The Official Student Publication of the University of the Philippines Manila Volume 30 Number 9 January 13, 2017 - Friday
in justice 12 features
here lies 2016 10 opinion
ayan, kaka-computer mo! 07 culture
DUTERTE RENEGES ON FREE TUITION IN SUCS
02 NEWS
02 NEWS
Volume 30 Number 9 January 13, 2017 | Friday
Duterte reneges on free tuition in SUCs NEWS DOSE: “Conditional Implementation” of policy under work War on Drugs
NIÑA KEITH MUSICO FERRANCOL
President Rodrigo Duterte asked for extension of his promise to solve the country’s drug menace for six months, reiterating that he would continue his anti-drug campaign until no more drug pusher is alive. Recently, PNP Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa announced victory on the war on drugs campaign with almost 70 percent of the country’s 1.8 million drug personalities killed, surrendered, arrested or undergoing rehabilitation. Correspondingly, based on Philippine National Police (PNP) data, a total of 42, 543 suspects were arrested from July to December 27, 2016. Meanwhile, the victims of Oplan Tokhang have reached almost 6,000 casualties, 2,157 of which were killed during police operations, while the rest were by vigilante or paramilitary groups. Most of the victims are part of the poorest and marginalized sectors. From this, PNP data showed that index crime decreased from 81,064 cases from July to November 2015 to 55,391 cases in 2016. However, it also showed increased in murder cases from 3,950 cases during July to November 2015 to 5, 970 cases in 2016. Given this, progressive groups including Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and Karapatan condemned the continuing extrajudicial killings, illegal arrests, detention and abuses of human rights under the president’s anti-illegal drug campaign. Groups from Visayas and Bicol region also lambasted attacks on the rural communities progressive leaders, branding them as “drug suspects” to perpetuate arrests and harassments. Moreover, according to Bayan Metro Manila chairperson Raymond Palatino in his statement during the 68th commemoration of International Human Rights Day, the death of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos did not end the fascist attack on the people, as the preceding and current administrations continue to use an iron fist against the people. *Layon ng News Dose na na magbukas ng serye ng mapanuring pag-ulat hinggil sa napapanahong balita.
ADOLF ENRIQUE SANTOS GONZALES AND ANTON GABRIEL ABUEVA LERON
On December 24, President Rodrigo Duterte renounce the portion of the 2017 national budget, which included an P8.3-billion budget increase for the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) that was intended to provide free tuition to all students of State Universities and Colleges (SUCs). Instead, Duterte directed the fund’s spending to prioritize the ‘financially disadvantaged but academically able students’.
Hindered Progress In the initial version of the 2017 national budget, an P8.3-billion allocation was repurposed from the public works budget of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) towards CHED with the intention of fully subsidizing tuition fees in all SUCs. The reallocation was enacted since senators classified the funds as a form of “pork barrel”. This action was lauded by youth groups including Kabataan Party-List, mentioning that the resolution places the Philippines at par with education policies of progressive countries like Finland, Germany, Norway, and Sweden. “In fact, this is a victory for the youth movement which has long fought for the right to education”, Kabataan Party-list explained. “This simple yet game-changing move has shattered the illusion cast by naysayers and conservatives who have long sought division and spread cowardice by saying that this is not possible”. For years, groups like the Kabataan Partylist, League of Filipino Students and Anakbayan have argued that the waiving of all school fees is possible, depending on the discretion of the government. Nevertheless, according to these groups, past administrations gave priority to debt servicing, the controversial pork barrel funds and military expenditures. Meanwhile, legislators noted that the budget infusion would only cover tuition fees, thus leaving the students to shoulder other school fees (OSF).
False Hope However, though the 2017 national budget had been ratified by the congress, the said appropriations were yet to be approved by the president. Upon the disappointment of several youth groups, Duterte indirectly vetoed the
INFOGRAPHIC BY JAZMINE MABANSAG
free tuition program and instead placed it under “conditional implementation”. In defense of the president, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno maintained that Duterte did not reject the free tuition provision directly. "Free tuition will start of first semester of school year 2017-18. It was not directly vetoed. Only six items were directly vetoed and these are the use of income of some agencies," Diokno cited. In a press release included with the veto order, the president explained his reasoning behind the decision. “Yet, as with all new programs, there is a need to safeguard the proper implementation of the provision of free tuition fee. It is important to underscore that we must give priority to financially disadvantaged but academically able students,” Duterte announced. Furthermore, the president ordered CHED and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to issue the necessary guidelines and standards under which students can avail free tuition in SUCs. With regard to this, CHED Chair Patricia Licuanan said that she could not yet divulge details of the implementation of the free tuition policy as they are still working on the guidelines of its implementation. Moreover, Licuanan furthered that with the new policy, implementation “will be a little difficult”, as CHED has to find the correct formula to distribute the P8billion fund. Eventually, Licuanan hopes that CHED shall eventually come up with a formula that would prioritize the needy. On the other hand, the UP Administration is yet to make an announcement on whether the Socialized Tuition System (STS) will be implemented next year as the tuition scheme is no longer appropriate due to the said budget allocation.
Call to action Upon hearing about the president’s order, youth groups quickly denounced his decision. Moreover, youth groups stressed that there are other hurdles to education which were imperatively not covered by the P8.3-billion bud get allocation, including OSF. “There also remains the issue of other school fees, which in schools like the Polytechnic
University of the Philippines (PUP), have become a greater scourge than tuition,” stated Kabataan Partylist. At 12 pesos per unit, the OSFs in PUP are currently more expensive than a student’s average tuition. Numerous youth representatives have also expressed their concern regarding the growing amount of tuition and other income collected from SUCs. The steady increase comes as no surprise to Anakbayan Chairperson Vencer Crisostomo, who stated that CHED has long been a tuition-increasing body. To solve the dilemma, Kabataan Partylist Representative Sarah Elago advocates that both tuition and miscellaneous fees must be waived. "Pag yan ay publiko, sa SUCs dapat libre lahat. At pag sinabi nating libre, ang intensyon ay hindi lang i-abolish ang tuition pero dapat wala na talagang bayaran," Elago elaborated. According to Kabataan Partylist National President Marjohara Tucay, CHED and DBM have yet to release guidelines which specify who can receive free tuition in SUCs. In the event of such an announcement, Tucay says that they are prepared to file a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against such a guideline since it contravenes the initial purpose of the budget allocation. Additionally, Mark Vincent Lim, National Spokesperson of the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), urged the students to be vigilant about the Free Tuition Guidelines that the CHED is due to release. Other than this, Tucay also argued that delineating which students will receive free tuition causes the policy to become a little more than a scholarship grant. He asserted that SUCs can grant free tuition for all simply by not charging tuition fees regardless of the student’s financial capability. Furthermore, they called on the people to collectively advance the public character of the SUCs and the institutionalization of free education in all levels. “Matagal na ring naca-campaign ng mga kabataan ang libre at dekalidad na edukasyon bilang isang karapatan. Hindi lang tayo aasa sa isang tao para gawin yung katotohanan
CONTINUED ON PAGE 05
NEWS 03 Typhoon Nina forces thousands to evacuate on Christmas Eve Volume 30 Number 9 January 13, 2017 | Friday
RYANA YSABEL NERI KESNER
Internationally known as Nock-Ten, Typhoon Nina disrupted festivities in southern Luzon and parts of eastern Visayas last December 24, causing an estimated 400,000 people to celebrate Christmas in evacuation centers. The typhoon was measured to have maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometres per hour (kph) and gusts of 255 kph, and its storm surges were predicted to reach as high as eight feet. As a result, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) immediately placed storm signal warning no. 4 over Catanduanes and Camarines Sur, places where Nina was forecasted to make landfall, to warn locals of the storm’s severity.
Risk Minimization For these reasons, local officials proceeded to evacuate residents living in the areas put at risk. This task was made difficult as families did not want to leave their homes due to holiday festivities. “They don’t want to leave their houses because it’s Christmas,” Vice Governor of Camarines Sur Shirley Abundo remarked on the stubbornness of some of the people in the area. “We need to do this by force, we need to evacuate them now.” In addition, electricity was purposely cut off to prevent people from getting electrocuted in case
the storm brought down power lines. Moreover, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vacated coastal areas as well.
Nina’s Aftermath Ultimately, Typhoon Nina made landfall twice in Catanduanes and Camarines Sur, then passed near Cavite and Batangas before exiting the country via the West Philippine Sea. Along the way, it felled trees and power lines, and demolished more than P1 billion worth of agriculture. In Virac alone, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzada estimated that it would take almost a decade for coconut and abaca crops to recover. Currently, numbers estimating costs of damages to the affected regions do not yet include that of damages to infrastructure. However, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) spokesperson Mina Marasigan has reported severe damage to schools, hospitals, and residential areas, as well as to airports in Virac, Naga, and Legaspi which total to P9 million. Moreover, the typhoon obstructed public transportation, which
canceled flights and stranded people at seaports all over southern Luzon. Meanwhile, the death toll has risen to 8, and 18 people remain to be found after the typhoon sunk a ferry, the MV Starlite Atlantic, off the coast of Batangas.
Relief Distribution Consequently, President Rodrigo Duterte visited Camarines Sur on Tuesday, December 27. While refusing to participate in handing out relief goods, calling the style ‘rotten’, he pledged to support victims by guaranteeing an initial amount of P50 million and promising to give another P50 million if needed. “I have the money for corn [and] rice, and it is about P50 million to give you. Titignan ko lang if needed, I might add something to it,” he said as he addressed the people of Pili, Camarines Sur. Aside from monetary aid, P1 billion worth of prescription medicine was also provided by the President. Additionally, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines has started replacing downed power
lines, while the National Food Authority (NFA) and the NDRRMC confirmed that they have enough food, funds and other items needed to aid victims of the typhoon. Aside from this, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has begun distributing P9 million worth of food packs from their warehouses in CALABARZON, and the PCG have sent trucks and boats to aid transport for these goods.
Aid Despite Absence On the other hand, Vice President Leni Robredo has been criticized for vacationing in the US while the storm ravaged on at home, with her hometown Naga City being one among the affected. In response, Georgina Hernandez, Robredo’s spokesperson, stated that Robredo had set up relief operations from the US even before the typhoon struck, successfully distributing 1,005 food packs in Naga. The said vacation was also planned more than a year prior, and Robredo was in no position to change it at the last minute. Nevertheless, Hernandez stated that Robredo will try to return home as soon as possible.
Pandarahas sa mga magsasaka ng Hacienda Luisita, nagpapatuloy Ilan sa mga kasong ito, tinutukan ARIES RAPHAEL REYES PASCUA
Kamakailan lamang ay may naitala na namang kaso ng panggigipit sa mga magsasaka ng Hacienda Luisita. Pinilit umano ang mga magsasaka na pumirma sa isang kasunduan na magpapaalis sa kanila sa lupang kanilang sinasaka. Patuloy Na Panggigipit Nakipag-usap umano si Renato Mendoza, secretary-general ng Alyansa ng mga Manggagawang Bukid ng Asyenda Luista (AMBALA), sa pinuno ng Barangay Mapalacsiao na si Aberlado Galang upang ayusin ang gusot sa pagitan ng mga miyembro ng AMBALA at ang mga nakatanggap ng certificate of land ownership award (CLOA), noong Disyembre 3. Matapos nito, Disyembre 4, nilooban umano ang kubo na pinaglulugaran ni Mendoza ng 30 armadong lalaki, kasama pa ang 100 sa labas. Natakot umano si Mendoza sa pangyayaring ito kaya’t napilitan siyang pirmahan ang kasunduang magpapalayas sa kanila sa kanilang lupa. Batay sa pagtataya ni Mendoza, ang
mga armadong lalaki umano ay galing sa Barangay Lourdes, isa sa mga lugar na hindi nakatanggap ng CLOA. Maalala na noong nakaraang taon, inatake rin ang mga magsasaka ng Hacienda Luisita ng mga pulis at iba pang armadong grupo, na di umano’y binayaran ng mga Cojuanco, upang paalisin sa isang bahagi ng asyenda na sinasabi ng mga Cojuanco na hindi bahagi ng repormang agraryo. "Hinihingi namin ang dagdag sahod at trabaho, dahil ang nakukuha namin ay P9.50 kada linggo. Pero anong nakuha namin? Bala, water cannon at tear gas,” wika ni Florida Sibayan, chairperson ng AMBALA.
Susunod Na Hakbang Ayon sa Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), hindi lehitimo
ang pamimigay ng lupa sa ilalim ng Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) dahil sa napakaraming limitasyon nito. Nagdudulot ang mga limitasyon na ito sa hindi wastong pamamahagi ng lupa sa mga magsasaka na tunay na nagmamay-ari nito. “Like what we have been asserting for the past twelve years since the gruesome massacre of peasants of Hacienda Luisita, only genuine land reform can address the perennial problem of land monopoly in the hacienda,” wika ni KMP secretarygeneral Antonio Flores. “CARP is a total failure. It will never be effective in providing the legal framework for a truly redistributive land distribution that is based on social justice,” dagdag pa niya. Nanawagan
din
si
Flores
sa Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) na palawakin ang kanilang pananaliksik upang mahanap ang pinakamabilis at pinakamaayos na sistema ng pamamahagi ng lupa sa Luisita. Inanyahan naman niya ang mga magsasaka na magpatuloy sa kampanya para sa tunay na repormang agraryo sa bansa. “Hacienda Luisita farmers should muster the strength and unity under the call for a genuine land reform. Farmers should resist and counter the Cojuangco-Aquinos continuing maneuver to maintain control over the lands through the ‘arriendo system’. Land conversion in the hacienda should also be averted through a strong mass movement,” ani ni Flores.
04 NEWS Duterte’s proposal on martial law meets dissent
Volume 30 Number 9 January 13, 2017 | Friday
SHAILA ELIJAH PEREZ FORTAJADA
President Duterte eyes to amend constitution to give the president the lone power to declare Martial Law, as he said in his speech on December 22 in the ‘Convergence of Nanay Volunteers as Community Drugwatch’ held in Pampanga. According to him, the difficult process of declaring Martial Law is a “reckless reaction” of Filipinos towards the regime of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos. D uterte’s Stance In order to support his comment, the president stated that Marcos should not be credited for the 1935 Constitution containing the former parameters in declaring Martial Law and instead, pointed that Quintin Paredes and Claro Recto were responsible. Considering that Martial Law has caused terror, the Constitution was altered to make declaring Martial Law prohibitive. Furthermore, Duterte has cited in the past that the country's drug problem made him want to declare martial law. However, he also said that declaring Martial Law is ‘useless’ but he would implement one in an event of foreign invasion. In the same speech, Duterte discussed that with this provision, it will be difficult if the Congress and
Supreme Court decisions oppose each other, and Duterte ensured that there is a “safety measure” which he would announce. Later, Chief Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo clarified that the “safety measure” Duterte referred to was the Filipino people, who have already ousted two presidents as of this time.
should look over any petition filed by citizens regarding the suspension of writ of habeas corpus or Martial Law declaration. Following this, the SC is given 30 days to disseminate their decision towards the filed petition.
Given Guidelines
Leni Robredo has expressed her disagreement in this matter, saying that Duterte’s comment is the “worst Christmas gift to the Filipino people.” Robredo also called out the ‘reckless reaction’ comment of Duterte, stating that it mocks Martial Law victims.
Consequently, in an event of rebellion or invasion, the president may rule out the writ of habeas corpus for 60 days or declare Martial Law, as stated in Section 18 of the 1987 Constitution. However, it requires the president to pass a report to the Congress within 48 hours of declaring Martial Law. On the other hand, the Congress, in turn, would have to vote in order to withdraw the president’s decision. Aside from this, the Supreme Court
Contradicting Sides On the other hand, Vice President
Robredo further assured everyone that she will resist Duterte’s proposal on Martial Law and asked everyone to “remain vigilant against the threat of Martial Law, and fight against any move that will curtail our freedoms.”
IN JUSTICE With its taut effort in eliminating crime and its “War on Drugs”, the Duterte administration is left with no choice but to resort to an oppressive policy that only condones and justifies State-perpetuated carnage. The correlation between the decline in crime rates and capital punishment, however, was never established. Ironically, by 1999—the year where several executions in the country were carried out—a 15.3% increase in criminality is listed compared to the lower rate recorded on the previous year. Studies conducted by human rights groups such as Amnesty International (AI) as well as the United Nations (UN) concluded that the presence of capital punishment in a society will not necessarily deter the rate of homicides as opposed to societies implementing a less radical punishment for the aforementioned crime. The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) emphasized that addressing criminality is dependent on effective law enforcement, quick and partial delivery of justice, and a responsive penal system. Hence, this makes capital punishment an unguided approach in addressing criminality and drug abuse in the country. It only provides an illusion—a futile attempt—where the issues surrounding criminality are addressed at the expense of human lives. This, in turn, warrants for a different method in curbing the numbers—that is to address the root causes of criminality instead on basking the futility brought by capital punishment. However, the present administration is keen on implementing anti-people policies to address criminality. House
Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas views capital punishment as a better option to the tantamount drug-related extra-judicial killings (EJKs) brought by Duterte’s “War on Drugs”. According to him, the reinstitution of death penalty is partly constitutional— once again exploiting the vulnerabilities of the law of the land. Furthermore, this legitimatizes drug-related killings as long as the carnage follows due process. For instead of providing solution to roots of the problem and rehabilitation in favor of the victims, the government resorts to a more convenient but less effective approach: to incapacitate the criminals through judicial killings.
MALTREATMENT In a society subjected under the perils of capital punishment, the State is the primary violator of human rights. The issue surrounding capital punishment is not confined on criminality alone. It is also an issue of upholding human rights— one of the State’s mandates. However, the idea of implementing capital punishment in the country immediately strips the Filipino people their rights towards life and dignity. At present, capital punishment is considered to be inhuman, cruel, and degrading to the party involved. Despite being quasi-constitutional as some lawmakers may claim, death penalty transgresses the Bill of Rights, specifically the provisions featured on Sections 1 and 19. The Duterte administration’s inattention to human rights has become more discernible with its disregard to International Laws.
Furthermore, Magdalo Representative Gary Alejano disclosed his opposition by saying, that Duterte has a “dictatorial tendency”. “That explains why Duterte keeps on floating the issue of martial law and probably the reason why he allowed the burial of Marcos [at Libingan ng mga Bayani].” Alejano called Duterte a ‘virtual dictator’ of Davao City, where the president served as a Mayor for two decades, due to controversial killings. In the same way, Senator Kiko Pangilinan and Martial Law victim Bonifacio Ilagan showed their opposition in Duterte’s proposal. Pangilinan said in a statement that the president’s multiple change in statements should pose a critical concern. Meanwhile, Ilagan thinks that the president is trying to measure public opinion which, Ilagan suggests, will also oppose the idea of Martial Law..
Apart from the Bill of Rights featured on the 1987 Philippine Constitution and the Philippine Criminal Code, the Philippines is under the jurisdiction of the UN’s International Bill of Rights. The country is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)—one of the three legal documents comprising the International Bill of Rights. To further strengthen the international responsibilities of the Philippines in relation to human rights, the Philippines ratified ICCPR’s Second Optional Protocol which obligates the country to abolish death penalty and prevents it to carry out executions. The persistence of criminality in the country is also not a legally accepted reason to reestablish capital punishment as the Philippines did not express reservations during the ratification of the agreement. And despite being optional, the Philippines is in no position of disregarding the protocol as stated by Kabayan Party List Representative Harry Roque. However, the persistence of the Duterte administration to reinstate capital punishment abandons these responsibilities in favor of a brutal and anti-people policy. The impending reintroduction of capital punishment in the country compromises the rights of both the innocent and the guilty. The dilution of human rights means a public more vulnerable to atrocities targeting life and national identity. The State mandated to uphold the rights of every citizen has abandoned its duties and has become the principal violator of the virtues it pledged to protect.
FROM P.12
MALFEASANCE In a society ruled by neoliberal policies, only those in power has access to justice. The Amnesty International emphasized that all criminal justice systems are vulnerable to discrimination in error. According to the human rights group, “expediency, discretionary decisions, and prevailing public opinion may influence the proceedings from the initial arrest to the last-minute decision clemency.” In the Philippines, where 12 million Filipinos live in poverty, the poor experiences the injustices caused by radical policies first-hand. Apart from the inaccessibility of social services in the country, the reintroduction of death penalty pushes them in front of the death row due to the inherent discrimination carried by the Philippine justice system. The records gathered by the CHR revealed that most of the offenders in death row hail from the lower classes of society. Leo Echegaray, a convicted rapist, was the first Filipino executed through lethal injection twenty years after capital punishment was previously abolished through the 1987 Constitution. Despite various appeals from the European Union, Canada, the AI, and the Pope, President Joseph Estrada—the incumbent president at the time of execution—remained firm in his decision. At the time of Echegaray’s trial, the discussion of capital punishment’s constitutionality was omitted signifying a weak justice system. Furthermore,
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NEWS 05 First journalist murdered under Duterte’s administration Volume 30 Number 9 January 13, 2017 | Friday
Members of the press are still threatened SOFIA MONIQUE KINGKING SIBULO The newspaper publisher of Catanduanes News Now, Larry Que, was shot after the release of his column on a shabu laboratory last December 19, and died the next day. Que wrote in Bicolano in the two-week old newspaper, the Catanduanes News Now, with regard to the discovery of a drug laboratory to be set up in the said province criticizing the negligence of the local government. De facto, the said laboratory is dubbed as the largest discovered in the country. .
Media Community Threatened
On the other hand, Jinky Tabor, a local journalist and broadcaster, received threats after being the media
witness when the raid on the drug manufacturing facility happened. After the incident, fear in the media community sparked as journalists were prompted to be the next target for reporting the drug laboratory. In a statement, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) condemned the murder of Que and challenged authorities, particularly the Presidential Task force on Violations of the Right to Life and Liberty and Security of the Members of the Media, to immediately solve his killing, the first media person dead under Duterte administration.
Genuine Action Moreover,
group
of
journalists
asserted the protection for Filipino journalists. “We deplore the brutal murder of Larry Que in the Philippines yesterday. Que's murder demonstrates the increasing challenges that journalists in the Philippines face reporting on drugs”, said International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) general secretary Anthony Bellanger. “Action needs to be taken by the Duterte administration to guarantee the safety and security of the media across the country, and work to strengthen the freedom of the press to report on stories of public interest,” Bellanger added. Despite the task forces by administration, implementation media security is indefinite. “It not helped that Duterte, who
the for has has
DUTERTE RENEGES ON FREE TUITION IN SUCS FROM P.02
ngunit kailangan pa rin natin na, ituloy pa rin yung mga pagkilos para sa mga ganitong karapatan”, declared former UP Student Regent Mico Pangalangan. For the Kabataan Partylist, these developments should serve as a foundation to continue the struggle against neoliberal policies, such as STS and the Education Act of 1982, which hinder universal education. Lastly, the UP Manila University Student Council (UPM USC) called on students to be vigilant regarding the issue on education, since it is their social and moral imperative to press for completely free education in the coming years.
shown a total aversion to criticism, and some of his officials have time and again been openly hostile towards journalists and the media as a whole, with his loyal supporters taking up the cue and heaping insults, curses and even threats through social media on several of our colleagues,” said NUJP. Furthermore, NUJP stated, "We call this administration to walk the talk and prove its professed respect for press freedom but, just as importantly, by ending its penchant of falsely blaming media for deliberately misinterpreting its often inconsistent and incoherent messages and instead working on making its communications crystal-clear."
IN JUSTICE
FROM P.04
then Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban admitted that a “judicial error” was possibly committed upon Echegaray’s execution. The imperfections of the Philippine justice system is further highlighted in the case of Marlon Parazo in the year 1999. Parazo, who is mute, deaf, and retarded, was sentenced to death due to rape and attempted homicide. During his trial, Parazo’s disabilities were never taken into consideration and the proceedings against him were not thoroughly explained. By 1997, the Supreme Court mandated his execution only to reverse its decision on 1999 through the efforts of the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG). Roberto Lara and Roderick Licayan—both scheduled to be executed on January 30, 2004—were also granted a 30-day reprieve in light of new evidence that may support their innocence at the time of trial. On a review conducted by the Supreme Court which is documented by the Mamayang Tutol sa Bitay-Movement for Restorative Justice (MTB-MRJ), the institution admitted that four out of five convicted criminals were incorrectly sentenced. These evidences emphasize the justice system’s inherent imperfections that makes it unfit to implement death penalty. In a society plagued by the continuous increase of criminality and drug abuse coupled by various social ills that propagate such violations, the convenience offered by capital punishment is proven to be alluring. However, despite its appeal, death penalty is unsuccessful in its attempt to deter criminality. Instead, it only compromises the masses’ rights— signifying the State’s tolerance towards repressive policies and negligence to fulfill its mandate to serve its constituents. The battle against criminality and drugs will persist. But in the end, it is the State that must steer the battle onto victory by servitude and by truly upholding the rights of every Filipino citizen—innocent or guilty.
06 CULTURE Mahilig tayong tumakas. Mapaistriktong magulang man ‘yan, trabaho, hanggang sa katotohanan na sinasampal sa atin ngunit pilit pa ring ikinakaila — ang tunay na buhay at maging kritisismo ay pilit tayong hinahabol ngunit ating nilalayuan. Nakalilito paminsan kung likas lang ba tayong masayahin kaya may nakakalikha ng memes o tunay lang na malikhain partikular na sa Twitter at Facebook games. Alinman sa dalawa ay pareho itong pantakas at daan upang mapagusapan ang mga isyu, personal man o panlipunan. Piliin man ng taong lumahok sa talakayan o takbohan ang realidad, ang ating kaugalian at kaisipan ay nakaaapekto at naaapektohan ng social media.
Like for a tbh and ‘Like’ if it’s directed to you Tbh, ang ganda mo idol! Tbh, mamaw ka sa math haha how to be u po? Tbh, bagay kayo ng jowa mo. To be honest, puro tayo papuri kung pwede namang “Tbh, utak libag ka” o “Tbh, ambaho ng hininga mo”. Tbh, may mga bagay na mahirap sabihin nang diretsahan. Sabihan man nang plastik, mas kumbinyente na magsabi na lang ng maganda kaysa sabihin ang totoo para ‘di makasira ng relasyon. Mahirap maging straightforward. Biruin mong kulang-kulang 360 na araw lang mayroon tayo para umamin kay crush tapos kung kailan may pakulo (laluna ‘pag patapos na ‘yung taon) saka ka lang kikilos. May “Like for a tbh” pa’ng nalalaman, lihim na umaasang like ka rin ni crush. Pagdating sa ‘di gaanong friendship in real life, dadaanin na lang sa “Good luck and God bless!” Kabi-kabilang nagsilitawan ang mga Twitter at Facebook games na ‘to na tila ang bawat isa ay nag-aabang lang ng magtutulak sa kanila upang maging honest. Isang buong taon kang nagkimkim ng galit o pagnanasa sa isang tao ngunit imbis na umamin ay pilit pang tinabunan. Naaayon na sa likes, comments, chat at direct messages ang pagbobokalisa ng nais ipahatid sa kinauukolan dala ng makabagong tungtungan ng kabataan na tiyak namang magagamay nila agad. Panibagong pauso na naman ng mga millennials, they say, ngunit hindi lang naman simpleng pakikisakay sa inobasyon ng kultura ang samotsaring Twitter at Facebook games. Bagkus ay repleksyon ito ng lumang kulturang nananatiling buhay hanggang sa kasalukuyan. Tunay ngang likas sa ating mga Pilipino ang pagiging mapagpatuloy kung kaya’t nasanay tayong maging mabait at palakaibigan sa ibang mga tao, subalit hindi rin maikakaila na karamihan sa ugali natin ay namana pa sa mga dayuhang ilang taong nanakop sa ating bansa.
Volume 30 Number 9 January 13, 2017 | Friday
AYAN,KAKA-C Tulak ng Social Media
Dahil sa delicadeza na ipinamana ng mga Kastila at ang “facesaving” na kultura ng mga Hapon kung saan mahalagang pakaingatan ang self-esteem at pagiging magalang, nakagisnan ng mga Pilipino na pakaingatan lagi na huwag madungisan ang kanilang pangalan. Hatid nito, mula pa noon, hindi nasanay ang mga Pilipino na makatanggap o magbigay ng kritisismo sa iba. Nag-iba man ang porma, nananatiling takot ang mga tao na magbato ng pagpupuna, mas lalo pa ngayong naba-bash ang isang tao kung salungat ang kanyang opinyon sa opinyon ng karamihan. Subukan mo lang tawaging sakang si Kathryn Bernardo sa social media, paniguradong bukas ay burado na ang Twitter at Facebook accounts mo matapos kang i-report ng mga fans. Hindi lang sa pagbato ng kritisismo tayo nahihirapan; karamihan ay hindi rin handang tumanggap sa husga ng iba. Tila ba taboo ang pagbibigay-kritisismo sa isa’t isa, tipong bawal magbanggit kung naririyan lang ang pinag-uusapan. Higit nga namang mas madaling sabihin na “Tbh, nakita mo na ba mukha mo sa salamin?” kaysa mag-name drop at sabihing “T*ng*na mo, Jhepoy Dizon!” Hindi maikakailang higit na madaling magbigay ng papuri kaysa pambabatikos. Hindi pa man nagbabago ang nakagisnang kailangang pangalagaan ang sariling imahe, ang ganitong pananaw pa rin ay hinuhubog ng lipunan. Sa lipunang ginugutom sa kaalaman ang mga mamamayan, ang hindi pagbigay o pagtanggap ng mainam na kritisismo ay isa ring paraan ng paggutom at pagpigil sa ikayayabong ng tao. Ang lipunang ikinukulong sa nakasanayang kaugalian ay mananatiling nakakulong dito — sarado sa opinyon ng iba at sarado ang kaisipan.
Share these lucky things or else... *insert fish emoji* Pass this lucky tilapia to 15 friends for you to pass this semester. Anak ng tilapia. Tuwing kasagsagan ng hell week, hindi maiiwasang makakuha ng ganitong messages sa news feed. Yung tipong kaisaisang notification mo ay may nag-share lang pala ng meme ng litrato ng pritong isda — nananalanging maambonan ng buwenas ang grades. Ang malala pa, pinasahan ka pa. Sa pinagsamang wit at humor, nakakalikha tayo ng kung anomang pwedeng pantawag-pansin hindi lang para makisakay sa uso kun’di dahil kusa tayong nagpaabot ng motibasyon sa iba na umangat. Mas nakakatawag nga naman ng pansin kung ganito ang ise-send mo kaysa sa simpleng “Good luck sa acads! Kaya natin ‘to. #Laban” dahil humihingi ito ng aktibong paglahok mula sa
MARI LOREAL MARQUEZ VALDEZ AT JONERIE ANN MAMAUAG PAJALLA
makakakuha nito. Gayunman, nandamay ka ng oras ng tao imbis na nakiramay sa kanyang pinoproblema. Mabagabag pa tuloy ang loob ng tagatanggap dahil may nakaambang masama. Sa kabilang banda, dahil ikaw ang pinasahan, makakaramdam ka ng sense of “responsibility” na ipasa rin sa iba ang nakuha mong mensahe dahil pinalalaki ng kalakip nitong kondisyon ang takot mo na “if you ignore, then you will have bad luck for the rest of your life”, dahilan para imbis na hayaan na lang ay kagatin mo pa. Sabagay, wala namang mawawala kung ipapasa mo sa iba. “Bahala na sila. Basta ako pinasa ko na. Ligtas na ‘ko sa malas”, sabi ng iyong subconscious. Wala ngang mawawala kung ipapasa ito sa iba, ngunit hindi rin bastabastang maisasantabi ang mensahe dala ng masidhing pagyukod sa mga kasabihan. Nagmula ang p a gk a m ap a m a h i i n sa pagsunod sa paniniwala ng mga matatanda. Isa itong pagpapakita ng paggalang sa kanila dahil pinagtitibay nito ang relasyon sa loob ng isang pamilya, ang pinakapayak na yunit na bumubuo sa isang lipunan. Kaya kahit pa man walang lohikal na kaugnayan sa kalalabasan ang mga pamahiin, palalaganapin pa ito alang-alang sa pagkokonsolida ng pakikipagkapwa. Mabisang pinaiikot ng chain messages ang ating psyche. Pinalalakas nito ang kaisipang umasa na lamang ang tao sa bagay na walang materyal na basehan; namamanipula tuloy siyang isiping “malas” ang hindi pagkamit ng inaasamasam. Pinaghihiwalay nito ang tao sa kanyang kakayahan kung kaya’t lumalabo ang kanyang pananaw sa sariling mga kahinaan at kalakasan imbis na asintahin at agapan ang mga internal at eksternal na balakid at oportunidad.
1 like : 1 unpopular opinion Unpopular opinion: hindi naman ginawa ang Internet para pag-
CULTURE 07
Volume 30 Number 9 January 13, 2017 | Friday
COMPUTER MO! a, Kabig ng Sikolohiya DIBUHO NI MICHAEL LORENZ DUMALAOG RAYMUNDO
at mapadali ang balitaktakan. Aminin man o hindi, mas hayagan kang makipagdiskusyon sa social media kaysa sa harap ng hapag-kainan o sa pampublikong lugar lalo kung mabibigat na paksa ang pinaguusapan. Hindi naman dahil ay ‘di ito napag-uusapan ay tinatakasan mo na ang ganitong usapin. Normal lamang ito ayon sa teorya ng Spiral of Silence na nagsasabing ang tao ay pinipiling manahimik na lamang kung sa tingin niya ay ang kanyang pananaw ay taliwas sa tanggap ng nakararami.
tsismisan
ang
kung
sino-sino.
Sabay sa pag-unlad ng makabagong teknolohiya ang pag-unlad ng ating komunikasyon. Tayo rin ay tumalino sapagkat nagagamit natin ang social media upang palawakin ang pagbibigay ng kaalaman, mapabilis ang pagbabalita,
Isa pa, mas m a d a l a s mong gamitin ang Twitter kumpara sa iba pang social networking sites sa paghahayag ng iyong suri sa mga isyu panlipunan. Gaya ng nakararami, higit na mas marami kang kakilala sa Fa c eb o o k , dagdag diyan ang iyong mga kamag-anak, kumpara sa Twitter kaya naman mas pipiliin mo ang nahuli upang paglabasan ng iyong mga saloobin. Dito nga naman ay walang free data, mas kaunti ang trolls, at walang ma-o-offend na mga kamag-anak. May tendensiya pa namang palitan ng tao ang kanyang komento (lalo na sa kung politikal) para lang umayon sa opinyon ng mayorya lalo’t sa publiko ito pinaguusapan. Isang dahilan nito ay dahil malakas ang hatak ng madla. Iniisip ng tao na dahil ito ang naiisip o ginawa ng karamihan ay ito na ang tama. Ngunit, higit na malalim na dahilan nito ang pag-iwas ng tao sa argumento at away kung kaya’t
sasabay na lamang siya sa agos kahit labag ito sa prinsipyo niya. Unpopular opinion: mas malayang makapagpahayag sa social media kung mas maliit ang iyong impluwensiya. Kumpara sa ilang personalidad na nagpapanggap na walang alam sa Twitter ay dinadaan sa joke time ang stand ukol sa isang isyu, charot, o sa apo ng diktador na bumoto ng dalawang presidente noong eleksyon, mas marami ang nakakakita ng kanilang argumento kung kaya’t mas marami ring nambabatikos. Kaya naman sikat ang mga anonymous accounts gaya ng @MillenialsofMNL sapagkat bawas ad hominem ito kapag nabatikos ang kanilang mga sinabi. Bukod sa anon at pun accounts, natutunan din ng iba maghayag ng saloobin sa dituwirang paraan. Ang lakas maka-modern day Balagtas, na ang akala mong simpleng nobela na Ibong Adarna ay palihim palang tumutuligsa sa mga Kastila. Nawala man ang mga ito sa porma ng lathalain ay nagbago naman sa porma ng dank memes at sarcasm na madaling ipakalat. Sa ganitong paraan, ‘yung mga nakasusuri at nakakaalam ng mga isyung panlipunan ang makakaintindi sa mga natatagong ibig-sabihin. Para bang isang joke na iyon lamang may schema ang makaka-gets. Magaang kausap ang mga Pilipino. Sa kasalukuyang sitwasyon ng bansa na para bang ang Pilipinas ay isang malaking joke, dinadaan na rin ng mga tao sa kakat’wang biro ang pagsuri sa mga seryosong isyu ng bayan. Ngunit, hindi dahil taliwas ang pamamaraan sa social media sa tradisyonal na talakayan ay hindi na ito nagpapalawig ng kaalaman sa iba. Ang medium ng diskusyon ay patuloy na nagbabago. Ang paraan ng tao sa paghayag ay parating maiiba, ngunit ang layunin na mabigyan ng katarungan ang mga isyu ay palagi at dapat na manatili.
Comment your name and I’ll message you Wala nang mas gaganda pa sa message galing kay crush o kay bes bilang year-ender. Hilig ng tao ang makadamang pinahahalagahan sila. Nakaka-high sa pakiramdam ‘yung may makakakita sa iyong kabuoan bilang tao, mabigyan ka ng token of appreciation at paulanan ng pasasalamat. Kahit ba simpleng seasonal greeting na “Happy Holidays and Have a Prosperous Year!”, wala na yatang mas sasaya pa sa pagtanggap ng pagbati galing sa minamahal. May paliwanag ang sikolohiya sa pagnanais ng tao na makaramdam ng mainit na pagtanggap. Kinikilala ng Rule of Esteem ang “likas” na pangangailangan at kagustuhan ng tao ng pagkilala. Kailangan natin ng pagmamahal upang maramdaman natin na nabibilang tayo sa lipunan. Gusto natin makarinig
ng papuri upang masabing may silbi tayo, upang mapunan ang emosyonal nating pangangailangan, at upang makamit natin ang ating personal worth. Sa simpleng kagustuhan na makatanggap ng mensaheng makaantig-damdamin, o kaya naman ay para ma-satisfy ang ating ego, madaling madala ang karamihan sa mga pakulong gaya ng “Comment your name and I’ll send you a message”. Akalain mo, yung status mo dating suwerte na ang makaisang like, ngayon ay pinuputakti na ng mga tina-tag na samot-saring pangalan. May mga pagkakataon din na pwedeng gamitin ang ganitong klaseng tricks sa pagkikimkim. Halimbawa na lang sa paggamit ng Facebook, maaari mong piliin ang private message option sa halip na ipangalandakan ang feelings sa comments section. Sa pamamagitan nito, malaya mong masasabi ang iyong tunay na nararamdaman dahil may bahid na ito ng pagkukubli o privacy. Dito pwede mong aminin ang hindi mo maamin. Dahil hindi na siya for your eyes only kun’di just between the two of you, no holds barred. Ma-curious na ang mga usisero. Sa madaling salita, outlet ang social media upang buong tapang maiparating ng tao kung ano ang kanyang nararamdaman. Sa kabilang banda, ito’y malawak pa ring pantakip sa tunay na pangyayari sa likod ng monitor — ang katotohanang ang bawat gumagamit lang nito siyang makapagsasabi ay mahirap maunawaan dahil sumasalalay lang ito sa birtwal na karanasan. Maiuugat ang pagkukubli sa Rule of Esteem. Sa proseso ng panghihikayat upang makaani ng papuri, nagagawang kumilos ng tao sa paraang kanaisnais sa paningin ng nakararami. Kalakip ng pagpapakitang-gilas ang pagkukubli ng anomang pwedeng magamit laban sa kanya, kaya ganoon na lamang pinahahalagahan ang sense of privacy. Parehas itong may positibo at negatibong resulta — nakabubuti dahil pinayayaman nito ang pakikitungo ng isang tao sa iba; nakapipinsala dahil kung tinatago ng tao ang kanyang pagkukulang, hindi lubosang masusuri ng mga kakikala at malapit sa buhay kung ano ang maaari niyang maigpawan. Repleksyon na ng tao ang social media. Kalakip ng paggamit nito ang pagbabahagi ng user ng sariling impormasyon. Malaya tayong sulyapan ang buhay ng ating kapwa. Kasama rito ang pribilehiyong matahin ang aktibidad ng iba na lumilikha ng makahulugang epekto sa pag-iisip at pag-uugali ng taong inuugnayan. Gayunpaman, kaakibat pa rin nito ang pagpupuna sa sarili at pagpawi sa pagiging subhetibo kung saan binabatay lamang ang pagkomento sa mababaw na pananaw at gumagawa agad ng kongklusyon na kulang pa sa kongkretong pagsisiyasat. Tao ang utak sa likod ng social media at tao ang nakakamanipula sa impormasyong lumalaganap dito. Hindi man kongkretong bagay ang social media, maituturing itong puwersa dahil pinatatakbo ito ng tao na may kapangyarihang bagohin ang daloy nito.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 09
08 NEWS
Volume 30 Number 9 January 13, 2017 | Friday
Mga Fulung-Vulungan ng Nagjijisang
ITANONG KAY ISKO’T ISKA
A FRESH FROM THE HOLIDAYS EDITION Annyeong haseyo!!! ^_^ Ayy, happy holidays paluhh???!! I’m zo sarreh for the long absence mga affowz. May jetlag pa kasi akez sa aming delayed flight pa-Maniluhh with yerr Lolo Upo. Di q kasi kineri ang aming Korean getaway for our 51st honeymoon sa Jeju Island! Kitams, di pa rin talaga naglu-Luz Valdez ang asim ng inyong mahal na lola?? BONGGA!!! Talaguhhng life begins after 70 nga namern. Ahihihihi. Hay nakowz, pero lafang kung lafang din ako (like u) this Noche Buena ng kimchi at bibimbap that’s why nag-alburoto ang hypertension at diabetez ng lola niyow! KALURKEY!! But dat’s the least of my concernzung. Cozz teyk note! Well-spent na tunay ang aketchiwang Krismaz vacazhun coz your smoking hot Lolo Upo towtally rocked my world dezpayt the Dizhember cold!! Aym such a nowti gal!!! Quiet lang abawt deez haa? Anyway haywey, after aketchiwang pagwawalwal, pagho-host ng pamileh reuniownz, at pagja-Janno Gives ng aguinaldo to you afowz, the Patola is ready to be back in buzyness!!! Kala niyow na-forgot ko na kayo nohh? Let the sumvhongs come running and akes na ang bahala to handlesung your stress, tutal stress will help me shed ol deez terrible holiday fats.
Jingle bell, jingle bell, sumvhongs all the way
Numbah One: The
Nightmare after Christmas
Juice colored!!! Speaking of the impending doom ng second sem, sasabak na namern paluh ang aking mga affowws sa impiyernong itago natin sa pangalang SAIS! EMERGHED. I thought ni-left over na natin ‘ol the bad chemerlut sa 2016??? Pero why o why nakikigulo ka na namern sa layf ng aking mga afowz. I DESERVE AN E X PL A NAT ION, I DESERVE AN ACC E P TA BL E REASON! Spluk ng aking afowz na shiftees at transferees, jirap na jirap daw silang makapag-enlist at makapag-add ng courses to their shopping carts coz block-restricted ang mga classes. And by the taym na i-lift ng crappy system ang restriksyowns ay puno na ang mga slots which teyk note, meaning endangered sila sa incomplete units and worse ma-delaysung. Wish lang ni afowz ay i-stop na ang one-time enlistment at ang batch restrictions. Becoz it’s rily hurting
na, YuFiEm, why you make them feel layk second-class students bahh?
Jingle bell, jingle bell, sumvhongs all the way
Numbah Two: Roleta ng grades ng jisang froppy
Department Poging Santa at Monita
from of
Krismaz seasown is the seasown of love and giving. Pero anek itong regalo na natanggap ng isa kong afow? Napa-facepalm at napa-kanta pa siya ng “Kung wala ka nang m a i nt i nd i h a n….” ni Pareng Gary V. nang matanggap ang isang shocking early Krismaz gift from a Fisika singkouno froppucino!!! Paki-explain namern froppy ang isyu ng pagbibigay moe ng grades, coz di namin bet ang pagiging Madaam Auring moe??? Ay sus ka-stressung talaga itech most ezpecially sa aking afowz na naghahabol pa like Temple Run para sa scholarships niya. Super mega down-to-earth daw kasing magbigay ng marka itong si frop. As in EGGNOG boom shakalaka. Pakiuzap ni grandchild na sana namern daw ay nag-give yu ng breakdown ng grades befowr posting it online and giving my afow a heart attack.
At jan ofisyal na nag-eend ang jisa na namerng pagrampa ng nagjijisang nagbabagang Rheyna ng Pedro Gil at Faura. Agein, hapi krismaz and hapi 2017 to ‘ol. I’m sending ‘ol the love from my pamileh to yours. At gaano man ka-cliché, let’s ‘ol welcome the new year with da mantra, New Year, New Me. Hershey's kizzes sabay huggies, stay goodie patootie at mangako sa self na ‘di na SMP (BWAHAHAHA) next holidays. Luvyahh. Ahihihihi. ‘Pag may isinumbong, kukurutin ni Lola sa tumbong JOWK. Hasta la vista paaalaaam!!!!
no ang iyong masasabi sa pahayag ni Duterte na baguhin ang konstitusyon upang sa pangulo lamang ang pagpapasya sa pagsasakatuparan ng batas militar?
"Marcos pa rin" - mga ulol - lost af, 2015 Di pwedeng mangyari yun kasi mawawala ang konsepto ng check and balance!!! - ayokona, 2014-***** Not a Marcos in the making I hope. - qtp2t Isa na namang panibagong edisyon ng Duterte Vs Duterte. Sino kaya ang magwawagi? Kidding aside, naguguluhan na ako sa mga statement na ibinabato niya. Nasabi naman niya noon na walang naitulong ang Batas Militar so bakit ngayon parang advocate na siya? Feel niya lang ganon? Masama na naman kaya ang nakain niya hmm. Pucha para lang tayong pinaglalaruan dito eh. - ok?ok, 2014-xxxxx Sabi niya wala namang nagawang mabuti ang martial law tapos gagawin niya yan. HAHA. Pero syempre amen dian mga followers niya. - kulong, 201* hay gulo talaga ni duterte. ano kaya masasabi natin dyan mga ka-dds? - paparapapap, 201* ooh sounds familiar. pero sa tingin ko hintayin na lang natin final say niya. pabebe din kasi siya minsan e. - paalam2k16 , 2014-xoxox Lowkey martial law. Arf! arf! - taenamojhepoydizon, 2013, CAS Si Duterte talaga ang Marcos Trash #1 eh. - beattheenergygap, 201x-xxxxx
A
no ang pinakategui mong moment noong 2016?
Di nagreply crush ko sa Christmas greeting ko sa kanya huhuhu - lost af, 2015 Araw-araw deads ako. - ayokona, 2014-***** Nilibing si Marcos sa LNMB tapos nanalo si Trump - qtp2t Hindi ko alam pero masasabi ko lang na I died beautiful(ly) - ok?ok, 2014-xxxxx Buong 2016 ang tegui. Malala ang taong ito. Irita. - kulong, 201* kakaloka 2016 - paparapapap, 201* yung bawat araw na pilit kong mabuhay kahit ayoko na - paalam2k16 , 2014-xoxox Nung nag-start akong magbasa sa comments section. - taenamojhepoydizon, 2013, CAS Nung naisipan kong magbackread sa blog ni Mocha Uson. - beattheenergygap, 201x-xxxxx 2016 passed by like a moment. Ayun, tegui ako the whole year. - tentastic_harambe, 2015 Nung nadiskubre kong andami pala talagang willing na magbulag-bulagan lang as long as 'di sila "affected" :( - smpparinmgaulol, 2014, CAS
GOLING GOLING TOLOGUH NI PWESIDENT DUHTERTE LOHOT TOLOGUH GAGOWIN PORO SUH PILIPENUHZ-- Pakyu. - tentastic_harambe, 2015
'Di ko matandaan. Tegui ako nun e. - miloeveryday, 2013xxxxx
What's new? Kino-contradict niya pa rin sarili niya ah. Oh well nevermind, siya nga pala kuno ang Sun Tzu ng PH politics. - smpparinmgaulol, 2014, CAS
tegui ako buong 2016 tara move on na tayo please - newyearnewme, 2015, CAS pa rin mga bul-ol
Isa na namang makabuluhang insight mula sa pangulo. #tangina - miloeveryday, 2013xxxxx Wag po nating itake literally ang statement ni tatay digong. Tama po ba mga ka-dds? - Jollibabe, 2014, CAS luhhhhhhhhhhh totoo.ka ba pareng digong? - newyearnewme, 2015, CAS pa rin mga bul-ol
Yung nadapa si jollibee - Jollibabe, 2014, CAS
Buong taon ako na-tegui bes. Padala na kayo ng relief goods. - cropeck, 2013 Bawat klase sa mga toxic na prof. #NeverAgain - stressedout, 2014, CAS Nung nalaman kong taken na si crush. RIP @self - fragile, 2014-xxxxx
GRAPHICS 09
Volume 30 Number 9 January 13, 2017 | Friday SHIRLEY NICOLE APOLONIO
WE SHALL PREVAIL GENEVIEVE SEÑO
DANIELLE MONTEALEGRE RODRIGUEZ
AYAN, KAKA-COMPUTER MO!
FROM P.07
Ang bawat palitan, mapa-diskurso man o laro-laro lang, ay may maiiwang bakas sa ating kaisipan. Sa malawak nitong saklaw, hindi malayong maging dominante itong salik na magdidikta sa pag-iisip ng nakararami — huwad man o mapagpalaya. Ang paghubog ng social media sa sikolohiya ay may epekto sa buhay sa labas ng computer screen. Ang pagkilala sa pribilehiyo ng Internet access ay pagtupad sa tungkuling gamitin ang potensyal nito sa pagbuo ng nagkakaisang hanay na siyang magtutulak tungo sa wastong direksyon ng lipunan.
MARIE ANGELU DE LUNA PAGOBO
10 OPINION Truth Be Told
Mico Cortez A BIGGER PICTURE “Is a dog’s life worth the same as a human’s? Or several humans’?” Like what happens so often on social media, battle lines were drawn and opinions were vigorously typed out. Two camps emerged. The first were those that cried “animal rights!” and rained hell down on the Oro’s production crew. The second were those that cried “human rights” and rained hell down on the former for their selective and petite bourgeoisie definition of animal rights and apparent dismissal of human rights. But
which
camp
is
right?
As far as I’m concerned, neither of them are - not completely, at least. I understand where the first camp comes from. People may eat chicken, beef, and pork on a daily basis, but practically none of them take the time to think that what they’re shoving into their mouth was once a living, breathing animal. So, when they watch a dog get beaten and killed on-screen - and when they find out that it was an actual dog and not some fancy CGI - their delicate sensibilities are offended and they get, for the lack of a better term, triggered. To be fair, I was quite triggered too. Then there’s the opposing side. Those who decry the calls to censor or ban the film as its story is one that they believe needs to be told: that of the Gata 4 massacre, where four small-scale miners in Barangay Gata, Camarines Sur were murdered on March 23, 2014. Their deaths came at the hands of an armed group who were fueled by greed for the gold abundant in their area. The controversy surrounding this film should not end up being reduced to a false dichotomy of animal rights versus human rights. It should serve as a grim but necessary reminder that greed and oppression affects both people and animals alike. The Gata 4 massacre was a tragedy. The fact that some communities across the country still resort to eating dogs to sustain themselves is a tragedy. However, both are symptoms of a much larger problem, both stem from the same root cause. It’s a must to step back and look at the bigger picture. When greed and lust for power take precedence, it is the innocent who suffer, regardless of whether they have two legs or four. While Oro’s crew and cast must be held liable for whatever laws they have violated, the greater takeaway from all this is that a bigger battle has to be won - against the oppressors and abusers. And battle
we if
cannot win that we stand divided.
I’ll catch you next time.
Volume 30 Number 9 January 13, 2017 | Friday
MANILA OBSERVATION
HERE LIES 2016
JOSEF BERNARD SORIANO DE MESA
The good thing about last year is that it’s finally freaking over! The bad thing about that year is how we reacted badly to it. We wasted collective hate on a timeframe, a symbol incapable of doing any harm, crucifying an early millennium chain from the ever-ongoing Gregorian calendar just because important figures and celebrities passed away unexpectedly. Death, as shocking as it can be, is natural. It occurs every day, keeping us humble as it reminds how fragile we are. Still, many chose to grieve pointing fingers at the year for “claiming” lives. On a more pressing scale, we had (just to name a few): a multi-billion tycoon as the next US president, United Kingdom leaving the European Union, South Korean head-of-state presenting confidential files to a cult leader, Turkey’s premier arresting those who insult him on social media, and our very own Duterte likening himself to Hitler. With this kind of news, I won’t blame people if they’d blame ‘2016’ as a coping mechanism and wished it was them who died. Echoed internationally, these events signaled what is described by Merriam-Webster’s word of the year
as “surreal”. Had they not encouraged people on Twitter to go look up for another word, they would have settled with “fascism”. Another English dictionary, Oxford, also had an unsettling term: “post-truth” – relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in
“post-truth” – relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief. shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief. Now, this is where bad reactions enter. We are left in shock when the unlikeliest of leaders get elected. To our surprise, once they spew out nasty thoughts and commit intolerable actions, we only wonder how they came into power. Others channel anger instead to their supporters because hell knows people who voted for liars and power-trippers are ignorant and stupid; not looking into
PERSPECTIVE
Life is a learning experience. We are constantly uncovering new things as we seek for answers, and yet during this process, we formulate even more questions.
Their votes are no different from votes calling for change. Their votes reflect how the administration is not doing enough for its people. The means may be democratic, but power is corruptible. Even if the campaign is peppered with baselessness and threats, whoever steps up to challenge the status quo can still earn trust because people are fed up. But change does not mean progress, so no matter how many times we change heads, when the structure proves to be unsuccessful in meeting needs, the whole process is useless. Agitation is crucial as long as it has purpose. Staying mad at 2016, or whichever year in that case, won’t lead us elsewhere better. Bad things in a year doesn’t make the year itself bad. It was bad because preexisting material conditions allowed for authority to be abused, for totalitarianism to rise, and for oppression to continue. The year may be behind us, but a new year doesn’t wave a wand to shoo the effects of past events away. The devastating consequences will catch up in the following decades unless we put an end to the system that feeds it.
(PASSIVE TENSE)
EUNICE BIÑAS HECHANOVA
“The more I read, the more I acquire, the more certain I am that I know nothing”, said Voltaire.
the possibility that a lack of education is not the individual’s fault but the government’s lack of providing it.
majority can be disadvantageous. As we are well aware, social media encourages netizens to maximize their freedom of expression. People form opinions based on personal
In a time where a
An inquisitive mind is crucial for learning, and the application of the ideas aggregated by an individual is the measure of how much he or she has learned. Today, information is more accessible to a greater population due to technological advances. Various media serve as channels for interchange and integration of data, which allows easier and faster processing of a wide variety of concepts.
rising number of people develop their perspective by either going with the flow or continuously denying realities in society for their convenience, be grounded on your own judgement from information, and not ignorance.
In line with this, the Philippines has been recorded to have a significantly large number of participants in social media nationwide. At first, this seems to be good news, as it entails the modernization of communication. However, on a closer look, we can say that this access offered to the
experiences, or from what they know of society. Often, due to contrasting accounts, may it be of current issues or historical events, the population establishes divided opinions regarding a certain matter. Thus, the freedom of expressing these opinions through social media is mishandled when one is
misinformed. The danger here is when a majority of the population are blindsided to the truth and have strengthened their convictions upon a false belief. If the product of misinformation is passed on to others, it may affect their way of seeing things, and worse, persuade them to think in the same way. As one of my favorite professors advised, we should be dynamic and not dogmatic. This poses a challenge to us students. We should not be easily swayed by popular opinion without understanding its basis. Analyze on deeper levels, and widen your range of options. In a time where a rising number of people develop their perspective by either going with the flow or continuously denying realities in society for their convenience, be grounded on your own judgement from information, and not ignorance. Perhaps by the time people acknowledge that their perspective is limited, we may have better discernment on what are lies and what are true.
Volume 30 Number 9 January 13, 2017 | Friday
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E D I T O R- I N- C H I E F
Agatha Hazel Andres Rabino A S S O C I AT E E D I T O R F O R I N T E R NA L S
Aries Raphael Reyes Pascua
A S S O C I AT E E D I T O R F O R E X T E R NA L S
Sofia Monique Kingking Sibulo M A NAG I NG E D I T O R
Arthur Gerald Bantilan Quirante A S S I S S TA N T M A NAG I NG E D I T O R
Adolf Enrique Santos Gonzales NEWS EDITOR
Eunice Biñas Hechanova NEWS COR R ESPONDENTS
Elizabeth Danielle Quiñones Fodulla Patricia Anne Lactao Guerrero Anton Gabriel Abueva Leron F E AT U R E S E D I T O R
Chloe Pauline Reyes Gelera F E AT U R E S C O R R E S P O N D E N T S
Justin Danielle Tumenez Francia Liezl Ann Dimabuyu Lansang Jennah Yelle Manato Mallari C U LT U R E E D I T O R S
Joseph Bernard Soriano De Mesa Thalia Real Villela C U LT U R E C O R R E S P O N D E N T S
Jose Lorenzo Querol Lanuza GR APHIC S EDITOR
Jazmine Claire Martinez Mabansag R E S I D E N T I L LU S T R AT O R S
Michael Lorenz Dumalaog Raymundo Jose Paolo Bermudez Reyes Danielle Montealegre Rodriguez R E S I D E N T P H O T OJ O U R NA L I S T
Kyla Dominique Lacambacal Pasicolan OFFICE 4th Floor Student Center Building, University of the Philippines Manila, Padre Faura St. corner Ma. Orosa St., Ermita, Manila 1000 EMAIL themanilacollegian@gmail.com WEBSITES issuu.com/manilacollegian www.facebook.com/themanilacollegian www.twitter.com/mkule
MEMBER
College Editors Guild of the Philippines
Solidaridad - UP Systemwide Alliance of Student Publications and Writers’ Organizations
The Cover Illustration Abigail Beatrice Malabrigo
Layout Kyla Dominique Lacambacal Pasicolan & Jazmine Claire Martinez Mabansag
EDITORIAL 11
NG MGA TINAGANG PANGAKO ay onti-onti nang binubura.
Noong pinirmahan sa kaunaunahang pagkakataon ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ang pambansang badyet para sa taong 2017 na umaabot ng lagpas 3 Trilyong Piso (ang pinakamalaking alokasyon sa kasaysayan ng republika), ang libreng matrikula para sa State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) ay tila kanyang binawi. Taliwas ito sa binitawang salita ng mga kumandidato sa pagkapresidente noong kampanya na sang-ayon silang lahat, kabilang si Duterte, na dapat libre ang edukasyon hanggang kolehiyo. Ang kanyang pag-veto sa ilang espesyal na probisyon ay upang mapigilan diumano ang direktang paggamit ng mga ahensiya sa nakukuha nitong pera, na ilang taon na rin daw inaabuso at kinukurakot. Aniya mismo, ito na raw ang umpisa ng “yugto ng kredibilidad sa pagbabadyet”. Dagdag pa, ang mga rason kung bakit hindi niya pinahintulotang gawing libre ang matrikula sa SUCs ay dahil “kailangang mapangalagaan ang tamang pagsasakatuparan ng pagtustos” at “mabigyang prayoridad ang mga kapos-palad na may kakayahang mag-aral”. Sa mga naturang pahayag, tuwirang hinahayaan ng estado na magdusa ang masa sa mga kondisyon na patuloy na nagpapahirap dito. Ang magandang balita sana na bahagian ng 8 Bilyong Piso ang higit 100 SUCs sa buong bansa na layong pakawalan ang milyong mga estudyante mula sa pasanin ng mga bayarin ay nabalewala. Bagkus, magiging daan pa ito sa mga SUCs na hindi lamang panatilihing may matrikula kung hindi ay taasan pa. Hindi na bago ang ganitong senaryo. Ang Socialized Tuition Scheme ay kapareho ng layon ng pangulo na unahin ang mahihirap, gayong baligtad ang nangyari lalo’t mababa ang naging kalalabasan ng mga nagsipag-enroll ng mga maituturing na galing Bracket E. Isa pa, hanggang ngayon ay malabo pa rin ang pagtatakda ng mga bracket at awtomatikong pinagbabayad nang buo ang mga hindi nakapag-aplay dito. Balak pa man din ni Pangulong Duterte na isailalim sa burukrasya ang paglaan ng matrikula sa mahihirap sa pamamagitan ng mga “guidelines” na ihahanda ng Department of Budget and Management at Commission on Higher Education, na pinamamahalaan ni Patricia Licuanan na matagal nang tutol sa
PAULINE TIOSIN
KAMBYO pagtanggal ng matrikula. Lalong hindi makararating ng tersyaryang antas ang mag-aaral dala ng K-12, na ang bunga’y maka-kolonyal at murang lakas-paggawa pang-eksport, malayo sa hangaring itaguyod ang pambansang industriyalisasyon. Lingid sa kaalaman na may mga hindi makapagtapos dahil nanggagaling sa bulsa ng kanilang pamilya ang pantustos sa kakulangan ng paaralan, pipiliin na lamang ng pangulo na pag-aralin ang mga mahihirap imbis na pagaralan kung bakit may naghihirap.
sa pagpoprotekta ng kaban ng bayan sa halip na aprubahan ang katiting na hinihinging badyet ay bakas ng mga neoliberal na polisiya. Pagtalikod ito mismo ng gobyerno sa kanilang mandato ng serbisyopubliko na kailanma’y karapatan ng bawat tao at hinding-hindi kayang tumbasan ng halaga sa salapi. Umabot na tayo sa puntong ang pangako at matagal nang pangarap ay maisasatotoo na; naging posible ‘yon sa napansing malakas na panawagan natin ng mga ilang mambabatas na naniniwala sa ating mga kabataan.
yanigin natin ang kasalukuyang estado hanggang sa ito’y mabuwag, at mapalitan ng bago na sisiguraduhing ito ay gobyerno ng bayan Ang SUCs sana’y siyang madaling ruta ng mga mahihirap upang maging propesyonal na manggagawa ngunit tinitiyak lamang ng pagbawi sa libreng matrikula ang pagkakakulong ng mga mamamayan sa siklo ng kahirapan. Kung matagumpay mang nakapagtapos sa SUC ang isang mag-aaral, haharap naman siya sa banta at pagsubok ng pagiging kontraktuwal. Ang pagpawi nito’y isa rin sa mga malinaw na ipinangako ni Pangulong Duterte, ngunit sa ipinanawagan niyang “3 to 6 months” ay inaamin mismo ng Department of Labor and Employment na hindi matatanggal ang kontraktuwalisasyon. Pagkamaingat man sa unang tingin, ang pagkiling
Ngunit dahil sa karakter ng estado, mula sa matagal na kasaysayan nito ng pagiging, alam nating hindi nito ibibigay basta-basta ang nararapat sa mamamayan; gayunpaman, nakatala rin sa kasaysayan na nagbubunga ng konkreto ang bawat malaking sama-samang pagsigaw at pagkilos ng mamamayan sa kalsada. Gaya ng ginawa ng taumbayan sa naunang pandaigdigang kaayusan na pyudalismo, yanigin natin ang kasalukuyang estado hanggang sa ito’y mabuwag, at papalitan ng bago na sisiguraduhing gobyerno ng bayan--pinangungunahan ng mga taong ii-ibabaw ang interes nang kabuuan sa pang-indibidwal na interes.
IN JUSTICE
Exposing the Perils Brought by Capital Punishment JENNAH YELLE MANATO MALLARI
ILLUSTRATION BY VINCE DE DIOS
To uphold the principles of justice and to curb the burden imposed by criminality is to sever human life—this is what the present administration upholds in its attempt to deliver its promise to eliminate criminality in the country. Months upon assuming office, President Rodrigo Duterte expressed his approval towards the reinstitution of capital punishment in the country. At present, the House of Representatives has approved House Bill No. 1 in a 12-6 decision in favor of capital punishment. The bill presented imposes death penalty on criminals convicted of “heinous” crimes such as treason, murder, rape, carnapping, and drug-related violations. The bill also showcases three methods of execution: death by hanging, death by
firing squad, and death by lethal injection. However, 10 years after repealing the inhuman and oppressive Republic Act No. 7659 or Death Penalty Law, the Philippines is now on the verge of tipping the scale of justice in favor of State-sanctioned murder.
MALADAPTED Once again, the hole that permeates in the midst of the Bill of Rights is exploited in favor of a grim and atrocious policy condoned by the State. Twenty-nine years ago, through the 1987 Philippine Constitution, the Philippines is
regarded as the first Asian country to abolish capital punishment in favor to reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment. However, succeeding administrations were keen to reinstate death penalty before it was permanently repealed by year 2006 through the Republic Act No. 9346, an act prohibiting the imposition of death penalty in the Philippines. The reintroduction of capital punishment on the year 1993 up to the year 2006 is due to the provision in the Bill of Rights stating, “Neither shall death penalty be imposed, unless, for compelling reasons involving heinous crimes, the Congress hereafter provides for it.” This lapse in the Constitution has been the antecedent used by previous administrations to reinstate capital punishment against criminals convicted on “heinous” crimes determined by the State. CONTINUED ON PAGE 04