaya lang sinubok talaga ang pasensya ko noong nagdaang linggo. Mula sa espesyal na ASEAN lane na nagdagdag pa ng dalawang oras sa ilang oras kong binubuno kapag nagkokomyut. Mula roon sa ipina-print na welcome tarpaulin na sablay naman ang spelling ng sarili nating bansa. Mula roon sa ilang milyong pisong ginasta sa welcome dinner. Mula roon sa 15.5 bilyong budget na mahiwaga lamang na nahugot mula sa pitaka siguro ni San Pedro na sana ay napunta na lang sa mas makabuluhang bagay at pangangailangan ng isang bayang nagdarahop. Bata pa lang siguro, napukpok na sa atin ang pagiging magiliw sa bisita. Pinanday tayo ng ganitong kaisipan lalo na kung tayo ay nasanay at paso na sa perspektiba ng pamilyang sanay na magsakripisyo para makaalwan ang isang bisita. Ngunit kung ilalagay sa iskopyo ng isang lipunang palagiang nasa krisis, aba, imbis na umunawa at lunukin ang kaunting hirap ay mas lalo lang nakakagalit. May disgustong mahirap sikmurain. Mula sa halos 60,000 na dineploy na tropa upang supilin ang mga mamamayang ang nais lamang ay irehistro ang kanilang karapatan. Mula sa lahat ng sugat na natamo mula sa batutang iwinawasiwas ng kapulisan. Mula sa makating tubig na ibinomba direkta sa mukha ng mga kasama. Mula sa bawat daing ng mamamayan ng “Wala pong mamamato! ‘Wag po kayong mamalo!”, at pananatiling bingi ng estado sa pagpapaunawa sa mga ahente nito na kung sila talaga ay nagnanais magsilbi sa sambayanan ay padaraanin nila ang mga masang ipinaglalaban din ang kanilang karapatan. Nakakapanlumo. Sa kung papaano ipinangalandakan at nangayupapa ang pangulo sa isang bwitreng bisita, na habang sila ay kumakain ng milyones na hapunan ay tuyo at bahaw ang kinakain ng kalakhan sa mga mamamayan. Na habang binubulungan ni Uncle Sam ang presidente na kumanta ay CONTINUED ON P.09
OPINION
VOLUME 31 • ISSUE 6 N O V. 2 8 , 2 0 1 7
BLISS IN CONFUSION
(MISS)UNDERSTOOD
MARGARET ANNE ELARDO
“Si ading ko na lang ngarod ang isasama ko.” I once gave this response in a conversation I was having with some classmates, and as a reaction to it, they had their heads turned to me with furrowed brows and confusion in their eyes, as if I said something unusual. It took me a while to realize the peculiarity of what I said. Growing up in a place that spoke Ilokano for the most part, it’s not surprising that I still retain a lot of Ilokano words or the accent even after years of staying in Manila to study. Tagalog is my first language and it is the language I am comfortable with, even though I was brought up surrounded by Ilokanospeaking people; I do not converse with other people in that language, nor can I even utter whole sentences in perfect Ilokano. Although this may be the case, I still fully understand the language; I laugh so hard at jokes told in Ilokano, and I can’t help but eavesdrop on people who talk about controversial things while using the language. I even get excited meeting people in
the metro who share the dilemma of being weirdly looked at whenever they unconsciously utter words in Ilokano.
I,
sometimes, enjoy the confusion of people when I talk in Ilokano; It may be strange for them, but it makes me appreciate the language even more. It’s quite contradictory that I miss hearing the Ilokano language and that I want to use it more now that less people can understand it, but every time I want to say something, I play it first in mind for a few times – an act of self-policing – to filter out the Ilokano words that might slip and might not be understood by my friends who aren’t familiar with the language. But sometimes, I really just can’t help it; there are just Ilokano words that are more appropriate to use than their Tagalog or English counterparts. For me, the Ilokano language knows how to tell jokes in the best way –
LUCTOR ET EMERGO
Nangyari na ito dati, mas malala pa nga yata, ngunit nalagpasan ko naman. Sa pag-aakalang maayos na ang lahat, pinagsasawalang-bahala na lamang ang maliliit na bagay na akala'y di naman mahalaga. Kailangang unahin ang trabaho kaysa sariling nararamdaman. Kahit ang totoo naman ay nakakailang oras din kung makabisita sa mga social media accounts, ngunit wala pa ring oras upang tumigil muna't magmuni-muni. Hindi namalayang ang pagbaliwala sa nararamdaman ay siyang pagkalabit sa natutulog mong halimaw na naghihintay lang na gisingin ng lungkot mong di mo alam anong pinanggalingan. Sa oras ng pagtulog, doo'y hahalikan ng mga duda't pag-aalinlangan. Tila dementors sa Harry Potter kung makahigop ng kasiyahan. Mula sa simpleng mga tanong-- "Hala, hindi ko pa nagagawa ang papers ko. Paano na?", "Hala, hindi
To clear things up, the word “ading” is a term used to refer to a younger sibling regardless of sex. I genuinely didn’t know that this word was Ilokano; I thought it was Tagalog so I use it often. The word “ngarod”, however, doesn’t have one direct translation, and it remains a mystery even to a lot of Ilokano-speaking people. I, sometimes, enjoy the confusion of people when I talk in Ilokano; it may be strange for them, but it makes me appreciate the language even more.
PAGAL
MARIE ANGELU DE LUNA PAGOBO
Nakakapagod din palang maging malakas. Ang hirap mapanindigan ng mga ngiting awtomatikong nakaukit sa mukha ng positibong taong hinulma noon ng pait ng buhay. Ang palaban kong imahe ay untiunting napaparam ng mga bagay na paulitulit na gumagambala sa kaisipan.
considering the accent, the words used, the innuendos and all that – one couldn’t not laugh at a joke told in Ilokano. Moreover, this language, I think, has the “best” cuss words that can be used when cursing someone – they just have more gusto and personality than the regular, boring Tagalog or English cuss words. I actually find it funny when someone tries to curse in Ilokano, but he/she uses it in a wrong way, it makes me want to butt in and say, “Gurl, that’s not how you say it.”
pa ko nakakapag-aral para sa quiz ko bukas. Babagsak na ba?"-- hanggang sa mas malalalim at kumplikadong mga alalahanin-- "Bakit ako nagkakaganito?", "Anong silbi ko?", "Bakit ba ako nabuhay?". Kinu-kuwestyon ang layunin sa buhay, hindi alam kung saan dadalhin ng tadhana pagkatapos sumablay, at marami pang ibang bagay na Diyos lamang ang mayroong sagot at kayang gumabay. Sa pagpasok sa eskuwela, nakakalimutan panandali ang mga ugong ng sariling isipan. Nagkakaroon ng karamay at kahalakhakan kasama ang mga kaibigan. Ngunit minsan, kalahati sakin ay gustong mapag-isa. Pakiramdam ko'y magagawa ko ang mga dapat kong gawin at tapusin. Parang mas magiging produktibo ang oras ko kung sa kanila'y di na muna sumama. Ngunit 'di tulad ng dati, mas nasanay na ko sa kompanya ng iba. Hinahanaphanap ko na sila at di ko na kaya mapagisa. Siguro’y mas nahanap ko ang saya sa pagkakaroon ng kasama, dahil sa pag-iisa'y maririnig nanaman ang bulong ng sariling pagdududa. Batid ko ang sariling progreso at pagbabago. Araw-araw ay sinusubukan kong higitan ang
kahapong ako. Noon ay ramdam ko naman ang mahusay kong pag-andar, ngunit ngayo'y tila sasakyang naubusan bigla ng gasolina sa gitna ng daan. Habang ang ibang sasakya'y mabilis na humaharurot pasulong sa aking harapan, wala akong magawa kundi panoorin silang mag-unahan. Heto't walang pag-usad, at ang masaklap pa'y nawalan din ng destinasyon. Nawawala ako. Saan ako dadaan? Binulaga ako ng matagal ko nang kinatatakutan. Buti na lamang ay ramdam ko pa rin ang pagmamahal ng aking pamilya't mga kaibigan. Kung kaya't laking pasasalamat ko rin kung mayroon mang ibang nagpapahalaga at nakakakita ng taglay ko raw na ganda at ng aking mga gawa. Sa maraming pagkakataon na pinaramdam sa akin ng sansinukob na hindi ako ganun kahalaga, lakas ay paunti-unting nauubos na. Kadalasan nga'y ito'y patahimik na iniiyak na lang at pinapaubaya sa dasal at hiling, lulan ng bangkang papel na mamaya'y tutunawin ng luha mong nagsusumamo. Nagsusumamo sa kasiyahang di nakadepende sa kung saan o kanino; kasiyahang magbibigay muli ng motibasyon na magpatuloy sa agos ng buhay at pagbabago.
EDITORIAL 11
VOLUME 31 • ISSUE 6
A
N O V. 2 8 , 2 0 1 7
E D I T O R -I N - C H I E F Aries Raphael Reyes Pascua A SSOCI AT E EDI TOR FOR I N T ER NA L S Sofia Monique Kingking Sibulo M A N AG I N G E D I T O R Arthur Gerald Bantilan Quirante A S S I S S T A N T M A N AG I N G E D I T O R Patricia Anne Lactao Guerrero N E WS EDI TOR Eunice Biñas Hechanova N E WS COR R E SPON DE N T S Shaila Elijah Perez Fortajada Adolf Enrique Santos Gonzales Ryana Ysabel Neri Kesner Anton Gabriel Abueva Leron Leah Rose Figueroa Paras F E AT U R E S EDI TOR Chloe Pauline Reyes Gelera F E AT U R E S COR R E SPON DE N T S Czyrah Isabella Manalo Cordoba Ronald Satore Simyunn Jr. Jennah Yelle Manato Mallari Mika Andrea Ocampo Ramirez John Michael Tribiana Torres Justin Danielle Tumenez Francia C U LT U R E E D I T O R Josef Bernard Soriano De Mesa C U LT U R E C O R R E S P O N D E N T S Jonerie Ann Mamauag Pajalla Mari Loreal Marquez Valdez GR A PHICS EDI TOR Michael Lorenz Dumalaog Raymundo R E SIDE N T ILLUST R ATOR S Justine Vince Amanca De Dios Marie Angelu De Luna Pagobo Genevieve Ignacio Seño Abigail Beatrice Ocampo Malabrigo R E S I D E N T P H O T OJ O U R N A L I S T Kyla Dominique Lacambacal Pasicolan
OF F ICE 4th Floor Student Center Building, University of the Philippines Manila, Padre Faura St. corner Ma. Orosa St., Ermita, Manila 1000 EMAIL themanilacollegian@gmail.com W EBSI T ES issuu.com/manilacollegian www.facebook.com/themanilacollegian www.twitter.com/mkule MEMBER
Solidaridad - UP Systemwide Alliance of Student Publications and Writers’ Organizations
LAYOUT Kyla Dominique Lacambacal Pasicolan Genevieve Ifgnacio Seño
ILLUSTRATION Joshua Dy Elevazo
College Editors Guild of the Philippines
Sa idinaos na Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at East Asia Summit (EAS) nitong nagdaang linggo, sinemento muli ng asosasyon ng iba’t ibang bansa—sa pamumuno ni Presidente Rodrigo Duterte bilang tagapangulo ng kasalukuyang ASEAN Summit—ang iba’t ibang tratado hinggil sa mga polisiya ng ugnayang panlabas na ang layon ay palakasin ang mga bansang nasa loob ng asosasyon. Sa diwa ng internasyonalisasyon, itinulak ng Summit ang iba’t ibang resolusyon na ang tunguhin ay mas mapadali pa ang mga interaksyon at kalakaran na sasaklaw hindi lamang sa usapin ng trade, kundi pati na rin sa edukasyon, sustainable development, investments ng mga pribadong kompanya, at maging sa krisis ng terorismo sa mga apektadong bansa. Sa dinaloy ng mga pulong, naimbitahan din ang iba’t ibang bansa tulad ng Amerika, Tsina, at Rusya upang makibahagi sa EAS na ang layon din ay pag-usapan ang mga maaaring maimplementang tratado na magsisiguro ng mas papalakas na ugnayang panlabas ng mga bansa sa ASEAN.
MARIE ANGELU DE LUNA PAGOBO
NG PAMANTAYAN NG ISANG bayang nagsasarili ay lagi’t laging nakadepende sa kung paano nito napauunlad ang sariling ekonomiya nang hindi isinasangla ang sarili nitong kalayaan at soberanya.
BWITRE pagnanais ng Pilipinas na umangkop sa mga polisiyang natakdaan, hindi maiiwasan ang pagbulusok ng mga batas at polisiyang magtutulak ng mas masasahol na pribatisasyon at anti-mamamayan na patakaran. Hindi man dapat itatwa ang relasyon at ugnayang panlabas ng isang
A ng
animo’y bwitreng naghihintay ng katas na magagatas sa bayan. Kung hindi pakikinggan muli ng gobyerno ang daing ng taumbayang siyang sumasalo at nakararanas ng bigwas ng mga polisiyang ipinapatupad mula sa mga hindi pantay na tratadong ibinunga ng
pag-iimbita at panghihimasok ng mga kanluraning bansa
upang
lumubog
sa
mga
kasunduang
siyang maghahatak
sa
ekonomya ng mga bansa sa loob ng asosasyon ay magdudulot ng mga usapang mas magkokompromisa sa mga maliliit na bayan.
May ambisyon man ang ASEAN na sundin ang yapak ng European Union (EU), hindi pa rin nito maikakaila ang karupukan nito sa ilalim ng mga naglalakihang bayan tulad ng Amerika. Ang pag-iimbita at panghihimasok ng mga kanluraning bansa upang lumubog sa mga kasunduang siyang maghahatak sa ekonomya ng mga bansa sa loob ng asosasyon ay magdudulot ng mga usapang mas magkokompromisa sa mga maliliit na bayan. Makinang man ang oportunidad na ibinabandera ng mga kasunduang naglalako ng free trade, hindi nito maiaalis ang realidad ng kompetisyon sa pagitan ng naglalakihan at maliit na bayan.
bayan, malinaw dapat na ito ay nakabalangkas sa pagpapalakas ng bansa sa sarili nitong kakayahan nang ‘di sumasalalay sa ayuda ng iba. Kung ninanais ng Pilipinas na makipagsabayan at makatayo sa sarili nitong mga paa, samakatuwid, ang inuuna dapat ng pamahalaan ay ang pagpapayaman at pagpapaunlad sa sarili nitong agrikultura at industriya. Marapat lamang na unahin ng pamahalaan ang kapakanan ng sarili nitong magsasaka at manggagawa imbis na supilin ang kanilang lehitimong panawagan sa mas makatarungang pamumuhay. Higit pa, kung nais talaga ng Pilipinas na makatayo sa sarili nitong mga paa, marapat lamang na lansagin na nito ang parasitikong ugnayan ng bansa sa kanluraning ‘alyadong’ Amerika.
Sa likod ng paghimok ng mga tratadong ito na magpursige ang mga bansang tulad ng Pilipinas na makipagsabayan sa globalisasyon ay siyang pagbabansot at pagtutulak pa ng mas madulas na pandarambong sa yaman at lakas ng bansa. Sa
Ngunit, kung naniniwala ang pamahalaan na tanging sa pagsandig sa panlabas na ayuda at pribadong mga investment ang solusyon upang makapagsarili at yumaman ang bansa, patuloy itong maghahawan ng daan para sa mga naglalakihang bansang
mga komperensiyang ito, huwag na itong magtaka na habang lalong dumarami ang bilang ng inaabuso at naghihirap, ay lalo ring lumalakas ang panawagan at pagtindig upang kontrahin ang mga ito. Habang nanatili at napapalakas ng mga hindi pantay na kasunduang ito ang relasyong tuta at amo, lalong mailalayo sa mga Pilipino ang kaunlaran, kasarinlan, at soberanya na dapat ay matagal nang hawak ng mga ito. Ito ay senyales na dapat lamang na magbigkis at tapatan ng lakas ng nagkakaisang mamamayan ang mga nakalulumpong atake ng estado at sama-samang iabante ang programa at pakikibaka para sa lehitimong pagbabagong-panlipunan. Sapagkat ang susi sa isang bansang nagsasarili ay hindi nakasalalay sa dami ng kasunduang panlabas na nilagdaan, ito ay nakaugat sa malalim na pagpapahalaga ng estado sa pagpaprayotisa sa sarili nitong likas-yaman at lakas-taong siyang nagpupundar para umunlad ang bayan.
I
MAGINE BEING IN YOUR FIRST year at the university. You want to do something worthwhile. You want to participate in activities outside academics. But above all, you want to make friends who will be there for you, even after graduation. And you know that joining an organization with connections and prestige will make it so much easier. That’s why you’re in a dark room with your upperclassmen, being beaten as they call your names. But you’re determined to hang on, and after what feels like forever, your seniors welcome you, feeling the burn from your bruises —convincing yourself it was worth it. Many things push freshmen to go through that sort of humiliation and violence, to become fratmen who give their brods a leg up at the expense of others, whether that is favoritism in the workplace or covering them up when they’re in trouble with the law. The padrino system is one of them.
Under the Paddle Fraternities and sororities are definitely attractive. On the surface, many are attracted by their lifestyle – it may be their socials, their open tambayan days, or their friendships. But going deeper, it’s the opportunities open to members that attract pledges. The chance to gain experience by organizing events, connections to powerful alumni one gains upon joining, and their brotherhood can all push one to join. Students join fraternities and sororities for the same reasons they join other orgs — people want to be in groups they feel are aligned with what they want and who they are. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs lists belongingness as a social need. While it is not as basic as food, it is still greatly influential, because the groups people align themselves with help solidify and validate their identities. In line with the hierarchy of needs, selfactualization is also a need, and the desire for power and achievement comes with it. Networking helps one in this respect, and that is something a fraternity or sorority offers – the chance to get to know people who provide social support and future opportunities, which is great incentive to join. A fraternity or sorority isn’t just a way to connect with others. They are an avenue to develop one’s sense of self by joining an organization in line with one’s values. Sometimes, belongingness is taken a step further by tradition, with children joining the
same fraternity or sorority as their parents — the Filipino values of filial piety and respect for family tradition play a great role as to why children seem to blindly follow their elders, never minding of any risks that may come along. Initiation is something pledges must pass before that. Part of belongingness is ensuring only the most dedicated will be welcomed, and that contributes to why initiation is difficult. Some fraternities and sororities are only by invitation to begin with, and pledges are made to complete tasks before becoming members. The process itself is necessary. It exists for the same reason other orgs require applicants to go to training or submit requirements — pledges must show how much they want to join, and how much they are prepared to give, because getting what one wants requires much dedication.
the opposite of what the process aims for. Despite that, many pledges see initiation as a bitter pill to swallow before tasting the sweet fruits of brotherhood. Thus, they do their best to trust their seniors, even as they are brought under the paddle. This mindset can lead pledges to equate the quest for brotherhood with pain, which shouldn’t be the case. Hazing cannot exist in a fraternity or sorority that aims to be family to each other. Pledges must be treated as if they are truly younger brothers and sisters, and at no point in their application should they be subjected to serious harm. Nevertheless, applicants continue to hold this mindset because succeeding after graduation is also very difficult. Many times, it is necessary to bend the rules to get ahead. Sometimes, being close to those at the top helps one advance more
In the Name of the Brother Exposing Padrino System within Fraternities and Sororities SOPHIE MIREILLE REMULLA ECHIVARRE ILLUSTRATION BY MICHAEL LORENZ DUMALAOG RAYMUNDO
The problem arises when this process subjects pledges to hazing. Hazing is usually seen as a way to test loyalty and strengthen bonds among members who have undergone it, especially since it is highly secretive. However, injuries compromise pledges’ health, and mental strain can damage their psyche. Particularly sensitive pledges may even stop trusting upperclassmen, accompl ish i ng
than merit.
Above the Rest The bonds of brotherhood extend beyond the tambayan. B e s i d e s friendship, networking is one of the
lasting benefits of joining a fraternity or sorority. Students are drawn to organizations with prominent alumni – being in proximity to power gives pledges hope that later on they, too, can achieve glory. And they aren’t wrong - membership brings ties to powerful brods and sisses, who can secure one’s admission to grad school, help one find work, and even cover up one’s wrongdoings. It’s not always about what you know, but who you know. Sometimes, you get a job not because you were the best student, but because one of the higher-ups at the company is your brod or sis. The padrino system is alive and its effects are felt – from favoritism in school to Marcos's cronies being given free rein to steal from public funds. (Incidentally, Marcos was a fratman himself.) No matter how much one disapproves of patronage culture, sometimes the best one can do is work with it, and often, people have no choice, especially in difficult and competitive fields. Joining a fraternity or sorority certainly helps students in this respect. The connections gained there aren’t bad. They provide opportunities for members, and form strong friendships. Alumni often give back to their alma mater, working as faculty or sponsoring projects of the school. The ugly side of networking is seen in political dynasties, in favoritism in the academe, in many spheres of life. Using one’s connections as a shortcut to the top or a way out of jail is not the way to go. Members of fraternities and sororities can make the best use of their connections by sponsoring quality projects, and giving their less fortunate brods and sisses equal opportunities. Networking should be a way to better oneself for the good of society, not an opportunity to advance without pulling one’s weight. There is nothing wrong with fraternities and sororities, who have many admirable qualities. But propping up the padrino system is not one of those. Brotherhood should be a constructive relationship that makes one a better person, not a convenient connection that allows people to get away with whatever they want. The advantages gained from a fraternity, a sorority, or any organization should be turned towards the service of others, and not the self. But until we realize that, patronage culture will fester in Filipino society like an infected wound – a wound that will never heal if nobody treats it.