The Manila Collegian Volume 29 Number 20 by The Manila Collegian

The Official Student Publication of the University of the Philippines Manila Volume 29 Number 20 July 21, 2016 - Thursday

MORE INSIDE

02 EDITORIAL Loathing 03 NEWS National People’s Summit advances “People’s Agenda” 08 FEATURES The Lame Duck President 11 OPINION Depth Perception 12 CULTURE Sacri-ficial

02 EDITORIAL

Volume 29 Number 20 July 21, 2016 | Thursday

E DI T O R - I N - C H I E F Carlo Rey Resureccion Martinez A S S O C I AT E E DI T O R F O R I N T E R N A L A F FA I R S Patrick Jacob Laxamana Liwag A S S O C I AT E E DI T O R F O R E X T E R N A L A F FA I R S Elizabeth Danielle Quiñones Fodulla M A N AG I N G E DI T O R Thalia Real Villela A S S I S TA N T M A N AG I N G E DI T O R Jennah Yelle Manato Mallari N E W S E DI T O R Aries Raphael Reyes Pascua F E AT U R E S E DI T O R Liezl Ann Dimabuyu Lansang C U LT U R E E DI T O R Jose Lorenzo Querol Lanuza G R A P H IC S E DI T O R Jose Paolo Bermudez Reyes N E WS COR R ESPON DEN TS Patricia Anne Lactao Guerrero Adolf Enrique Santos Gonzales Eunice Biñas Hechanova Arthur Gerald Bantilan Quirante Sofia Monique Kingking Sibulo

JOSE PAOLO BERMUDEZ REYES

F E AT U R E S C O R R E S P O N D E N T S Chloe Pauline Reyes Gelera Katrina Maria Limpiada Perolino Angelica Natividad Reyes

LOATHING

AR HAS CHANGED, BUT Terrorism, whether perpetrated by it is still the people who domestic or foreign individuals, is still terrorism. These malicious acts suffer the consequences. should not be taken lightly because Another week, another shooting. It those who committed them wish seems that mass murder is all that’s to disrupt the peace and unity on the news these days. When not many have so arduously fought filled with news about gunmen on for. What people need to realize is the loose, it’s a bomb or truck that that while these acts of terror only has torn through some densely seem to target a small section of the populated area in the city. Baghdad, population, they are in fact meant to Dallas, Istanbul, Nice, Orlando; create fear, contempt, and loathing recent events around the globe have amongst the entire populace. These proven that the increase in violence terrorists have uncovered a chilling truth - that disarray, doubt, chaos, is far from an isolated case. and dissonance are today’s weapons

If we use fear as an excuse to antagonize our own innocent countrymen, then we are letting the perpetrators win. The face of war has evolved. The battle waged today is far more sinister than any in the past, because here, there are no borders. The battlefield has shifted from open fields and dense jungles to our offices, streets, and minds. This urban guerrilla warfare is bound to have profound effects on our collective psyche. When we live in perpetual fear that our very own homes could be the next target, no one is truly exempt from war’s effects.

of mass destruction. This is because by forcing people to turn on each another, one does not need a single bullet to destroy a society. The events following 9/11 are a perfect example of how through a single attack, paranoia can take hold of a country’s mind to the point that citizens unwittingly allow lawmakers to use this fear as leverage for their own interests. Thus, these lawmakers can end up condoning misguided attacks on innocent lives, an action which can only lead to disastrous consequences.

With news of ISIS slowly setting up camp in the southern peninsula, the Philippines could very well be the next target of similar acts of terrorism. Like the Tower of Babel, everything we have so meticulously constructed – equality, peace, justice – shall begin to come tumbling down if these attacks change what we stand for as a community. If we use fear as an excuse to antagonize our own innocent countrymen, then we are letting the perpetrators win. As ordinary citizens we are often burdened by the question, what can we do to stop this? In this battle of the mind, there is rarely an army to combat. While in fighting the terrorists, not everybody is capable of taking up arms. Therefore, compassion is something we need now more than ever. When contempt and hatred are beginning to grow among our fellow citizens, we must be the voice of reason who calms the uproar. When news of terror attacks fills our televisions, we must think not of the malicious who killed dozens, but rather of the selfless who put themselves in the line of fire to save dozens more. Against today’s weapons of mass destruction, adamant faith in the principles of our country is ultimately our greatest tool.

C U LT U R E C O R R E S P O N D E N T S Josef Bernard Soriano De Mesa Pia Kriezl Jurado Hernandez Jamilah Paola dela Cruz Laguardia Gabrielle Marie Melad Simeon R E S I D E N T I L LU S T R AT O R S Maria Catalina Bajar Belgira Jamela Limbauan Bernas Jazmine Claire Martinez Mabansag Michael Lorenz Dumalaog Raymundo

O F F IC E 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 EBSITES issuu.com/manilacollegian www.facebook.com/themanilacollegian www.twitter.com/mkule themanilacollegian.tumblr.com MEMBER

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The Cover

Illustration by Abigail Beatrice Malabrigo Layout by Joma Michiko Cruz Kaimoto and Kyla Dominique Lacambacal Pasicolan

NEWS 03

Volume 29 Number 20 July 21, 2016 | Thursday

COLLEGE BRIEFS The University of the Philippines Manila School of Health Sciences (UPM SHS) in Baler garnered a 100% passing rate in the April 2016 Midwife Licensure Examination. Sussette Binuggon landed on tenth place with a score of 88.80%. A third request by the UPM University Student Council for the application in the Socialized Tuition System was approved by the Office of Student Affairs with the specific date still to be announced. For further announcements and concerns, you may reach Councilor Charles Jimenez at 09178850399.

ORGANEWS A clean-up drive entitled Bottles UP 2.0 was launched by the UPM USC and Yearn, along with their partner organizations and college student councils. The clean-up drive was conducted last July 2.

National People’s Summit advances “People’s Agenda” 15-point agenda gains strong support in new administration ADOLF ENRIQUE SANTOS GONZALES

The National People’s Summit was convened on June 29 at the University of the Philippines Diliman by various sectoral leaders and produced the 15 – point “People’s Agenda for Change”. The said agenda, intended for the Duterte administration’s first 100 days, also serves as a guide to all peace panels and the legislation. universal access to basic services BAYAN Secretary Reyes Jr. urged Genuine Assembly The summit was organized by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN), the Makabayan Coalition, and People’s Movement for Change in cooperation with the UP Office of the Student Regent (OSR). Various regional and sectoral leaders ranging from Indigenous Peoples (IPs), government and contractual workers, artists, farmers, nuns and others were also in attendance. According to BAYAN Secretary General Renato Reyes, the said event was not just a one-day affair as its product, the “People’s Agenda for Change”, will be the rally point for discussions and mobilizations for June 30 and beyond. Moreover, Genasque Enriquez, leader of Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (KATRIBU), said gatherings like the National People’s Summit encourages Filipinos to discuss their thoughts and craft proposals that might ensue social change.

People’s Agenda The “People’s Agenda”, the prime subject for the National People’s Summit, is divided into five topics: economic development, social policy, peace and human rights, governance and democracy, and sovereignty and foreign policy. The agenda was modeled on the idea that the Philippines can be an economic power through its vast mineral and human resources, led by a nationalist and pro-people leadership. The agenda calls on the new administration to make national industrialization as its major strategy for Philippine economic development. For the administration’s social policy, the agenda asserts that

is imperative. The agenda also called for increases in education and health spending, pension funds, health centers, and the minimum internet speed. A halt to discrimination, the advance in worker’s rights, better consular services, and a halt to militarization of IP communities were also stated in the agenda.

the people to be vigilant about how the new administration follows the People’s Agenda. Meanwhile, on the Inauguration Day of the new administration, representatives from various groups, including those present from the summit the day before, staged a rally of support for the new administration in Mendiola. The representatives of progressive movements such as Mayo Uno (KMU), Gabriela, Kabataan Party list, and others were escorted by the Presidential Security Group (PSG) from Mendiola Bridge to Malacañang’s Osmena Hall to meet President Duterte and personally present to him the People’s Agenda.

Furthermore, for governance and democracy, the agenda aims to strengthen the fight against corruption, the adoption of pro-people fiscal and budget policies, banning of the pork barrel system, and the enactment of the Freedom of Information Bill (FOI). The investigation of the Aquino and Arroyo Regime’s negligence as well as human According to the representatives rights violators in the military who met with President Duterte, and police were also stated. they were received warmly and he expressed his willingness to Finally, the agenda stated that accept the points presented in the administration should also the agenda. assert the country’s sovereignty without foreign intervention, resume peace talks with National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the Moros, and release political prisoners for humanitarian reasons.

Change Welcomed The People’s Agenda was received by several members of Duterte’s cabinet, including incoming Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy Taguiwalo, incoming Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) secretary Rafael Mariano, several members of both houses of congress, and lastly, representatives from GDH and NDFP peace panels. Upon receiving the agenda, incoming DSWD secretary Taguiwalo stated, “hindi na bago ang agenda na ito, matagal na nating itong pinaglaban at patuloy na ipaglalaban”.

04 NEWS

Volume 29 Number 20 July 21, 2016 | Thursday

Paglalahad

Pagsuri sa mga plano ng bagong administrasyon ARTHUR GERALD BANTILAN QUIRANTE AT LEAH ROSE FIGUEROA PARAS DIBUHO NI JOSE PAOLO BERMUDEZ REYES AT JAZMINE CLAIRE MABANSAG

Kasabay ng mga unang araw niya sa puwesto bilang panlabing-anim na Pangulo ng Pilipinas, tila inaabangan na ng taong-bayan na nagluklok kay dating Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte ang mga pagbabagong kanyang inihain at ipinangako sa kanila na maaaring sumagot sa matagal nang mga sigalot sa ating bansa.

K ahirapan Nananatiling pinakamalaking problema ng Pilipinas ang kahirapan. Ayon sa sarbey ng Social Weather Stations (SWS) noong 2015, pinapalagay ng isa sa dalawang pamilyang Pilipino na sila ay mahirap. Sa pag-upo ni Duterte, prayoridad niya ang pagpapatupad ng mga programa kontra kahirapan. Aniya, hindi dapat natatapos sa ‘doleouts’ ang pagtulong sa mahihirap, kinakailangang magkaloob ng trabaho at pangmatagalang kabuhayan. Layunin din niyang repasuhin ang Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development Protection Plans upang mapabuti ang kalagayan ng mga maralitang rural, partikular na ang Indigenous Peoples (IPs). Ito ay upang mapataas ang kalidad ng produksiyon ng mga ancestral land habang pinapanatili ang kanilang kultura. Isinusulong din ni Duterte ang pagiging libre ng irigasyon sa mga bukirin na lubhang makababawas sa gastusin ng mga magsasaka. Katuwang nito ang pagrereporma ng agri-financing ng Land Bank of the Philippines upang mas mabisang makatugon sa pinansiyal na pangangailangan ng mga maralitang rural.

Trapik Itinuturing ng bagong administrasyon na pinakakritikal na problema ang trapik, sapagkat tinatayang P3 bilyon kada araw ang lugi ng bansa dulot nito sa mga sentrong urban. Ayon kay Duterte, dapat pag-aralang mabuti ang mga hakbang upang ibsan ito. Sa kalakhang Maynila, hindi lamang volume reduction at number coding schemes ang dapat ipatupad, kinakailangan din umano ang abot-kaya at mabisang

ISKOTISTIKS

‘mass transport system’ upang mahikayat ang mga tao na iwasan ang paggamit ng pribadong sasakyan. Lilinangin din umano ng bagong administrasyon ang ferry system sa Ilog Pasig at Marikina. Mamumuhunan ang administrasyong Duterte sa mga rail system sa iba’t ibang rehiyon. Plano rin ni Duterte na ilipat ang bagsakan ng kalakal mula sa pantalan ng Maynila patungong Batangas at isinusulong niya ang paggamit ng Clark International Airport sa halip na Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Higit pa rito, ang pangmatagalang solusyon ng bagong administrasyon ay ang paglikha ng mga oportunidad sa labas ng mga sentrong urban upang hindi na magsiksikan sa kalunsuran. Korapsyon Sa malawakang usapin ng korapsyon, nais ni Pangulong Duterte na magsilbing ehemplo sa kaniyang mga nasasakupan bilang pangunahing instrumento sa pag-iwas sa kurapsyon. Nais ipatupad ng Presidente ang simpleng pamumuhay sa lahat ng mga nagseserbisyo sa gobyerno kabilang na ang Pangulo. Maliban dito, binibigyang-prayoridad din ng administrasyon ang pagpapasa ng Freedom of Information Bill (FOI Bill).

K apayapaan at K aayusan Kaugnay naman ng pagsasaayos ng seguridad sa lipunan, kabilang sa plataporma ni Duterte ang pakikipag-ayos sa mga rebelde sa pamamagitan ng peace process o usaping pangkapayapaan. Nais niyang gawing mas angkop at tiyak ang nilalaman ng usaping pangkapayapaan sa Mindanao dahil sa pagkakaroon ng iba’tibang kultura sa iba’t-ibang lugar sa rehiyon. Plano din ng bagong administrasyon na palakasin ang koordinasyon ng pulis at puwersa ng militar sa pamamagitan ng pagkakaroon ng mga ‘joint task force’ sa mga lugar kung saan talamak ang krimen

sa bansa. Sa kabilang dako naman, nais niyang ibalik ang parusang kamatayan para sa mga mapapatunayang nagkasala sa mga kasong may kaugnay sa droga at kasuklam-suklam na krimen. Makikita na nga ito sa sunodsunod na pagsuko ng mga ‘drug pusher’ at ‘drug user’ matapos hikayatin ng mga kapulisan na lumantad at sumuko na sa kanila. K alusugan Isa sa mga ibinabandera ng administrasyong Duterte ang mithiin nito na gawing 100% ang coverage ng PhilHealth sa lahat ng mga Pilipino. Kaugnay nito, layunin din nila na magkaroon ng tertiary hospital ang bawat lalawigan sa bansa. Dagdag pa rito, nais ng gobyerno na magkaroon ng karampatang implementasyon ng Reproductive Health Law at makapaglunsad ng pang-araw-araw na programang pang-ehersisyo sa buong bansa. Muli namang pag-aaralan ng kaniyang administrasyon ang lahat ng ordinansa na may kinalaman sa anti-smoking upang siguruhin na ito ay nakaayon sa isinasaad ng batas. Agrikultura Maghahain ang administrasyong Duterte ng mga planong pang-agrikultura na angkop sa topograpiya ng bansa upang maging mabisa ang produksiyon at pagluluwas ng produkto. Tutukuyin umano ang mga rehiyon at probinsiya sa Pilipinas na akmang gumawa ng mga batayang pagkain upang maiwasan ang labis-labis na importasyon. Magsasagawa rin ng mga pag-aaral ang administrasyon na tutulong sa mga magsasakang matiyak ang mga kapakipakinabang na pananim sa kanilang lugar. Kaugnay nito, prayoridad ni Duterte ang

pagpapatayo ng mga food terminals at imprastraktura tulad ng Mindanao Railway na magpapadali sa pagbibiyahe ng pagkain at produktong agrikultural mula sa mga pangunahing sentro ng produksiyon. Dagdag pa ay ang paglikha ng Department of Fisheries and Marine Resource Management na hiwalay sa Kagawaran ng Agrikultura o Department of Agriculture. Inaasahang mapapaunlad ng aksiyong ito ang kabuhayan ng mga mangingisda at masisigurong abot-kaya ang presyo ng pagkain sa buong bansa. Imprastraktura Kagaya nang nauna nang nabanggit, prayoridad ng administrasyon ang paggamit ng iba pang paliparan sa bansa gaya ng sa Clark, Cebu, Laoag, at Davao. Ito ay upang bigyan ng kaluwagan ang kasikipan sa Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Kinokonsidera din ni Pangulong Duterte ang pagpapatupad ng night-scheduling at radar facilities sa ibang mga paliparan sa bansa. Isa rin sa nakikitang solusyon ng administrasyon ang pagbibigay-halaga sa masusing pag-aaral at pagpapatupad ng mga bagong pangangailangan para sa mga international airports upang maibsan ang labis na air traffic. Nais din ni Duterte na magkaroon ng koneksyon ang lahat ng daan sa mga lalawigan sa mga pangunahing highway o daanan sa bansa.

Paggawa at Ekonomiya Sa usapin naman ng paggawa, nais nang tuldukan ng administrasyon ang kontraktwalisasyon sa mga manggagawa. Nais ding bigyang-pansin ng Pangulo ang industriya ng agrikultura na palakasin ito upang makapagbigay ng trabaho at oportunidad sa mga nasa nayon. Inihahain din ng administrasyon bilang alternatibo ang paggamit ng solar power IPAGPATULOY SA PAHINA 10

NEWS 05

Volume 29 Number 20 July 21, 2016 | Thursday

Socialized Tuition Scheme assailed SOFIA MONIQUE KINGKING SIBULO

Calls to reform or abolish the Socialized Tuition System (STS) began anew as students across the different University of the Philippines (UP) units apply for their tuition discounts. Currently, UP Manila has 6,545 students, with 2,352 students having applied during the first two batches of STS compared to the 3,203 STS applicants last year. The qualifiers of the 2015 UP College Admission Test (UPCAT) applied for during the first batch from April 27 to May 1, followed by the undergraduates as the second batch on from June 13 to 19. The prevailing tuition system in UP was approved by the Board of Regents on December 13, 2013 which replaced the 23 year old Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP).

A ppeals filed As of press time, there are still 444 students waiting for the results of appeals they filed regarding their brackets. In relation to this, the UP Manila University Student Council has asserted its calls to junk the STS. “STS clearly has a lot of technical issues, but the main point of criticism is its very existence. There is no place in a state university for a system that promotes further stratification among students based on their socioeconomic capacity; and in the process, renders UP education inaccessible. STS is being paraded as the solution to the high cost of education, when in fact: it is a form of tuition fee increase itself.”

“So UP created the STS which provides tuition discount at rates that are based on the assessment of the paying capacity of the household to which a student belongs. This assessment looks at As of press time, the third batch the income as well as the socio- of application for the STS is still economic characteristics of the ongoing. household,” as stated in the official website of STS.

Tuition Discount Level

Tuition in Php

Number of

A.Y. 2015 - 2016

A.Y. 2016 – 2017 (1st batch)

A.Y. 2016 – 2017 (2nd batch)

applicants

No Discount

1, 500/ unit

385

Partial Discount 33%

1, 000/ unit

1, 295

Partial Discount 60%

600/ unit

1, 115

Partial Discount 88%

300/ unit

272

Full Discount

Free tuition

Full Discount + Stipend

Free tuition

Table 1: Comparison of STS applicants (SOURCES: sts.up.edu.ph and the Office of Student Affairs)

THE LAME DUCK PRESIDENT

FROM PAGE 09

of those the administration The Duterte administration considers enemies of the state. showed amicable relations with the Left – to the point The Aquino administration that the president appointed sustained Arroyo’s culture of members of Leftists groups in his impunity and human rights Cabinet. It is to be expected that violations in the guise of Oplan counter-insurgency measures Bayanihan (OB). Due to the trail comparable to OBL and OB will of blood left by the OBL, Aquino’s not be materializing anytime OB presented a seemingly radical soon. However, threats against shift from its predecessor but in human rights remain as the truth, the program is only a mere present administration expressed extension of Arroyo’s brutal leniency to vigilantism in its counter-insurgency program. campaign against crime and drugs. Like its predecessor, peace talks with armed groups remain to be President Aquino and his cohorts the least of the administration’s have been creating an illusion that priorities as it focused on combat the country has moved forward and propaganda to counteract under his reign. But the reality armed struggle. speaks louder than any statistics and flowery statements— Moreover, democratic groups poverty has only continued to and Leftist-sympathizers remain grow as the country continues targets to be neutralized by the to experience severe economic state military. This is proven by backwardness. Inequality runs various human rights offenses in large discrepancies between conducted and validated by the profit-making business elites Aquino’s OB. In March 2015 and the ordinary laborers; feudal alone, 55 leaders of Indigenous relations still dominate the Peoples (IPs) were slaughtered by countryside with its hacienda the administration. Particularly, system untouched; the country the continued military and is still under the tutelage of its paramilitary presence on the imperialist master, selling its ancestral lands of the Lumad sovereignty along with what resulted to unrest and the death remains of its natural resources; of 55 Lumads. Lumad schools and human rights violations have were also attacked by the state risen, leaving a bloody record military with the administration of extra judicial killings and an justifying the attack by linking increased number of political the schools to armed groups prisoners. such as the New People’s Army (NPA). The state further proved This is the legacy of the Aquino its neglect on human rights when administration—a regime of false the mobilization at Kidapawan, promises, negligence, and crisis North Cotabato spearheaded mismanagements. by the members of Pagkakaisa Para sa Tunay na Repormang The present Duterte Agraryo (Patria) and Bagong administration, on the other Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) hand, has been presenting itself was malevolently dispersed by the in a new light. Its new approach in Philippine National Police (PNP). dealing with what had been tagged Instead of providing 15,000 as government dissenters of the sacks of rice for the farmers, Left creates a national euphoria PNP conducted a dispersal with strong hopes for societal operation that slaughtered and change. This, however, should injured several farmers. Again, never go unquestioned. Rather, a the government justified its more vigilant citizenry is needed act of violence by claiming that now more than ever so as not to members of the NPA were involved create a retrograde motion away in the said mobilization. Apart from the observed progress. from these incidents, the Amnesty International Philippines (AIP) At the end of the day, only a listed 438 cases of extrajudicial genuinely democratic and killings and 31 cases of enforced nationalistic government can fully disappearances – mostly activists protect and uphold the interest of – from July 2010 to September the Filipino people. 2015.

06 NEWS

Volume 29 Number 20 July 21, 2016 | Thursday

ITANONG KAY ISKO’T ISKA

Mga Fulung-Vulungan ng Nagjijisang

Lola Patola

WESTEROS EDITION

Sayben bleshings tu yu, afowz!!!!!! Meyk bow bow tu da kween Margarine!!! Charot!!! Iz jas me, yowr lably Lowla P!!!!!! Hihihi. Hassle tu da musclez eng naging vacayshown kow sa Peste este Westeros!!!!!!!!! Paano buh nemern, na-bang bang intu da room kami ni Lolo U niyow!!!!! Bang na bang, ass in boom pak ganern!!!!!! Haw haw de karabao about chu afowz???? Finishings na ang summer vacayshowns at Close Up na eng pers zem!!!!!!!!! Excited na ba kayow????? Or dehins parin mag-let it go ng stress-free lyf????? Hihihi!!!!! Pero bagella natin i-face to face eng susunod na zem, may ilang pakaway-kaway na pasaway eng sinumvhong ng ilang afowz!!!!!

Growing strong na sumvhong Growing strong na sumvhong numbah wan: numbah tu: Anek Curtis itey aking na-overheard at YuFiEm na may isang froppie daw na bet na bet eng pagweewee revillame sa paligid-ligid ng College of Anit at Singit?????? Hindi ko na knowing kay froppie, pero as par as I know, may mga gumagana pa nemerng toilates sa place na itech!!!!!!!!

Sinetch itechiwang froppie na bet na bet eng paggawang Farmville 100 eng isang imfortant shubject ng Department of Shake Shake??????? Juzkelerd!!!!!!!!!!! Ang pagteteaching dapat abawt sa pambansang hero natin, na-lost in translation na dawsung!!!!!!!!!

Eng kapalit???? Tanim tanim under Konting hiya nemern, froppie!!!!!!! da sun!!!!!!!!!! Kalurkey ka froppie!!!! Talo mo pa eng mga taga-Kaching’s Push natin yang pag-connect da dots Landing sa pagiging ew!!!!!! mo sa pagtatanim at sa shubject na Charot!!!!! Bastuh froppie, sanuh itech!!!!! nemern ay i-stopping mo na eng pagHaixt!!!!!!!!!! Oh well, jingle bells papel!!!!!!!! Ayern around na moona eng da place, mga sumvhongs oki!!!!!!!! ko por yu, afowz!!!!!!! Enjoyin niyow na eng last 30 secondz ng vacayshown niyow, oki?????? Malapit na kayong mag-gorabells intu da new academic yerr!!!!!!!!!!! At sheympre, huwag i-forget eng pagrereadying ng inyong sharili paruh sa next academic yerr!!!!!!! Aasahan kow eng moar sumvhongs prom yu, oki???????? Lab lab yu, afowz!!!!!!!!!! XOXO

1S A

no ang masasabi mo sa patuloy na paggamit sa Socialized Tuition ystem?

Tama na lokohan pls #JunkSTS - qtp2t T46!n#a po ng STS sobrang unfair huhuhu di ba di naman importante kung mayaman ka or mahirap kasi either way dapat nakakapag-aral ka at nakakapag-aral ka ng libre?????? - Mary Parker Follett, CAS Ika nga ni donnalyn bartolome, “swerte mo kung mapagbibigyan”. :))) Nakakalungkot na kailangan pa natin makaawa sa isang bagay na karapatan naman talaga at dapat libre nating natatamasa. - Ang Probinsyano, CAS, 201*-***** Tama na!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kung may konsensiya pa kayong natitira kahit katiting lang, please lang!!!!!! #JunkSTS - Trainer2014, CP STS: Selective Tuition System. Hindi porket super yaman ng kaklase mo dapat malaki din ang bayaran niya. Hindi porket mahirap yung kaklase mo, kailangan niya pa ipamukha sa iba para lang makapagaral siya. Nasaan ang fairness dun? Bakit kailangang patunayan pa ang financial status? Dapat ang pinatutunyan lang namin ay iyong kakayahan namin! Karapatan ng kabataan ang libreng edukasyon! - AngBesMongBadTrip, 2014 Unfortunately, UP has continued to be a front for the privatization of SUCs. It’s disappointing that we, who are supposedly “scholars of the nation” are being faced with high tuition rates. The essence of being a school for the masses has been removed ever since. - keepittogether, CAS, 2014 Shitty Tuition System. Sosyal Tayo Sana, Shockingly Taas Standard, lol. Antimasses po itong STS. Medyo hindi valid ang mga acronym ko but you get the idea ;) - AngMASAyaPumalakpak, 2013, CN Ang patuloy na paggamit ng STS sa UP ay nag-iimbak lang ng mga pondo na hindi nagagamit. Isa lang itong patunay na hindi binibigyang halaga ang karapatang edukasyon sa bawat mag-aaral. Ilan pa bang estudyante ang magpapakamatay dahil sa hindi makabayad na tuition ang hihintayin bago ma-junk ang STS. Ang higpit-higpit maningil sa mga estudyante ng matrikula pero yung renta ng Ayala kebs lang? Pakyu. At sa mga nagsusulong ng progresibong rollback, t***ina UP ‘to hindi negosyo. Lolo niyo progresibo. - Ulannister, 2014 Badtrip naman oh, you are supposed to be serving the people, but you prefer to lean towards being a privatized institution. Dapat nga free ang pag-aaral, but you like to make it harder for those less privileged financially to study in UP. Pwede nga mag-loan pero hindi forever pwede magloan at hindi ganun kadali umipon ng pera. You force students to work while studying, and you force our parents to work their asses off, and you force us to slowly starve or suffer while we use the money for our basic necessities for our tuition (which is supposedly subsidized by the government!) You better expect more student rallies and other actions against those anti-student policies of yours. - buckle up, CAS, 2012-xxx95 Ayus-ayusin sana ng STS ang buhay niya bago pa may makitil na buhay ng mga estudyante. Nasasayang ang mga future

Pwede ring ipadala ang inyong mga sagot sa pamamagitan ng pag-text sa 0917 510 9496 o sa 0917 539 0612! (Pero bawal textmate!)

professionals ng ating bansa. - Nobody, CAS, 2015 Wala nang iaayos pa ang bulok na solusyon. Lalo lang lumalala ‘yung ST system habang tumatagal. Parang pabaliktad lang mag-develop eh. Dumadami yung nagbabayad tapos nababawasan yung Bracket E students. Pag di pa tinanggal yan, di na ako magtataka kung lahat na ng estudyante ng isang STATE UNIVERSITY ay nagbabayad ng matrikula kahit na gobyerno naman dapat ang may sagot non. Bakit kasi kailangan pa ng bracketing kung dapat namang libre na lang ang edukasyon? JUNK STS!! - PagodaColdWaveLotion, 2014 Education is a right. Yun na yun! #JunkSTS - pokemonishart, 2013 So kailangan ko pang patunayan na mahirap ako bago makapag-aral nang libre?! At dapat pag mayaman ako, malaki ang babayaran ko bago mag-aral?! Huwag ganern, mga besh!!! Caloca! - SC, 2014, CAS Pinapakita pa rin nito na sa isang banda, may scholarship discounts ang UP, ngunit parang wala pa ring silbi ito dahil hindi umaayon ang “Bracket” ng isang estudyante sa karapat-dapat na babayaran niya o sa katunayan nga, dapat walang babayaran. #JunkSTS - pagod, CD STS, anak ka talaga ni STFAP. Wala kayong pinagbago. Magbago ka please. - fujoshi CAS, sophie Sira ang Tuition System ng UP. #JunkSTS - CAS,2014-<341*

nong Pokemon ang inaasahan mong mahanap sa UPM? Bakit?

Treecko. Para ‘pag tinanong nila kung kamusta na mga depex ko, masabi ko namang may Tree cko. - qtp2t Chansey hehehehehe gets??? - Mary Parker Follett, CAS I go for Onyx, medj kahawig niya kasi si Oble. - Ang Probinsyano, CAS, 201*-***** Sableye!!!!!!!!!!! Hahahahahahahahaha - Trainer2014, CP Si Snorlax, feeling ko ma-susummon siya ng mga UP students. Lagi kasi tayong inaantok (nagpuyat man o hindi LOL) - AngBesMongBadTrip, 2014 Si CelebiEx. IDK but siguro useful siya para pwede kong gamitin ng paulit-ulit mga techniques ko para pumasa. LOL. - AngMASAyaPumalakpak, 2013, CN Ratata tsaka Raticate. Shuta mars ang daming daga sa RH 3rd Floor tsaka sa PGH. ‘Di ko alam kung pusa o daga. Pero gusto ko din ng Pikachu para kapag brownout may kuryente pa din tayo mga mars. - Ulannister, 2014 Gardevoir and Blakizen na pwedeng gamitin para hindi na masaktan sa lovelife. - Nobody, CAS, 2015 Zubat para ma-establish yung creepiness ng UPM, lalo na dun sa may batcave. Malay mo may masama pang white lady sa Pokedex. Oh di ba ang saya?? - PagodaColdWaveLotion, 2014 Si Pikachu para magising ang mga sabaw na estudyante. Let’s bring a spark into their lives. - fujoshi CAS, sophie

NEWS 07

Volume 29 Number 20 July 21, 2016 | Thursday

Duterte, Robredo take oaths of office EUNICE BIÑAS HECHANOVA

Former Davao City Mayor Rodrigo “Digong” Roa Duterte delivered his inaugural speech last June 30, 2016 as the 16th President of the Republic of the Philippines in Malacañan Palace. Duterte highlighted the significance of the cooperation of the Filipino citizens with the government and of democracy in his regime. On the other hand, Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Gerona Robredo took her oath on the same day as the 14th Vice President of the Philippine Republic at the Quezon City Reception House. Robredo assured in her speech that despite her differences in leadership style with the president, she will work with him to prioritize the alleviation of poverty in the country.

“I know that there are those who do not approve of my methods of fighting criminality. They say that my methods are unorthodox and verge on the illegal”, admitted Duterte.

Likewise, he reminded the different agencies under the government to not only focus on their own jurisdiction and but also assess one another. He implored the Prior Concerns Commission on Human Rights In the beginning of his speech, the (CHR) and the Congress to uphold president stated that the loss of trust integrity in their governance. of the masses in the government was a major issue that had to be solved. Duterte also stressed the weight Duterte declared that his office of unity within the country. “No will battle impunity and strive to leader, however strong, can succeed end criminality, particularly the at anything of national importance prevalence of drug abusers which he or significance unless he has the cited as a major factor in worsening support and cooperation of the impoverishment. people he is tasked to lead and sworn to serve”, Duterte asserted. Labeled “The Punisher”, Duterte also claimed that he will continue Pressing Issues his ways of resolving crimes but also affirmed that he would not step After emphasizing the need to end corruption, Duterte directed his outside the limits of the law. SACRI-FICIAL

kung mamamatay rin lang ang kabayo? Kahit magtrabaho pa ang mga mahihirap nang paulit-ulit; kung nahaharap naman sila sa napipintong demolisyon, pagk+aagaw sa lupa at sakahan, di-makataong sahod at kontraktuwalisasyon; makakatulad lang rin nila si Sisyphus na gumugulong lang paibaba ang sariling pinaghirapan.

Kung hindi ukol, hindi bubukol Kung nais mong makasagap ng makabagong parabula ng kabayanihan, wala nang mas angkop pang pook kundi social media. Naging baul ang Internet ng mga pinagbubunying ‘sakripisyo’ ng mga ordinaryong tao. Sanay ka na marahil sa sangkaterbang kuwento ng mga tsuper sa ‘sakripisyo’ nilang magbalik ng sobreng may limpak na salapi sa kanilang pasaherong nakalimot. Sa paggamit ng salitang ‘sakripisyo’, tila ba labag sa kalooban nilang gawin kung ano ang tama. Ang noo’y pagpapahalaga ay nababansagan na ngayong

speech to the improvement of the ceremony, Robredo maintained that she will extend public services to the national bureaucracy. marginalized sectors in society and “I abhor secrecy and instead consolidate communities starting advocate transparency in all from the barangays. government contracts, projects and business transactions from Robredo included that she will ensue submission of proposals to her ‘tsinelas’ leadership while aiding negotiation to perfection and finally, Duterte in his campaigns. The vice president also remarked that she to consummation”. will arrange to visit the poor and farMeanwhile, Duterte mentioned flung barangays during her initial that as the current president, 100 days in position. maintaining peace and order within the country and with fellow nations July 4 marked the first official meeting of Robredo and Duterte will also be advanced. located at the Malacañan Palace. “On the international front and As of press time, Robredo has not community of nations, let me confirmed her decision on the reiterate that the Republic of the Liberal Party’s invitation for her to Philippines will honor treaties and hold the Chairman position. international obligations. On the domestic front, my administration is Meanwhile, Robredo accepted the committed to implement all signed Housing and Urban Development peace agreements in step with Coordinating Council (HUDCC) cabinet post offered by Duterte via constitutional and legal reforms”. phone call in a press conference held Uniting Sides on July 7 at the Malacañan Palace. In a separate inauguration

‘sakripisyo’. Hindi na bale kung gaano kaliit ang kabutihang nagawa, kung ang paligid mo nama’y tadtad ng imoralidad, sa mata ng karamihan ay para ka nang santo. Animo’y mayroon kang malaking parteng naialay, na sa katunayan ay dapat namang isabuhay ng lahat itong simpleng mga tungkulin.

masaktan ang tagabigay dahil kung hindi ay maglalaho raw ang bisa ng sakripisyo. May pilosopiya pa ngang nagsasaad na marapat lang na maging mapagbigay ang mayayaman sa mahihirap upang wala raw mag-alsa, ngunit ang pilosopiyang ito’y nananatiling usok sa lumalalang kondisyon ng pagkakahati ng uri.

Ganito ang taktika ng mga politiko sa tuwing sila’y nangangampanya o nagpaparinig. Gusto kasi nilang palutangin ang kanilang alas sa tuwing sila’y pinupuna. Babanggitin na naman nila ang pagyao ng kadugo na tila sakripisyo ang mamatayan. O ‘di kaya’y paparatanganan ang taumbayan na “walang utang na loob” kung hindi nasisiyahan sa pamumuno, dahil iniisip nilang isang malaking sakripisyo ang kanilang pagkaupo, gayong trabaho naman talaga nila ito.

Itong siklo ng entitlement ay dulot ng labis na paghahangad ng masa sa ginhawa. Para sa kanila, karapat-dapat lang na maibsan ng benepisyo ang paghihirap. Kung sobra ang sinakripisyo’y suklian din dapat ng pantay o higit pa. Ang sakripisyong dapat sana ay bukal sa kalooban ay napalitan ng sakripisyong nakatuon sa personal na interes. Tinuturing ng ganitong mentalidad ang sakripisyo bilang utang na loob — isang bagay na ginagawa upang hingan ng kapalit.

Sa mga paluwagan, literal na umikot na lang sa salapi ang konsepto ng pagpapakasakit na pwedeng sunggaban kung kulang. Etika diumano ang asahang

Ang lipunang sinanay sa katiwalian ay magbubunga ng kulturang bihirang makasaksi ng mabuti. Ang ganitong pag-iisip sa sakripisyo ay manipestasyon ng unti-unting pagtanggap ng masa sa kultura

MULA SA PAHINA 12

ng impunity. Naging normal na para sa masa ang karahasan. Kaya sila rin mismo, kung gipit na sa buhay ay natural lang na mapapakapit sa patalim. Nagiba na ang kanilang pagtingin sa kabutihan. Mapapaisip tuloy silang hindi madali ang pagsandig sa katotohanan. Kung hindi ukol, hindi bubukol. Hindi nila aasahang makamtan ang suwerte sa buhay kung patuloy pa ring nasasaisip na hindi laan ang yaman sa kanila. Madaling sisihin ang mahihirap sa mababaw nilang pagtingin sa pagsasakripisyo. Ngunit kailangang unawain na ang mundo ng kahirapan ay umiinog sa patuloy na pagbubuhay sa sarili. Madalas, lumalantad sa kanila ang kabuktutan ng lipunan dahil biktima sila nito. Tunay na sakripisyo ang pagsulong sa ikabubuti ng masa, at ang hinihingi lang nitong kapalit ay pagtuldok sa di-makatarungang mga institusyon na humubog sa sakripisyong makasarili.

08 FEATURES The empty rhetoric and slogans of the outgoing administration had long lost their effect—from being beacons of promises towards progress, they have assumed a different character, counterproductive to their supposed initial purpose. In the end, such faux promises have backfired on the perpetrators, and are now being used as a basis to assert accountability for the mishandlings of the Benigno Aquino III administration. The deception was exposed as the true bosses of his regime still prevailed in the end—they are the landlords, the business elites, and the imperialist United States.

A Legacy of Mendicant Foreign Policy The presidential term of Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III was nothing but a continuum of the 9-year United States (US) armed interventionism in the Philippines under the Arroyo regime. A trip down memory lane reminds one of how the Arroyo administration collaborated with the U.S. on its war against terror through the Balikatan Exercises. Such was a time when the concept of “terrorism” began to be

Volume 29 Number 20 July 21, 2016 | Thursday

popularized by the U.S. as a rationale for its wars of aggression, utilizing even the help of its allies—one of which included the country. A particular case would be the US war against Iraq, wherein the Philippines provided its airspace for support. Additionally, the government at the time allowed the entry of US forces to fight the Abu Sayyaf group which, according to U.S. intelligence, was linked to the terrorist group alQaeda. These acts had further entrenched the Philippines into the US armed network, inevitably attracting huge potential threat due to its many adversaries. It was not long before the true motive behind the Balikatan exercises was exposed— they were part of the government and the US’ anti-insurgency campaign and anti-communist agenda. This had clearly manifested through the release of US state department’s list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs), which included the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the New People’s Army (NPA). At the end of the Arroyo regime came Benigno Aquino’s reign—an administration which started out with a huge social capital, promising good governance as opposed to the nightmare of the past government. This, however, did not in any way materialize, most especially in the aspect of national interest and the protection of sovereignty. Aquino’s term highlighted the country’s claims over the disputed resource-rich and strategically-located territories in the West Philippine Sea, not to forge an independent foreign policy but to further deepen the Philippines’ allegiance to the US. And nothing could more evidently manifest such mendicancy other than signing of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

THE

The territorial disputes were used to further reinforce the mindset and policy frame of keeping the country inclined to the US for its external defense, l e t

PRE A Ru

LAM

IK H

With its US-dependent foreign policies and its failure to assert the country’s rights, the Aquino administration proved that it further bastardized the sovereignty of the nation. Furthermore, it failed in delineating itself from the poor governance of the past Arroyo regime.

A Legacy of Backward Economy and Flawed Governance Seen in its policy-making, Aquino’s term did not alleviate the vestiges of the past regime—rather, it only served as a continuance of an administration favoring the rich and the powerful over the masses. By the end of Arroyo’s 9-year term, the state of the country had been reduced to regression. Statistics have shown that unemployment peaked at 11.4 million people simultaneous to the decrease in domestic output. Poverty rates were at an all-time high, with a significant increase of 13% from 2001 to 2010. With the 20 richest Filipinos’ combined net worth being equivalent to the total income of the poorest 10.4 million Filipinos, the income disparity between the rich and the poor also remained wide. Inside the government, political instability was exacerbated by the different corruption scandals of the administration, with the ZTE and Hello Garci scandals to name a few. According to Aquino, his administration was able to address these problems to an extent. Part of the president’s policies in curbing poverty included continuing the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program of the Arroyo administration—a dole-out policy of the government which distributed money to the impoverished. Such program however, has proven to be inefficient

E DU

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ndo wn o f the

PAO LO M

alone the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) modernization scheme, which allowed the country’s purchase of old and depreciated war equipment from the US. Overall, territorial disputes were used under the Aquino regime to rationalize the continuation and further deepening of US-RP military relations, which should have long been dismantled from the moment the Philippine Senate rejected the renewal of Military Bases Agreement (MBA) in 1991.

A IL ILLU BUTED ,J ST R ATIO ENNA H YE N BY MIC LLE M A HAE L LO NATO M R EN A Z DU LL A R I M A L , A ND AOG A R AY NGELIC MU NDO A NATI

Aqu in

o Pr esid

enti

in decreasing the poverty levels in the country. According to Gabriela Women’s Party list Rep. Emmi De Jesus, massive poverty incidence still continued to affect 25.8 million Filipinos by 2015, despite almost P70 billion pesos being allotted to the CCT program. The evaluation of the presidential term by Joseph Anthony Lim of the Industrial Policy Team also stated that the decrease of poverty is unimpressive at best, as the numbers remain higher than 50%. Meanwhile, figures have remained dismal in the aspect of unemployment, with independent think-tank Ibon estimating that by the end of 2014, about `12.2 million of the population remained unemployed and underemployed. Furthermore, the problem of economic disparity between the richer and poorer sectors of society still remains prevalent. As recorded by Ibon, the wealth of the 10 richest Filipinos has tripled from P630 billion in 2010 to P2.2 trillion in 2015 under the Aquino administration, growing in contrast to the depleting share of regular employees to total employment, from 72 % to 56%. Despite the growing gross domestic product (GDP) that the Aquino administration boasted of in its term, the statistics of increasing poverty levels and income disparities only prove that such growth did not materialize for the benefit of its constituents—the Filipino people. On the part of infrastructures, the Philippines remains one of the lowest ranking countries in terms of road infrastructure, airports, and seaports. The administration has also further abandoned its duty of improving public utilities infrastructures by relying on private profiteering corporations through its flagship public-private partnership (PPP) program. With his succeeding orders and amendments of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), Aquino has been successful in his aim—to make the country’s policies favorable and attractive to investors. This included exempting winners of PPP bidders from local and real property taxes, as with the case of the LRT 1 PPP deal, where the Ayala-Pangilinan group has been given real property tax exemptions reportedly amounting to Php64 billion. With the dominance of oligarchs in handling private corporations capable of investing in the country’s power plants, toll roads and mass

al Re

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FEATURES 09

Volume 29 Number 20 July 21, 2016 | Thursday

transport projects, the administration has succumbed in favor of those in the upper class, even at the cost of compromising the due basic social services that the masses deserve. The Aquino administration has also boasted the improvement of agriculture in the country, with his “focus” on domestic, rather than foreign export. Figures from the Official Gazette claim that within the first 3 years of the Aquino presidency, agricultural yield had gone up by 3.62%, with livestock industries and fishery outputs enjoying 9.07% and 9.86% increases, respectively. Policies on agriculture, however, have resulted to the further marginalization of locals, particularly the indigenous peoples (IPs). For instance, Aquino promulgated Executive Order (EO) 26 in 2011, which paved the way for the National Greening Program (NGP). The said NGP sought to have 1.5 billion seedlings planted in 1.5 million hectares from 2011 to 2016, for the purpose of reforestation and food security. However, the Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (Katribu) stated that the

program have worked in favor of foreign and local businessmen when it opened 105 sites covering some 370,000 hectares of ancestral lands, and have, in many cases, barred the IPs from entering t h e

sites. Such situation is only one of the many instances of the state oppressing the IPs and farmers, and even using measures of violence to stop any action and mobilization organized by the said sectors, as seen in the incidences of the Lumads and Kidapawan farmers. Ultimately, the long-awaited genuine agrarian reform bill also fails to materialize, with the implementation of the flawed Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) taking its place. In terms of criminality, Aquino’s term has seen the biggest leap in crime since 2005, with an increase in incidences by 400% from 2012 to 2014 alone. Many of these incidences also involve public officials, with 623 government officials and employees having been found guilty of using and distributing illegal narcotics. The prevalence of crime and corruption in the country was only furthered by the culture of impunity under the Aquino regime. Despite six years of diverting blame, the Aquino administration did not alleviate any of the problems that the previous regime had. Services that are supposed to be for the people are still deprived from them, and policies still remain far from being favorable for the masses. With the incoming Duterte administration promising efficiency and an increase in welfare assistance, high hopes are placed on the eventual decrease of the country’s poverty rate. However, this will fail to materialize if the repressive policies of the outgoing administration are sustained.

A Legacy of Impunity and Oppression The culture of impunity and human rights violations in the guise of counterinsurgency measures only persisted along with Aquino’s six-year term in the presidency. In order to address armed conflict in the country, the Philippine government

employs various counter-insurgency measures under the supposed aim of neutralizing armed groups and promote peace in the country. However, in reality, these counter-insurgent measures are meant to strengthen US-RP relations and suppress both democratic and armed movements aiming to abolish US influence in the country. These counterinsurgent measures are also used by the government to justify state-perpetuated human rights violations, proven by both the Arroyo and Aquino administrations. Arroyo’s nine-year term yielded to a culture of impunity and human rights violations in the guise of Oplan Bantay Laya (OBL). According to Karapatan, a group of human rights advocates, OBL is the bloodiest and most brutal counterinsurgency campaign implemented in the country. With OBL, peace talks with groups such as the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) ceased as the administration engaged groups with the use of military force and psychological warfare, instead of addressing the root causes of the struggle. To further propagate impunity, the campaign tagged members of legal democratic groups, members of the media, and members of the opposing parties as targets – exposing civilians to attacks initiated by the state. During the implementation of OBL, a total of 1,206 victims of extrajudicial killings, 206 victims of enforced disappearances, and 2,000 cases of illegal arrests were recorded. Given such figures, the program is indeed geared not to promote peace and order but to repress the actions CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

10 GRAPHICS

Volume 29 Number 20 July 21, 2016 | Thursday BOILING POINT

DIBUHO NI PAULINE SANTIAGO TIOSIN

PAGLALAHAD MULA SA PAHINA 04

DIBUHO NI JOSE PAOLO BERMUDEZ REYES

Signos

SIYUDAD

Kyla Dominique Lacambacal Pasicolan

FROM PAGE 11

Still, I let them be. I mean, I always found it hard to say no or to reject the offer of someone I know. But it seriously gets tiring. At the end of the day, you will realize that you cannot just make a decision because of your relations or supposed benefits of a product. So, I ask myself: How many times do I have to remain silent? How many times do I have to stop myself from saying that I am not (and will never be) interested?

generators upang maibsan ang mahal na konsumo ng kuryente sa pamamagitan ng paghikayat sa Aside from the fact I rarely say no small scale power generators at to things that I don’t want to do, smart grids. I admit that there are times when Panghuli, nais ding pataasin ni I remain silent and unaware of Pangulong Duterte ang target issues in society that I should na sakop ng Social Security care about. My life has been so System (SSS), PAG-IBIG Fund, busy lately that I barely had time at Philippine Health Insurance to pay attention to what has been going on. I suppose that we do Corporation. have our moments of ignorance Pagbabago ng K lima and weakness. Still, there is really Bilang pagharap naman sa no excuse to my behavior. nagbabagong klima ng mundo, nais ng administrasyong Duterte This reminds me of the silence na paigtingin ang mga polisiyang of some people when it comes pangkapaligiran sa Pilipinas. to ferocious acts of terrorism, Bahagi nito ang striktong pagpapatupad ng mga batas ukol oppression, mass murder, or sa wastong paglinang ng lupa at ng hate crimes that occur all over kalikasan. Maglalaan din umano ng the world. Some even choose to climate adaptation fund sa bawat remain silent and aloof when rehiyon upang makasabay ang their voices are desperately sektor agrikultural sa pagbabago needed by those who are clearly sa klima. Lubhang maaapektuhan suffering. ang produksyon ng pagkain kaya’t mahalagang maipaalam What is worse is that some ang makabagong ‘climate-smart people actually believe that such technologies’ sa mga magsasaka at acts serve a greater purpose or a mangingisda, na siyang prodyuser justifiable end that will benefit ng pagkain. the greater population. In fact, Internet some even support the mass Batid din ni Pangulong Duterte ang murder of people involved a kasalukuyang sitwasyon ng internet specific crime or those who are connectivity sa bansa. Ipinahayag part of the LGBTQIA community niyang kung hindi susunod ang because they think that it is the mga telecommunication company only way to achieve the so-called sa mandato na isaayos ang kanilang change that they desire. There are serbisyo, babawiin niya ang also those who frown upon mass franchises ng mga ito at papayag movements who try to fight for siyang pumasok ang mga dayuhang meaningful changes in society. kumpanya upang maisaayos ang serbisyo sa internet. I cannot help but ask: is there Sa kanyang mga ipinangako really a justification for immoral noong kampanya, nakuha niya or unethical behavior? Does it not ang boto ng higit 15 milyong derail the desired outcome? Does Pilipino na patuloy na umaasa it not affect your sense of what is na darating na ang pagbabago. right or wrong? Can you stomach Tanging hiling lang ng kanyang the outcomes of such actions? mga taga-suporta at pati na Or is your sense of justice truly rin ang kanyang mga kritiko selective? ay tuparin niya ang mga makabagong ideyang inihain Enough is enough. It’s time to niya sa publiko noong panahon act and take a stand. ng halalan.

OPINION 11

Volume 29 Number 20 July 21, 2016 | Thursday

MONAD

DEPTH PERCEPTION

Jose Paolo Bermudez Reyes Hugot is as inescapable as the insects buzzing through the air this time of the year and equally as annoying. When People write Poems like (this) Just to sound profound (over a common bad feeling) Or whenever people bring out those comics with the ugly palettes that recycle lines like “Nakalimutan ko na siya besh.” or the ageless “Kapit lang” it drives me so far up the wall that I can see the sun rise from where I’m at. You’re probably thinking that this is such an entitled way of viewing things. How dare I be so critical about some poor artist’s feelings? Well honestly if the things that they put out were done for the good of the people instead of their own selfish gain then maybe I’d hold my tongue. All these frivolous proclamations of sadness is just a repeat of 2006 era emo culture. The insincere bitterness and sadness is still there, it’s just they have changed their costumes from hair streaked with purple and notoriously skinny black jeans to flower crowns, and poorly drawn art in pastels. Trivializing negativity to a fad is so toxic to people with actual issues, mental illness

especially. This art sweeps mental illness under the rug and turns real issues into something to be ogled at. It’s so alienating to have your issues viewed at as if it were art, especially since the people viewing it don’t actually want to help you but instead get a kick out of seeing you crumble. Personally, reading about how I’m made of star stuff and how the scars on my forearms hold such beauty and strength is so dehumanizing. Just as bad as underestimating the problems of other people, art like this makes negativity into a competition and expression is a commodity. If people want

Inhibiting their awareness via repetitive cheap works for the sake of being marketable is a great disservice to creativity and to the masses.

to be cool and loved like these artists then they have no choice but to feign an air of bitterness. You’d think actual bad moods would spread from this but no, no one feels anything at all and apathy reigns supreme. Got a bad feeling? Don’t bother dealing with it! Now that you feel bad all you have to do is slap it onto a photo and let Facebook

RAMBLINGS

Abigail Beatrice Malabrigo Kamakailan lang, biglang sumikat ang mga post na may kinalaman sa love life at mga crush. E pano ba naman kasi, lahat tayo dumaan na diyan kaya sobrang relate. Aminin mo, malamang ikaw ay taken, NBSB/ NGSB, sawi, halaman o pabebeng sinungaling. Ang mga posts na yun ay nagbigay ng lakas ng loob at nagtulak sa mga tao na umamin sa kani-kanilang mga crush. Nagsimula na naman ito ng isang malaking influx ng mga walang kamatayang confession at love stories. Pero bakit nga ba tayo ganun? Naiintindihan ko na nasa age na tayo na kasali ang pagkakaroon ng relasyon at paghanap ng lifetime partner sa mga gusto natin (kahit hindi pa dapat), at dahil na rin sa ating mga hormones. Ngunit dapat nga ba itong ituring isang pangangailangan? Nakita ko ang isang post sa isang confession page na may isang desperado na handang magbayad para lang magkaroon ng karelasyon. “Girlfriend for hire” daw. Porket lahat ng katropa niya may girlfriend na, dapat nga bang umabot sa ganitong lebel ng desperasyon ang isang tao? Bakit tila nagmamadali ang mga tao? Isa lang sagot diyan: Peer pressure. Sama mo na rin ang

media na puro teen love team ang pinapakita. Minsan, nakakasama nga talaga ng loob yung ikaw na lang sa barkada yung single. Nakakairita din yung ikaw na lang lagi yung third wheel sa mga galaan tapos ikaw pa tong photographer ng mga kalandian nila. Leche. Note para sa mga mapagsamantalang couple diyan: may hangganan din ang pasensya naming mga third wheel! Ehem. Kaya discouraged ang mga kabataan na manatiling single. Kaya parang naguunahan lahat sa mga pagliligaw kaya ayan naliligaw ang landas. Chos.

So ayan, landian is in the air. Pero may karapatan nga ba akong tigilan sila? Sabi nga ng iba “true love waits.”, pero heto tayong mga kabataan, sa halip na maghintay ay agad-agad sumasabak na sa pakikipagrelasyon. Hindi naman lahat ng kabataan, meron din namang iilan na naghihintay sa tinatawag na “the one” sa “tamang panahon”. Kaso yung iba talaga grabe e, daig pa yung mga kinasal sa pag PDA. PDA, Public Display of Affection. Holding hands (na may paswaysway pa), kissing, kamayan, akbayan,

Likes solve the rest of your problems. Social media doesn’t get so social when problems that should be shared properly are put on display for validation.

Famous Last Words Aria Hernandez BOILING POINT

Sometimes, you just have to take a stand for what you think is I’m definitely not saying that people should right. stop using art for self-expression. That’s horrible and repressive to cultural progress. But as a creative you can’t just limit your own feelings to things so basic, individualistic and relatable. Firstly, limiting yourself to sadness is both stifling your own creativity and hazardous to your emotional health. You are also limiting what knowledge your audience has access to. There are so many problems in this world and since people look at the things you make and what they stand for you should not limit them to kilig and hugot. Whether you like it or not, art and artists will always have a social responsibility to make people aware of the world around them. Inhibiting their awareness via repetitive cheap works for the sake of being marketable is a great disservice to creativity and to the masses.

For the past few days, I found myself torn between the desire to help a friend and the unwillingness to succumb to doing something I have always considered beneath me. It was a situation that I could not wait to be done with.

It started with messages asking me how I was and what I’m currently doing at school. It ended with a message asking me if I were interested in purchasing something that I allegedly need. At first, I was delighted since it has been a long time since I last talked to my friend So Maybe (you) can but I was appalled when I realized End up (writing like this) that it was only a means to an end. Just remember that self-expression Sounds familiar? doesn’t necessarily have to be a selfish endeavor. Art can be so beneficial for many if our principles are sincere.

When it comes to these situations, I usually let people ‘convince’ me though I never follow through. It KRAS KORS was a win-win situation for me. I can assuage my guilt and they will think that they were able to yakapan, atbp. in public. So ayan, successfully convince another landian is in the air. Pero may karapatan nga ba akong tigilan sila? person to purchase their products May karapatan ba akong tigilan or join their group. It was easier ang magjowa sa pagproklama ng to just give a ‘maybe’ than an pagmamahalan nila? Kahit gusto outright ‘no’. I usually tend to avoid ko silang sabunutan, pingutin, at confrontations, you see. paliguan sila ng langgam na hantik, wala akong karapatan (unless related Don’t get me wrong. I am not ako sa isa sa kanila like kung jowa o judging their products or their ex ko yung isa) dahil wala naman credibility. I have no issues with silang ginagawang masama. what my friend was doing or those Oo nakakairita pero pwede mo involved in that kind of occupation naman hindi tignan diba? Unless either. It is their life and I respect sobrang pinapamukha nila sayo yung that. However, what I absolutely pagkasingle mo na parang unti na detest is the means they employ to lang imudmod na lang katawan nila thrive and gain their income. The sa isa’t isa, habang nakatingin sila way I see it, they build you up only sa’yo explicitly, edi aba go attack na to tear you down. Because the glory mga bes. Kaya eto, para sa mga taken: days don’t last and this is neither an huwag masyadong showy. Para sa easy nor an inexpensive profession mga hindi taken: breathe in, breathe as they claim it to be. out; channel your inner peace. Hindi need ang isang romantic na The truth is, I have always believed relasyon. Okay lang magkaroon that the end does not justify the basta panatiliin itong normal at means just as much as the fact that hindi abusado. Love one another, the means does not justify the end. love thy neighbor as thy love thyself. Even if their goal itself is laudable, I Tapos laude muna bago landi. Wag think that there is no justification kang tanga. for the way or the process they use to achieve their goals. It is quite disheartening especially when the person who approached is actually a close friend. CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

JAMILAH PAOLA DELA CRUZ LAGUARDIA, JOSEF BERNARD SORIANO DE MESA, AT AGATHA HAZEL ANDRES RABINO DIBUHO NI DANIELLE MONTEALEGRE RODRIGUEZ

Pagkilatis sa Mababaw na Pagtingin ng Pagpapakasakit

SACRI-FICIAL

Ipangangalandakan pa ang hirap ng buhay para masigurong may puwesto sa Langit. May ipon pambili ng smartphone pero kapos sa pang-upa. Sumikat sa Facebook nang pagpiyestahan ang butihing loob sa pagsauli ng pera; paguwi nama’y ipit naman sa baba ng sahod. “Maliit na bagay” ngunit sa isip ng marami’y malaki ang sinakripisyo. Ganito pinapintog ang pananaw sa pagsakripisyo — may gantimpalang kapalit ang kaunting pagdurusa. Hindi na likas ang paghingi sa utang na loob. Iba’t ibang sistema ang umaaligid upang pairalin ito.

Nasa Diyos ang awa; nasa tao ang gawa May dahilan kung bakit walang taong nabuhay ang naging santo na hindi naging alagad ng pagkamartir. May dahilan din kung bakit walang bida sa pelikulang Pilipino ang nagwawagi ng karangalan kung walang pagsasakripisyo ng buhay ang magaganap sa story arc nito. Tunay nga na wala ng hihigit pang sangkap sa pagpapadakila ng isang mahina at malulam na

storyline, mapa-kasaysayan man o mapatelenovela, ang paglahok ng elemento ng sakripisyo. Simula pa noong pananakop ng mga Kastila, tila may kakaibang fetish ang mga Pilipino sa pag-aalay ng kanilang pagod, talento, at buhay — mula sa pag-alay ng dugo’t pawis sa polo y servicios hanggang sa pag-alay ng pitaka bilang indulgencia, talagang allout craze ang pagsakripisyo noong unang panahon. Hindi natin masisisi ang ating mga ninuno dahil ito ang siyang ipinangakong paraan ng mga prayle patungo sa kanilang pagpasok sa kaharian ng Diyos. Kung buong buhay mo nga naman ay inalipusta ang iyong pamilya’t lupain, tiyak na maaari mong magawa ang lahat para isalba ang buhay mo sa tila ispiritwal na salbabida. Ngunit, taliwas sa ehemplo ng lalaking pinako sa krus na nagtiis sa koronang tinik para tubusin ang kasalanan ng sanlibutan, ang konsepto ng sakripisyong alam ng mga katutubo ay nakatanim sa pagbabanat ng buto sa takot, hindi sa higanti ng Maykapal, kundi sa lupit ng mga naghaharing-uring mortal. Fast forward sa kapanahunan natin ngayon, saksakan naman ng drama ang mga teleseryeng pinagbibidahan ng mga hindi makabangon sa sariling paa at umaasa na lamang sa hokus pokus ng huling dalawang linggo. Para sa mga sumusubaybay, ikinatutuwa nila ang biyayang nadadatnan ng bida tuwing finale dahil solb na ang ilandaang episodes ng pagsasakripsyo, kahit ang biyaya pa’y katumbas lang ng hulog ng langit at paglamon ng impyerno sa kontrabida. Hindi alintana ng soap opera writers na pinalalaganap nila ang delikadong kaisipan na panatilihing mangmang ang kanilang tauhan. Tatabo man sa ratings, sinasadya nitong ikulong ang mga manonood sa maling kumbensyon ng pagpapahirap — na ang mahihirap ay walang kakayahang ipaglaban ang sarili, hindi marunong mag-isip, at palaasa. Inilalahad tuloy ng midya na kailangan magpakaawa’t

dumanas muna sa hirap ang bida imbis na hukayin ang puno’t dulo nito, at nililinlang pang manggagaling sa ibang tao (madalas pa’y sa mayaman) ang solusyon. Sa ganitong pamamalakad, naitanim sa masa ang pagtitiis at pagtugon sa gusto ng nakaaangat para matikman ang inaasam na langit. Natumbasan tuloy ng pambubusabos ang sakripisyo. Nadungisan ang diwa nito nang mapasailalim tayo sa ilang daantaong kolonyalismo. Naging ugat ng ‘sakripisyong’ dala ng mga Kanluranin ang sakripisyong naglalayong pagsilbihan ang makasariling interes. Naikintal tuloy sa isip ng mga Pilipino na ang magpaalipin sa sistema ay paraan ng sakripisyo na kailangang indain bago makaranas ng kaginhawaan. Sa sistemang ito, tunay nga na nasa mga naghaharing diyos ang awa, at habambuhay na nasa ordinaryong tao ang gawa.

Aanhin ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo Sa mito ng mga Griyego, isang nagngangalang Sisyphus ang pinarusahan ng mga diyos na mag-akyat ng tipak ng bato sa burol at panoorin itong gumulong upang buhatin at pahulugin muli. Tila ba may forever kay Sisyphus. Gayon din yata sa mga maralita. Hindi maiiwasan ang krisis sa buhay, ngunit sa semi-piyudal na lipunan ay nagkakaroon ng pag-aantas ng krisis. Ang krisis para sa mayaman ay kapag nagkamali ang barista sa pangalang naisulat sa frappe. #FirstWorldProblems, ika nga. Ang krisis naman ng abang-uri ay pagtitipid ng dalawang kilong bigas sa pitong magkakapamilya sa loob ng isang linggo. Mapalad na ang may ulam. Itong di-pagkakapantay ay siyang nagdudulot ng agwat na pagtingin sa sakripisyo. Dahil tila pagpanhik-panaog ang mabuhay nang dukha, maghahanap sila ng paraan upang makawala ang isipan sa pagkakapiit. Isa rito ang mindset na ‘sakripisyo ang maging mahirap’. Hindi nararanasan ng mga nakatataas ang mabuhay sa tabing-riles o estero kung kaya’t ganoon ang pagkamuhi ng mahihirap sa kanila (at sa mundo na rin) dahil hindi ito patas. Umaabot pa sa puntong ipagduduldulan pang mahirap sila para ma-guilty ang taong pinalaki sa ginhawa. Sa pagmamayabang tila ipapaalam sa madla na sakripisyo ang makatustos kahit walangwala na. Umiiral itong pag-iisip sa tuwing bibili sila ng kagamitang sumasagisag ng ginhawa. Magugulat ka na lang na meron silang smartphone, o satellite dish at flatscreen TV sa bahay nila. Unang husga’y nakaw ito o ‘di kaya’y gawang Tsina. Tugon ng mahihirap, sakripisyo ang makabili ng mamahaling gamit dahil minsan lang sila makadama ng luho. Dito galing ang bintang na ‘tamad’ sila, dahil imbis raw na iahon nila ang sarili sa pamamagitan ng long-term planning o pagpapakasasa sa trabaho ay mas pinipili pa nilang magmay-ari ng hindi kailangan. Napakadali itong sabihin para sa mga taong hindi kailanman nakaranas ng kahirapan. Aanhin

nga

naman

ang

damo

IPAGPATULOY SA PAHINA 07