The Manila Collegian Volume 30 Nos. 14-15

The Official Student Publication of the University of the Philippines Manila Volume 30 Numbers 14-15 April 21, 2017 - Friday

structural collapse 08 features

so, sino'ng mag-a-adjust 10 culture

an oath to keep 14 opinion

COMMERCIALIZED SPACE, CORNERED RIGHTS

02 NEWS

02 NEWS

Volume 30 Numbers 14-15 April 21, 2017 | Friday

NEWS 03

Volume 30 Numbers 14-15 April 21, 2017 | Friday

Iskotistiks: Commercialized Space, Cornered Rights Proposals furthered by the USC and administration, examined

SOFIA MONIQUE KINGKING SIBULO, ANTON GABRIEL ABUEVA LERON AND RYANA YSABEL NERI KESNER INFOGRAPHS BY JAZMINE CLAIRE MARTINEZ MABANSAG, MARIE ANGELU DE LUNA PAGOBO AND GENEVIEVE IGNACIO SEÑO

The University of Manila (UP) Manila campus, regarded as the Health Sciences Center of the UP system, spans 14 hectares and contains seven colleges, including the Philippine General Hospital (PGH). Despite this, students university-wide are at a loss for space in which to conduct their co-curricular and extracurricular activities.

The simultaneous construction and reconstruction currently taking place within the campus cause several more issues. In response, the University Student Council (USC) revived an old campaign, aptly renamed “We Need Space Now.”

Recurring Concern Initially formulated in 2015 by then Vice Chair Pholyn Balahadia, #WeNeedSpaceNow is an ongoing campaign spearheaded by the Coalition of Organizations, Fraternities, and Sororities (COFS) and supported by the USC and Local College Student Councils (LCSC). The campaign calls on the UP Manila administration to provide tambayans, free rooms and accessible venues for all dulyaccredited members of the COFS. “Dapat talaga meron nang campaign para ma-influence, ma-push natin ang admin na ito talaga 'yung concerns ng mga estudyante at kaya naman, actually, batay sa mga discussions naming with hindi lang students, with admin din, mga staff, mga officials ng UP. Kaya naman masolusyonan ito agad”, emphasized USC Councilor Miguel Aljibe in an interview.

The problem of adequate space was further exacerbated in December 2016 due to the sinkage of the excavation site of the UP College of Medicine’s planned Academic Center.

Consequently, the incident also weakened the foundations of surrounding buildings which forced the indefinite foreclosure of the UP Medicine Library and the University Library.

As a result of the University Library’s closure, Vice Chancellor for Planning & Development Michael Tee has proposed that a new University Library be constructed on the site of Paz Mendoza building or the Museum of a History of Ideas (MHI), either of which would require the demolition of the current building.

Vice Chancellor Tee’s proposal caused considerable uproar, especially from students of the UP College of Medicine (UPCM), many of whom feel that the closure of another of the college’s buildings would worsen their present lack of facilities and further compromise student learning.

“Very supportive naman yung council sa mga [infrastructure projects] kasi

students din naman ang supposedly magbebenefit dito. Pero yung grave concern lang namin ay kung magiging accessible pa rin ba ang mga facilities na ito after the renovation”, Aljibe conveyed.

“Kasi tinitignan na natin ito sa lente ng commercialization ng education at neoliberalism. May habit din ang UP na mag-improve ng facilities para lang gawing income-generating projects.

Ngayon, hindi pa natin alam kung iyon ang mangyayari. Pero very concerned doon ang USC,” he continued.

organization ay hindi ka na dapat sinusuportahan at pinapansin,” he added.

Furthermore, various groups and individuals raised queries on how to categorize course or class spacerelated use. USC Councilor Charles Jimenez responded by saying that the proposal is still being revised. “In principle naman, sa mga dialogues at mobilizations, ina-assert natin na lahat ng student formations (classes included) ay dapat ma-enjoy ang kanilang right sa democratic space,” he explained.

Differing Sides

Designated Fees

The USC drafted a proposal on Free Hours which was forwarded to Vice Chancellor Tee in their dialogue last February 17. The proposal was accomplished through the collective action of the students which was reported to be highly noted by Tee.

The UP Manila Fiscal Policies and Operations Committee discussed and reviewed the Rental Policies, Guidelines and Rates for the use of UP Manila Facilities, as well as schedule of Utility and Space Rental Changes, last January 19. These were approved by Chancellor Carmencita Padilla on the 26th of January.

On February 24, the UP Manila Administration sent its own version of the proposed rental fees to the USC. In response, the USC and student leaders drafted a student-version counter proposal last We Need Space Now (WNSN) Meeting, March 14. (See Figure 2) The proposal divided the users into main groups, namely University Student Council, College Student Council, Accredited University-Based Organization that Represent the University in Competitions, Accredited College-Based Organizations, and NonAccredited Student Organizations.

The facilities are free only on certain times depending on the type of the organization renting them, and succeeding hours will incur more fees.

Payment for utility and personnel is also demanded as part of the rental fees.

Non-accredited student organizations will always pay in full, regardless of the facilities they use. However, Aljibe noted, this is no reason for the administration to charge fees to this segment of the student population.

“Hindi porket hindi ka accredited

Section two of the Rental Policies, Guidelines and Rates for the use of UP Manila Facilities discuss rates charged to those renting a facility within the university. Applicants for renting are divided to three categories: namely, ‘UPM users’, ‘Other UP’, and ‘Non-UP users’. However, no written distinctions are made between these categories.

Consequently, the section assigns no charge, 50% discount and no discount.

The next section tackles purpose of use determining the type of user considering the purpose of the activity.

It states that UP alumni are considered as ‘other UP users’ while activities of professional groups or societies fall under the category of ‘non-UP users’, even if a member of the faculty is present.

According to Aljibe, the council received a report from an organization wherein the administration reiterated that organizations, fraternities and sororities fall under ‘other UPM users’.

In line with this, student councils and the administration are considered

definite UPM users.

Implications of Inadequacy The USC affirmed their stand to abolish rental fees and extend library hours, and reiterated that having a designated tamabayan will be a right.

“First and foremost, we need space now,” reiterated Aljibe. He expounded that as a state university that is subsidized by the government, there is a greater responsibility to utilize these resources for the students.

On March 15, the administrative officers of CAS and the Department of Physical Education (DPE) held an emergency meeting to discuss the immediate transfer of PE classes to the CAS Student Center (StC). As a result, organizations whose tambayans are located on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the CAS StC are to lose their duly assigned areas. In response, the CAS Student Council (SC) worked with Office of Student Services (OSS) Coordinator Mishima Miciano to finalize a plan in which university-wide organizations are to be transferred to the CAS quadrangle while CAS-based organizations will be relocated to the side of the newly-completed UPM theater.

For other colleges, the lack of places for student recreation is an equally pressing issue. Aljibe mentioned College of Nursing (CN) tambayan, which was constructed by the UPM administration and CN alumni for the benefit of CN students, has been overcrowded due to the influx of outsiders. Since there are no other designated tambayans in the area, students from nearby colleges use the CN tambayan for their activities.

CAS SC emphasized that the demands for space should be met. “We stand likewise that we agreed upon the transfer of PE in CAS provided that students especially organizations will not be disturbed nor aggravated”, manifested CAS SC Councilor Paco Perez.

Figure 1. Proposals laid by the administration and the USC regarding the rental fees and free hours.

Aljibe added that despite the lack of immediate resolutions to this concern, Vice Chancellor Tee has already agreed to allocate a portion of the planned University Dormitory’s 1st floor for use as a general tambayan which can be utilized by all UPM students.

Students from the College of Public Health (CPH) conveyed their concern that the future construction of the Zuellig Building will deface the PH Lounge, a collective project of batches of PH students and alumni. The lounge serves as a multifunctional hall to the PH students.

Aside from this, the Museum of a

History of Ideas (MHI) was one of the venues planned to be demolished for other purposes. A cultural organization noted the MHI to be a relatively affordable venue with good acoustics in the whole campus.

Motions Considered As such, the USC ran a week-long online survey from January 31 to February 3, 2017 as well as an All Students Meet (ASM) on February 2 in order to ascertain the opinion of students regarding facility-related matters. According to the survey results, the majority of respondents preferred to use college classrooms as

venues for studying and as tambayans.

The general student matters collated included the lack of appropriate study places within the university for students, who opted cafes and restaurants as alternative locations.

The USC then proposed for extended library hours ranging from 7AM to 12AM. Meanwhile, classrooms after class hours and spaces in facilities being constructed will be utilized for this concern.

The inaccessibility of venues for the COFS to utilize for events and gatherings was also brought to light.

It was revealed that on occasion, organizations had to borrow the

spaces of other organizations, or use classrooms and pay the corresponding fees for these. The offered solutions from the USC entailed the allocation of classrooms per college to be used free of charge, along with projectors and sound systems. Allowing other colleges to access Paz Mendoza Hall was also an alternative.

In line with this, the streamlining of reservation measures for spaces and the dissolving of rental payments was contended by the USC. Renting facilities in UP Manila requires a process that begins by procuring a form titled ‘Request to Use UP Manila

04 NEWS Facilities’ from the office concerned. A student must first verify if their desired venue is available for rental, then fill out the request form and submit it to the said office for endorsement. This must be accomplished a week before the date of the rental.

The endorsed request form may then be forwarded to the Campus Planning, Development and Maintenance Office (CPDMO) for computation of the rental fees. Afterwards, the student must submit the form to the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administration (OVCA) and wait for its approval. The rental fees may then be paid at the Cash Office, after which the receipt and approved request form must be submitted to the office concerned.

Once these procedures are followed, students are obligated to care for the rented facility and maintain it in its original state.

Another topic opened was the incompatible discounts reserved for students regarding rental spaces in the Philippine General Hospital (PGH). Hence, the bodies involved and in charge should be notified and consolidated duly.

Space as a Right In an interview with Office of Student Affairs (OSA) Director Dr. Tristan Ramos, the on-going scheduling for the dialogue between the students and the administration was discussed. Ramos also tackled the assessed conditions within the campus regarding space and facilities.

Currently, Ramos explained that students who need to rent spaces within campus would have to pay rental fees in order to compensate for the consumption of utilities (electricity, water, etc.). However, he noted that these fees are prone to increase, which makes many students incapable of paying them. This led him to propose new rates for student usage.

“Ibig sabihin, there would be university-based organizations that can use some of the facilities free for, let’s say, 10 hours, ganun. So hindi siya talaga totally free for the whole semester,” he explained. “Well, basically, ganun ‘yung prinopose ko, dahil we should give equal priority for all the student organizations. Para naman hindi ma-monopolize ang certain areas, [and] at the same time, to give some form of responsibility rin sa mga organizations.”

During the meeting with the Chancellor’s Advisory Council (CAC) composing of the deans and directors last April 7, Ramos initiated the

Volume 30 Numbers 14-15 April 21, 2017 | Friday

NEWS DOSE (3/3): Groups tackle issues on housing rights of the masses Peace talks, itinuloy Provision of free shelter for the urban poor, demanded Pasismo ng estado, nanatili

proposal regarding study spaces.

“I proposed for the colleges to provide a study space - a classroom or any space in the college - where students can actually study when the library is closed”, Ramos included. He suggested that the college student councils (CSCs) should designate spaces within the college for this concern, to be used for a limited amount of extended hours.

“So I said that the college can actually formulate their own guidelines for the operation of the study areas, and then maybe upon request ng students”.

ARIES RAPHAEL REYES PASCUA

Sa nakaraang bahagi ng News Dose, iniulat ang kasalukuyang kalagayan ng usapang pangkapayapaan sa Pilipinas. Nabanggit din ang pinag-ugatan ng peace talks sa bansa. Samantala, nagbigay rin ang ikalawang bahagi nito ng mga pinakabagong balita tungkol sa peace talks at programang all-out war ng kasalukuyang administrasyon.

“Importante din ang student activities, organizations. Because that would actually promote the holistic development of students, especially kung mayroon silang mga responsibilities mayroong mga activities that would promote development physically, mentally et cetera”, stated Ramos. He indicated that the goal of the reconstructions in the university was for its improvement as an academic campus.

Sa pagpapatuloy, ayon sa mga progresibong grupo, sa pangunguna ng Anakbayan, hindi tunay na nakasandig sa masa ang usapang pangkapayapaan dahil tanging mga gawaing militar lamang ang nakikitang paraan ng pamahalaan na sagot sa mga isyung panlipunan, mga gawaing militar na lumalabag sa mga karapatang pantao ng mga mamamayan lalo na sa kanayunan.

Dagdag pa rito ay ang mga pahayag ng pangulo sa pagpapatupad muli ng Batas Militar sa bansa, na alam naman nating naipatupad na noong rehimeng Marcos at walang mabuting naidulot sa mga Pilipino.

Moreover, he added that the dialogue between the Chancellor’s Management Team (CMT), including the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Vice Chancellor for Administration, and Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development was planned to be slated before the UPM USC elections.

Ayon kay Anakbayan National Chairperson Vencer Crisostomo, hindi nakakakita ng sinseridad ang kanilang grupo sa pagpapapatuloy ng pamahalaan sa peace talks dahil sa patuloy na pananakot ng pamahalaan sa mga mamamayan sa pamamagitan ng Oplan Kapayapaan, all-out war, at ang konta-mahirap na war on drugs.

Bilang paglalagom, ayon muli sa Anakbayan, hindi magiging tunay at makamasa ang usapang pangkapayapaan hangga’t ang layunin lamang nito ay patahimikin ang mga rebolusyonaryo, at hindi ang magtulak ng mga sosyo-ekonomikong reporma na reresolba sa ugat ng armadong tunggalian sa bansa.

Unceasing Campaign In light of the proposed changes to the university’s rental fees, the University Student Council has asserted that it shall strive for better solutions to the concurrent problem of inadequate facilities. Furthermore, the call for free education along with the junking of other school fees stands and the struggle to fight against fascist and commercialized education stands.

“Only through the unity of the different stakeholders - the student, faculty, staff, administration, and even patients can we attain genuine development and enable us all to be effective Iskolar ng Bayan”, affirmed the USC. With this, Aljibe expounded on the importance of solidarity among the colleges. “Pero ang important is before that dialogue meron na tayong ma-build up na campaign para ‘pag pumunta ulit yung USC at yung mga student leaders para magnegotiate meron tayong political muscle na mapapakita”.

Significantly, Aljibe articulated that the struggle of the masses and of the students are heavily linked. “Kasi taxpayers' money ito at binibigay ito ng ating mga taxpayers, mga manggagawa at magsasaka, para suportahan ang edukasyon ng mga iskolar ng bayan.

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Figure 2. Facilities and venues in UP Manila and their corresponding rental fees according to the categorized users. The above table lists fees based on a two-hour rate. The price range provided depends on the purpose for renting a facility. Prices are then rounded off to the nearest hundreds. These prices only apply if it is assumed that UP Manila students are renting a facility.

Kasi ang bansa naman natin ay umaasa tayo sa ating mga iskolar ng bayan”.

UP students and other students of the country”, furthered Aljibe.

“Kaya din yung we need space ay part ng campaign for free education kasi when we mean free education hindi lang naman iyan libreng tuition, dapat when you say that education is a right it is the responsibility of this state – since nasa kanya yung kapangyarihan at resources – na ipondo yung cost of education. Not just the cost of tuition, but the cost of education of

“We call on all students and all organizations to unite and act as one student body to demand for the immediate resolution of democratic spaces, junking of all proposed increased and rental fees, stop all commercializations schemes in education, and to fight for our democratic rights and to fight for free education,” expressed Perez.

Samantala, itinulak naman ng Kabataan Partylist na ang mga interes ng kabataan, lalo na ang libreng edukasyon, ay dapat mapabilang sa nilalaman ng Compehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms (CASER) at makamit sa pamamagitan ng pagiging matagumpay ng usapang pangkapayapaan.

Kaugnay nito, ang usapang pangkapayapaan ay dapat din umanong nakatutok sa tunay na reporma sa lupa, pambansang industriyalisasyon, pagbibigay ng libreng pabahay, at iba pang pampubikong serbisyo. Hindi ito dapat magmistulang busal at piring para pigilan ang mamamayan na igiit ang higit pa nilang karapatan sa lipunan. *Layon ng News Dose na na magbukas ng serye ng mapanuring pag-ulat hinggil sa napapanahong balita.

EUNICE BIÑAS HECHANOVA

Delegates from Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahirap (KADAMAY). Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) and Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan (MAKABAYAN) convened in a meeting with the National Housing Authority (NHA) last March 27, 2017 in order to discuss the condition of the vacant units occupied by families in Bulacan.

Following this, the NHA settled to dissolve their order to evict the families in the area and re-examine the status of housing relative to the urban poor.

Considered Terms With regard to the prior allotment of housing units for Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel, the NHA is currently devising to accommodate the families that have already moved in Bocaue Hills. Consultations will be held between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and PNP members and the NHA regarding the relocation of the urban poor and the residence for the uniformed personnel.

Currently, an estimated number of six thousand idle housing units are being resided in by the urban poor in Bulacan. Despite the eviction order released last March 21, the urban poor groups persisted in standing their ground.

Consequently, NHA Spokesperson Elsie Trinidad stated that NHA will have to profile the occupants and then decide on whether they needed the housing units. Trinidad added that they should be classified as eligibly homeless, without means to reconstruct their homes as professional squatters.

The agency gave the PNP beneficiaries of the housing units until May 30 to confirm whether they will agree to the sale of the low-cost houses provided by the NHA. The determining measures will commence on April 3, with the cooperation of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Internal and Local Government (DILG). If unsold, the houses will be distributed to the poor.

BAYAN Secretary-General Renato Reyes acknowledged the changes NHA was beginning to carry out.

“We welcome efforts to seek a just solution to the housing crisis through the recognition of the rights of the occupants as well as the many more who wish to avail of housing services from government”, Reyes indicated.

After the dialogue, Anakpawis Representative Ariel Casilao

mentioned that KADAMAY agreed to the loans to be endorsed by the NHA, with the condition that the requirements will be lowered. He cited that the NHA cancelled the eviction of occupants after KADAMAY consented to the validation processes to determine whether the masses could own houses.

Inefficient Arrangement The group further emphasized their stand to call for free and mass housing for the poor, and expressed their dissent on Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA). The UDHA is a program on housing under President Rodrigo “Digong” Roa Duterte which implements a socialized system in the endorsement of homes.

Meanwhile, KADAMAY questioned the liquidation of the P50-billion budget allocated to the housing sector under the NHA. During the dialogue, NHA addressed this and said that majority of that budget was forwarded to the Presidential Commission on Urban Poor and the National Anti-Poverty Commission.

personnel who initially were favored with these housing units that they would be provided with new and better ones. According to the NHA, there were enough funds to begin a housing project for the PNP and AFP personnel, and equip these houses with amenities. Duterte even promised to supervise the construction himself, and estimated that the projects will be done in December.

Additionally, Duterte told the KADAMAY members not to displace the members of the military already residing in the existing housing units. Iyong mga Kadamay nandiyan, huwag ninyong galawin ang mga sundalo pati pulis. Kasi ‘pag hindi, tuluyan paalisin ko kayong lahat.

Do not create trouble, avoid chaos, and we will try to solve what ails this country”, Duterte cautioned.

“The socialized housing program is a failure. Placing the occupants into the same system will only produce the same mistakes that led to thousands of idle homes and greater hardship for the poor”, affirmed KADAMAY Chairperson Gloria “Ka Bea” Arellano.

“We must not repeat the cycle that has disenfranchised so many. Neoliberal policies serving capitalist interests like the UDHA must be scrapped to make way for genuinely pro-poor policies”, reiterated Arellano.

Endorsement Granted Conversely, during the 120th founding anniversary of the Philippine Army in Fort Bonifacio last April 4, 2017, President Rodrigo “Roa” Duterte announced that he would allow the KADAMAY members own the housing units they have occupied.

On the other hand, he urged the PNP

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06NEWS

Volume 30 Numbers 14-15 April 21, 2017 | Friday

UPD’s required GE units reduced from 45 to 21

PH, China to discuss maritime issues come May ARTHUR GERALD BANTILAN QUIRANTE

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Spokesperson Charles Jose confirmed on Thursday, March 30, that Philippines and China will hold bilateral talks regarding the maritime disputes on May following an invitation from Chinese government to host a “bilateral consultation mechanism” between the two countries in Beijing.

“This is a new proposal, a bilateral consultation mechanism specifically on the South China Sea,” said Jose.

China’s Dissent Even though the United Nations (UN) Tribunal decided last year that the majority of the islands in the West Philippine Sea rightfully belong to the Philippines, Chinese government has restlessly occupied the islands, built military bases, and sent research vessels within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the country.

In addition, despite the massive land reclamations and constructions done on several man-made islands, the Chinese government has continuously denied underlying agenda on those activities.

“There is no such thing as manmade islands,” said China’s Defense Ministry Spokesperson Wu Qian.

Wu added that most of the building is just for civilian purposes including necessary defensive facilities.

The construction of naval, air, radar and defensive facilities on Kagitingan, Zamora, and Panganiban reefs are already near completion according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative on March 29.

PH's 'Permission' Meanwhile, there has been an apparent miscommunication between the President and his Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana as Lorenzana had no knowledge of the President’s recognition of the recent activities done by China on Benham Rise.

“The very concerning thing is they have several service ships plying this area, staying in one area sometimes for a month as if doing nothing. But we believe they are actually surveying the seabed," Lorenzana said.

Moreover, it was revealed that President Rodrigo Duterte was advised about China sending ‘survey ships’ to Benham Rise.

“They will not do it at this time.

Manggugulo lang 'yan because America wants to pick a fight there," Duterte said in a press conference at Malacañang on March 13.

President Duterte has also downplayed UN’s favoring decision upon PH’s claims on the South China Sea filed by the previous administration to safeguard our territories over the waters.

“It’s what Filipinos want to do and I think the Philippines showed a lot of courage, it had nothing to do with Philippine domestic politics and I believe President Duterte would be wise to follow through on it,” expressed Ernest Brown, CSIS Southeast Asia program senior adviser.

On the other hand, the President himself expressed his openness for a “ joint” mineral exploration over the disputed islands. “Hindi naman ako madamot. Ang gusto kong kunin ang lahat, wala naman tayong pang-capital. Even in the rigs and everything, we cannot afford it. Baka sharingsharing na lang,” said Duterte.

Libreng edukasyon at pagpapatuloy ng usaping pangkapayapaan, sinuportahan ng grupo ng mga estudyante PATRICIA ANNE LACTAO GUERRERO Sa panunumbalik ng usaping pangkapayapaan sa pagitan ng Gobyerno ng Pilipinas (GRP) at National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), mariin itong sinuportahan ng konseho ng mga kabataan at mga progresibong grupo sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Maynila (UPM) sa pamamagitan ng pagdaraos ng mga mobilisasyon ng mga kabataan para sa edukasyon, katarungan at kapayapaan.

Kaugnay nito, humarap na muli ang mga kinatawan ng GRP at NDFP sa ikaapat na pulong na pinaunlakan ng Royal Norwegian Government noong Abril 2-6, 2017 sa Noordwijk, Norway.

Pinangunahan ito ni Elizabeth Stattum na siyang itinakda noong Marso 1011 sa isang impormal na pulong ng GRP at NDFP sa Utrecht, Netherlands matapos ang pansamantalang pagtigil nito noong Pebrero.

Ayon sa mga punong negosyador ng NDFP, ang pagtanggi ng gobyernong Duterte sa maigting na panawagan na pagpapalaya sa 400 bilanggong politikal, paglabag ng militar sa tigilputukan at hindi pagkilala sa mga legal na kasunduan ukol sa pangaaresto ng mga konsultant ang naging

dahilan upang itigil ng parehong panig ang pag-uusap.

ay mahalagang pundasyon para sa CASER.

Reporma para sa Tunay na Pagbabago

Suporta mula sa mga Estudyante

Kaugnay nito, malaki ang tiwala ng hanay ng mga kabataan at mga pangmasang organisasyon sa kampus sa muling pagbubukas ng naturang usapin, lalo na ang Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-economic Reforms (CASER) at magkabilang panig na pagdedeklara ng tigilputukan ang nilaman at pinatampok sa usapan.

Ayon naman sa UP Manila University Student Council (UPM USC), mahalaga ang pagpapatuloy ng usaping pangkapayapaan sa pagsulong ng mga batayang karapatan, hindi lamang sa pagkakamit ng libreng edukasyon ng mga estudyante kundi sa pagkamit ng iba pang karapatan ng mga mamamayan.

Batay nga sa ulat, napagkaisahan na ang kasunduan sa libreng pamamahagi ng lupa para sa tunay na repormang agraryo at pagbibigay ng conditional pardon sa 23 bilanggong NDFP kung saan tatlo dito ay mga kapwa konsultant. Isa rin sa napagkasunduan ang pagpapalaya sa apat na New People’s Army na nasa SOCSKARGEN at CARAGA. Bukod dito, kinilala ng Reciprocal Working Committees - Socioeconomic Reforms (RWCs- SER) na ang mga repormang ito laluna ang pagsasabatas ng Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill

Batay sa unang pahayag ni Charles Jimenez mula sa Anakbayan – UP Manila noong nakaraang Pebrero 23, 2017 sa isang walkout para sa libreng edukasyon, isang malaking pangako na naman ang napako nang nabunyag ang kawalang katotohanan ng free tuition policy sa ilalim ng administrasyong Duterte. Hamon niya sa administrasyong Duterte na hindi tulad ng usapin sa libreng edukasyon ay huwag biguin ang usaping pangkapayapaan na maaari sanang lumutas sa armadong tunggalian.

“He has yet to prove that he is a president for the people. Meanwhile,

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Volume 30 Numbers 14-15 April 21, 2017 | Friday

his government continues to torture his own people due to his radical schemes that are anti-poor and antidemocratic further exacerbated due to the dissolution of peace talks,” dagdag pa ni Jimenez.

Kaugnay nito, bitbit din ang pagsuporta sa usaping pangkapayapaan sa mga lokal na kampanya kung saan sunodsunod na mga mobilisasyon, porum at press conference ang nilahukan ng mga estudyante.

Higit pa rito, nag-uumapaw ang suporta ng iba’t ibang sektor hinggil sa pagpapatuloy ng usaping pangkapayapaan na pinangunahan ng sektor ng kababaihan, magsasaka, manggagawa at kaguroan.

Sa paparating muli na ikalimang pag-uusap sa Mayo 26 - Hunyo 2, 2017 na itatampok naman ang usapin sa pambansang industriyalisasyon at kaunlarang pang-ekonomiya, nananawagan ang mga kabataan na patuloy na harapin ng administrasyong Duterte ang usaping pangkapayapaan at ipatupad nito ang mga pangako para sa pagpapabuti ng edukasyon, empleyo, sahod at iba pang batayang serbisyo para sa masang Pilipino.

UP deviates from being the “University of the People”, groups say ADOLF ENRIQUE SANTOS GONZALES

The University of the Philippines - Diliman University Council (UPD UC), approved the remodeling of the campus' General Education (GE) program on March 20. The said act was labelled by educators and students as a neoliberal policy depriving UP students of the opportunities for developing a more critical understanding of the Philippine Society.

Reducing Learning Opportunities

out that UP’s current GE program is redundant to the newly implemented K to 12 program.

The resolution was passed in a vote of 302 out of 377. Later, UPD UC reached on a consensus of reducing the minimum GE units from 45 to 21. This will then be endorsed to UP’s Board of Regents (UP BOR) and is expected to take effect on the school year 2018 - 2019.

Diminishing Social Awareness

Last February 2016, UP Manila also reduced its allowable range of GE units within 21 to 36, far from the previous minimum of 45 units. The move garnered protests with student groups staging snake rallies.

GE reforms across UP campuses were in response to the UP BOR’s meeting last September 2015. On the said meeting, UP BOR discussed the remodeling of UP’s GE to improve UP’s international rankings and to conform to international standards.

One way for these to be achieved is through modernization which entails the reviewing, repackaging and marketing of curricular programs.

Accordingly, GE reforms for UP campuses except Diliman were approved by the UP BOR on April 2016. The move only faced one abstention and one rejection with the UP Student Regent Enrico Miguel Pangalangan performing the latter.

Lastly, advocates of GE reforms pointed

However, Rise for Education - UP Manila (R4E UPM) earlier asserted that K to 12 has no bearing on the content of higher education since one of the policy’s main objective is to ‘decongest’ basic education.

R4E UPM also said that UP now deviates from its mandate as the “University of the People” since it is now more occupied in creating a more ‘attractive and marketable’ curriculum. They also presumed that these policies are likely to be implemented in other State Universities and Colleges (SUCs).

Additionally, R4E UP Diliman (R4E UPD) said that reducing GE units does not solve existing problems of the educational system like the inaccessibility of education, the high cost of UP education and the lack of class slots. R4E UPD furthered that this reform helps in transforming the university into a mere diploma mill to meet foreign market demands.

Moreover, the League of Filipino Students (LFS) added that students become more specialized and proficient in their own fields at the expense of holistic learning.

Due to this, students are not wellequipped to critique the society that they are part of since the said reform requires

A GRAND PERFORMANCE as the thousands of Filipinos who seek our support in championing their daily struggles as well. A candidate’s performance during the campaign can be starkly different from their performance in whatever council they are elected to.

Some barely survive the countless RTRs and The Manila Collegian’s dreaded Meet the Press, but through their hard work, commitment, and genuine passion to serve, go beyond expectations during their term. Others, while appealing and charismatic on the campaign trail, fluster and fail under the pressure of actually working.

The fact of the matter is, politics really is about choosing the lesser evil. Because there will never be

FROM P.14

a perfect candidate, in the same way there will never be a perfect political party. Everyone has their flaws and every party has made mistakes.

Choosing the right candidate to support entails finding the few who don’t just promise to be an Iskolar ng or para sa Bayan, but who actually embody the essence of it.

It’s about finding people who don’t just spout rhetoric, but have carried out meaningful actions.

Of course, our standards of what actions are “meaningful” may vary greatly; but hey, that’s democracy in action, right?

I’ll catch you next time.

the students to take lesser subjects in arts and humanities, and social sciences.

Furthermore, LFS articulated that this will only produce graduates at a faster rate.

As a result, jobs available to them will be limited and they will be forced to take lower wages and jobs with poorer working conditions.

“Education is not a factory; rather, it is a means to develop students that would serve the country and the basic masses.”, stated LFS. The youth group added that the lack of national industries will only compel these graduates to go abroad.

Congress of Teachers and Educators for Nationalism and Democracy (CONTEND UP) also debunked the notion that GE is supplementary. They said that the distinction between formal and dialectical logic, artistic appreciation, and sociological imagination cannot be readily learned from non-GE subjects. In addition, CONTEND mentioned that GE reform reduces the exposure of students to foundational disciplines resulting to a student with a narrowed and constricted imagination.

On the notion that GE is only a burden to the parents, CONTEND UP demanded that the state be accountable for its failure to provide free education. CONTEND UP also expressed indignation to the university’s light take on the GE program.

Kabataan Party-list (KPL) Representative Sarah Elago elaborated that these

were manifestations of the Structural Adjustment Programs of the World Bank.

On the other hand, according to Anakbayan Engineering - UP Diliman (AE-UPD), even before the reform, manifestations of UP education being in imperial design were noted like UP teaching skills in engineering and technology, but failing to teach how these skills can be used in building national industries.

Salvaging UP Education “We refuse to become tools to further the exploitation of our people.”, reiterated AE–UPD, “We will continue to fight the neoliberal policies aiming to perpetuate our colonial orientation to the imperialist world economy.”

Furthermore, CONTEND UP also expressed rage towards the reform and urged the faculty, students, alumni, and those interested in the future of UP, to condemn the twilight of UP’s GE program.

Likewise, KPL called for Duterte and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to be held accountable for continuing the rotten schemes on education for capital.

“As Duterte keeps on neglecting their just demands, the youth and the people will persevere in their struggle for a free, nationalist, scientific and mass-oriented education (NSMOE),” Elago concluded.

Anakbayan and LFS also had the same calls to push for an NSMOE.

STRUCTURE COLLAPSE served by the NHA to the urban poor occupying the houses in Bulacan.

The Duterte government is showing no intention of addressing the needs of the urban poor. Instead, it is using due process as an excuse to justify the neoliberal policies surrounding urban development and housing.

The forced occupancy of the urban poor to various government-housing units is the product of years of State negligence perpetuating up to the present.

The Philippine housing system is entangled in a web issues with the dilemma faced by KADAMAY being one of these manifestations. With its profit-oriented schemes, only the interests of the private sector are served as housing remains

FROM P.08

inaccessible for the poor. Because of this, the number of people living in the streets remains disproportionate to the number of government housing units distributed.

With its banner for change, the Duterte administration is faced with the challenge of dismantling the Philippine housing system in favor of a pro-people housing scheme.

Instead of inciting fear among the poor, the administration should remain true to its mandate by repealing repressive policies and distributing the houses among those who are in need.

As long as a pro-poor housing system remains out of reach, doorsteps will continue to be barricaded.

08 FEATURES

Volume 30 Numbers 14-15 April 21, 2017 | Friday

STRUCTURAL

COLLAPSE

ASSESSING THE STRUGGLE AGAINST HOMELESSNESS JENNAH YELLE MANATO MALLARI AND RONALD SATORE SIMYUNN, JR. In spite of the eight-month period since Duterte’s assumption to office, genuine change has yet to come.

As he continues to marshal the country behind him through his superficial unorthodox methods, anti-people policies intensify as their far-reaching consequences go uninterrupted. Former displays of an uncompromising and progressive bravado turned to naught at the plight of the masses in the face of state fascism and neoliberal attacks as the government continues to shut its door to the needs of its people.

A t present, the core

ILLUSTRATION BY MICHAEL LORENZ DUMALAOG RAYMUNDO

foundation of the Philippine housing system is profit. The government continues to implement anti-poor housing policies that immediately negate the access of the needy to suitable housing. Because of this, the number of Filipinos living under bridges parallel the number of available and unoccupied housing units built by government agencies.

The burden of housing is immediately transferred to the poor after the construction of such houses due to the exorbitant costs that accompany them. The keys of such houses dangle on the fingers of the State who remains deaf to the pleas of those in need of shelter.

With the latest threat of eviction to the urban poor occupying all over Bulacan materializing, the Duterte regime has unmasked its façade of a distinctive beacon of change with regards to homelessness as the unwanted child of poverty and unemployment. Almost a year has elapsed, yet the constitutional right to shelter has remained a luxury along with other basic social services.

UNHEEDED RAPS The effects of injustices committed on the urban poor linger years after violent demolitions have taken place.

This issue is inherently rooted in the compounding negligence and inattentiveness that has piled up one after the other by succeeding administrations. This fact is well supported by the manner in which the portion of the national budget is allocated to the public housing sector for the last decade by administrations since Macapagal-

Arroyo’s presidency. Findings made by the committee Vice President Leni Robredo headed indicate that less than 1% of it is spent on government construction of homes, as opposed to the “golden standard” target of 2% to 5% of the GDP. Moreover, as then Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) chief, she raised the absence of livelihood prospects as a common problem in the relocation sites she visited. With the presence of makeshift settlements intended to accommodate families affected by demolition yet devoid of a concrete basis for permanent residence, they are left with no choice but to wander elsewhere upon realizing this farce of alleged compensation. It is hence foreseeable to witness how the yearning of these informal settlers translated into action as they felt a personal attachment to their former residences.

This underscores the severe lack of foresight and of preparedness on the part of the government to provide sustainable long-term employment amid their assurance of convenient relocation.

To compensate for the critical disparity in budget, a comprehensive housing roadmap was drafted to attract private entities as stakeholders in developing socialized housing amenities. Companies are effectively lured in by the incentive of tax exemptions should they take part in such endeavors. It is thus precisely expected that the overall urban development plan is bound to gradually adopt a profit-oriented design. As a matter of fact, this path is no different from what the publicprivate partnerships (PPP) pursued in the past, which is unsurprisingly expected when the underpinnings of

FEATURES 09

Volume 30 Numbers 14-15 April 21, 2017 | Friday

exhausted approaches are basically retained in response to the same problem. Under this blueprint, the government is wedged in a position of apportioning the capital of public urban lands hinged on prioritizing its most commercially profitable use over the access to basic socio-economic services of the people. Promotion of these projects hence translates to widespread dislocation ministered by the iron-fisted enforcement of demolition jobs.

As such, the vacancy created upon the mass displacement of the indigent is then taken over without haste by the construction of mega business districts and of miscellaneous facilities reserved for interested parties. This opportune timing was then immediately exploited through former president BS Aquino’s palabra de honor (word of honor), awarding housing units to the AFP and NPA to shift its profiteering schemes on lowearning law enforcers. Interestingly, the completed units of what is now known as Bocaue Hills were distributed to qualified applicants through AFP/PNP house boards in the form of a raffle. Beneficiaries of this project were then expected to pay P140, 000 on average, an amount that is already deducted for subsidy, in installments for 30 years that comes with a six percent yearly interest.

Given this, the aforementioned housing units could not have been idly collecting dust due to the lack of its demand. On the contrary, data from HUDCC attests that the housing backlog is actually pegged at 2.02 million units as of December 2016.

Homelessness is also recognizable with respect to the fact that more than 1.5 million families are considered informal settlers nationwide, and from this number, 39% is accounted for in Metropolitan Manila. This in turn corresponds to around 4.64 million urban poor in the capital alone that should have been granted access to these 52 341 idle housing units. Given all these, it was simply inevitable that the exorbitant price tags attached to the housing projects would render the police and army personnel, let alone the homeless, unfit for legal occupation of this modernization program that BS Aquino has boasted of.

In addition to this premise, the reality that the location of these projects are too far from the offices of the staff and that the grantees are mostly on field assignments serves only to further justify leaving them vacant.

Even worse, those who did manage to become occupants continued to

voice out complaints of poor utilities, lack of available jobs, and little to no maintenance besides the unused units, all at the expense of costly and inaccessible amortization rates.

UDHA’s terms and conditions impose the flawed notion that the supposed right to acquisition can only be made possible through a corresponding hefty sum.

BARRICADES EXPOSED

For the longest time, the displaced families had been seeking National Housing Authority (NHA) assistance to no avail. Their mass-housing projects, apart from the eviction of the urban poor from their settlements, are also calculated to attract private developers through opportunities to profit. Although some have indeed found refuge in relocation sites with better living conditions, this comfort and security come at the cost of monthly dues. This temporary bliss signified in the huge improvement in both quality and quantity is built in with a graduated amortization scheme, having terms not unlike the ones levied on the qualified families of AFP and PNP albeit worse: at least P500 000 still payable within a period of 30 years. While the latter party considered it reckless to put a stake in this commercialized program and chose to do otherwise, the urban poor, on the other hand, do not have the same luxury of choice and as a consequence have unwittingly become milking cows of the profiteering tandem that consists of the private corporations and selfindulgent government officials.

On the other hand, bureaucratic red tape prolong its existence by arranging a mutually favorable climate for corruption to proliferate.

The government persists on following the very protocol that incited the movement itself along with the twin ills of poverty and unemployment.

Injustice to the urban poor is thoroughly perpetuated in its failure not only in providing decent housing services but also in ensuring the efficiency of the relocation process.

In essence, the Duterte regime has found it advantageous to harness its authority and its constitutional mandate as a brazen course to foster commercialization.

Twenty-five years have passed since the Republic Act No. 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA) officially became a law, yet it has only stood witness to an addition of more than two decades of oppressing the masses. Provided that prerequisites are met, terms stated under UDHA grant formal and legal authority to the demolition of existing informal settlements. It also consists of a Community Mortgage Program that entitles them to cultivate land based on the rather promising principle of collective ownership; yet, this greatly defeats its purpose of alleviating homelessness, poverty, and unemployment altogether when it demands for exorbitant payment in exchange, knowing all too well that indigents are incapable in the first place. To think that all that the UDHA needs for exploitation and undue negligence to be justified in the eyes of the government is for it to be granted the force of the law merely by means of official documents and standard operating procedures is an alarming symptom that should be attended to urgently.

To add fuel to the flames, inherent loopholes within the housing act can also be capitalized on and thus is a potential nesting ground for corruption to run amok. Acts of frauds reportedly permit for the possession of up to 10 units per individual as long as one is capable of payment.

This in turn, will allow them to rake in profits by renting them to others.

Taking these things into account, the

While the unjust costs of amortization payments continue to chase these people out of their presumed relocation sites, the manifestation of the ningas kugon phenomenon that is the idle units has now reared its ugly head for all to see in its five lengthy years of dormancy. The NHA was observed to resort to its habit of emphasizing; that matters should always be settled through its accustomed processes. In spite of this, five dialogues have already occured between urban poor group Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) and HUDCC as well as two attempts to seek an audience with Malacañang, all to no avail. With efforts coming from the people proving to be fruitless each passing day, the political and economic roadblocks deceitfully set up by the government are becoming more visible, showing its true colors as it is exposed by its questionable conduct and obligation.

As a result, the indigent families deemed occupying idle housing units as doing the administration a favor by actually performing their job of accommodating the homeless. It is clear how they had put up with the unnecessary delay for so long and when presented with the opportunity to take over even poorly-maintained empty units, they took no chances.

FORCED EVICTION The Duterte government answered the pleas of the homeless with force and contempt.

The negligence of the government is evident as they forced the members of Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (KADAMAY) to occupy idle housing units situated at Pandi, Bulacan even after numerous dialogues with the urban group. A series of failed dialogues and broken promises from the authorities forced the group to bypass due process and claim the houses as their own. The Secretary General of the group, Carlito Badion, noted that the group held dialogues with the president, the vice president who was then the housing secretary, and the NHA—all assuring them of eventual housing grants that remains unattainable up to this day. At present, more than 5,000 houses are occupied by the urban group. However, despite the reclamation, KADAMAY is bound to be displaced by the very government that promised them change.

Amidst the commotion, KADAMAY declared that the housing units – intended for the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) – they occupied are unoccupied. KADAMAY National Chairperson Gloria “Ka Gloria” Arellano stated that there are 53,000 unoccupied housing units intended for the military and the police. In their current state, the houses can be distributed to the urban poor.

However, due to the neoliberal inclinations of the UDHA, the government would rather see houses unoccupied than distribute them to those unable to pay.

The plight of the masses was overshadowed and demonized by allegations perpetuated by both the government and mainstream media.

The Duterte administration branded the actions of the group as a form of “anarchy”. It is also asserted that the group overrode the application of other 49,000 claimants—an allegation that is denied by the group.

Additionally, the government is also using force to evict KADAMAY from the occupied housing units. Food support from other sectors were cut by the police and military. Even the food packs distributed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to KADAMAY were subject to controversy. Numerous incidents of harassment were also reported by the members of the group. More than 600 eviction notices were

CONTINUED ON PAGE 07

Volume 30 Numbers 14-15 April 21, 2017 | Friday

10 CULTURE

SO, SINO’NG MAG-A-ADJUST?

P A G I G I N G TA L U N A N S A P A M A N TAYA N N G L I P U N A N JONERIE ANN MAMAUAG PAJALLA AT MARI LOREAL MARQUEZ VALDEZ

Iba-ibang paniniwala ang ipinagpapalagay kung bakit tayo nabibigo: dahil daw ‘yan sa gulong ng palad, dikta ng status quo, o kaya nama’y hatol ni Bathala. Ano pa man ang idahilan o paniwalaan, katambal na ng pagkatalo ang kahihiyan, pagkadismaya at pagkalugmok.

Sa laki ng pagpapahalaga sa tagumpay bilang tanda ng kahusayan, nananaig ang pagtingin sa pagwawagi bilang basehan upang magmataas at makapanlamang sa mga nahuhuli .

Pain

Bakit kaya ang O.A. ng mga tao minsan?

Tipong balde-balde ang nilalabas na pawis, luha’t dugo ay push pa rin nang push #ginalingan. Halimbawa ‘yung Top 10 sa klase, nagpupumilit maging Top 1. ‘Yung isang dekada nang nasa kompanya, nagpapabango na sa boss simula nung nangamoy promotion. ‘Yung mga anak ng mga magsasaka, hindi na pinagsasaka; pinag-iipon na lang na pera para makaluwas sa lungsod. Kanino sila nakikipagpaligsahan? Halos lahat na ng bagay, ginawang big deal. Kita mo, ‘pag bigo silang nakuha ‘yung gusto, sila ang umuuwing luhaan, sugatan, di-mapakinabangan. Pwede namang makontento sa kung ano’ng meron, ‘di ba?

Hindi mo rin naman masisisi kung ganyan sila umasta lalo kung ang pananaw nila sa mundo ay hango sa kagubatan, kung saan dalawa lang ang maaaring maging kahihinatnan mo: ang maging kaawa-awang talunan o kasamba-samabang kampeon.

Maraming mababangis, kailangan mong matutong lumaban dahil kung hindi ay maaagawan ka. Kaya kung umuwing walang medalya ang madalas namang nasa honor roll, lalabas sa tenga niya ang makarinig ng “Wala ‘yan sa grades” dahil umikot ang buong buhay niya sa pagraranggo.

Babalutin naman ng kahihiyan at sama

ng loob ang empleyadong tinanggihan ng posisyon dahil nabalewala sa isang iglap ang ilang taon niyang pinaghirapan. At kapag natira ka sa sakahan, hindi na giginhawa buhay mo.

Ano ba ‘yung nakukuha natin kapag ginawa itong mga

“kadesperadahan”?

Ang sagot ay “ganansya”. May nakamtan ka na wala ka noon; ginantimpalaan ang dati-rati’y interes lang. Kaya kapag walang ganansya ang pinag-effort-an, tagos hanggang buto ang pagkalugi. Magtago ka na lang sa sulok at magpalamon sa lupa. Lalo pa kung nakita mong nagagawa ng iba ang kapareho mo ng hangarin, mababawasan ka ng buhay mga 5 years.

Kung ang buhay ay isang laro, tawagin na itong multiplayer role-playing game kung saan ganansya ang makakuha ng kaalyansa’t karamay at makipagunahan sa kaagaw na kaaway.

Pinagtitibay ng SelfVerification Theory ang masidhing kagustuhan ng tao na magkaroon ng social connection at validation.

“We live for the applause” ‘baga.

Pero bakit ba nagkakaaroon ng kaagaw in the first

DIBUHO NI MARIE ANGELU DE LUNA PAGOBO

place?

Sa pagkakaroon ng social validation, nagkakaroon ka ng sense of belonging.

Sa laro ng buhay, kapag may napatunayan ka, sabihin nating

m a k a t ap o s ng kolehiyo, masasaksihan ng iba na may halaga ka. Dahil dito, mapapabilang ka sa lupon ng college graduates. Kaya ano ang tingin mo sa mga hindi nakapagtapos?

Kung hangarin ito ng maraming tao sa iyong paligid, masasayangan ka sa mga taong hindi nakagradweyt.

Kung ano-ano na lang ang maiisip mong rason: na baka tinamad na siya, na kinulang sila ng pangmatrikula, na iba ang naging tunguhin nila sa buhay.

Kapag wala kang social validation: pwedeng ikaw ang frustrated o ibang tao. Pwede ring sabay; tipong magkahalong “Siguro, hindi talaga ‘to para sa’kin” at “Hanggang diyan na lang ba kaya mo?” Sa ganitong kondisyon, hindi lahat ng laban ay maaari mong

mapagtagumpayan dahil meron at mayroong makalalamang sa’yo. Ang masaklap pa, nagiging daan ang pagkakaroon ng kalamangan upang manghamak at matahin ang iba.

“Wala kang karapatang pagsabihan ako dahil hanggang dito lang ang tinapos mo!” Hindi nakapagtatakang nagiging lisensya ng general manager ang abusuhin ang sekretarya o ‘di kaya’y pagalitan ng doktor ang nars kapag nahuling nagkakamali dahil nilapatan ng pag-aantas ang trabahong magkahiwalay naman.

Kapag pinatakbo ang lipunan sa ilalim ng matinding pagsandig sa konsepto ng kapatiran at pakikibagay, napapasailalim ang indibidwal sa kung ano ang idinidikta ng mas malakas na puwersa. Kaya anoman ang naisin ng maykapangyarihan, mahahatak ang tao na sumunod sa kanilang galaw upang maramdaman nila ang pagiging ganap ng kanilang pagkatao. Wala itong kaso kung pasulong at paigpaw ang kilos ng sumasaklaw na sistema, na sinisigurong walang mapagiiwanan at kung meron ay sasamahan pa silang makaangat at makilahok sa progreso.

Ang kaso ay kontra ang kasalukuyang sitwasyon sa ideyalismo ng tao. Ang lipunan ay tila isang kompetisyon kung saan tumitindi ang pagnanais ng bawat isa na maging mapagmataas sa iba, dahil ang hindi matututong umangat ay patuloy lamang na aapihin at tatapakan. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit may nangangarap at todo-todong nagsisikap na iangat ang sariling estado sa buhay. Sa ganitong pagtingin, nahahati ang tao sa magkasalungat na panig: nakalalamang at winawaglit.

Bitag Tanungin mo ang bata kung ano’ng gusto niyang maging balang araw.

Astronaut.

Manlalayag.

Painter.

Pagdating ng hayskul, ano na?

Volume 30 Numbers 14-15 April 21, 2017 | Friday

CULTURE 11

Mga Fulung-Vulungan ng Nagjijisang

ITANONG KAY ISKO’T ISKA

A ng

YUFI-EM FIEZTAHH ZELEBREYSHUN EDITION Makibeki! Wag Mashokot! Ang beki ng bayan, ngayon ay lumalaban! Haleer haleeeer der mga aff howsz. Hangover pa aketch sa uber succesful na Pride March! Oww em giiii, sobrang nakaka-proud mga aff howsz. Pak lang sa paglaban para sa gender equality!#LoveWins Anyways high waist, kamustasa na ba kayo my dear aff howsz? Haggardo versosa pa rin ba kayo sa acads?

Staaaaph, relax and enjoy. Lezzz party and fillet the Yufiem Fiesta in the air!

Summer is near na rin. Jelly jelly na ba kayo sa mga frenzzzz niyong on-vacay na? Dun worry, uuwian na lang namin kayo ni Lolo Upo ng pasalubong from our summer trip. Nire-ready ko na rin nga ang aking nagmamaasim na beach body. Heniweys, I won’t make this portugal anymore, ispluk konetch sa inyo ang mga na na-reachie nadal na chismax ng aking radar.

Awezam Yufi-em Fieztahh Zelebreyshun Sumvhong Numbah Uno: Chew Hay Feez!

Nakakalurkey. Anetch itey sumvhong ng jisa kong affhow na tumaas na raw ang rental fee ng Pee-Gee-Heyts Sayunz Holl!? Huwhyyy nemen ganern!? Akala ba nila ay sobrang daming Manilyn Reyes ng aking mga affhowsz. Kawawa naman ang mga purita kalaw kong mga affhowsz. How how de carabao de batuten nemen nila mababayaran ang rental fee? Mamaya baka sa Faura St. na lang sila makapag-held ng activities coz walang wala na talaga, cray crayola khomeni na lang. :(

Awezam Yufi-em Fieztahh Zelebreyshun Sumvhong Numbah Chew: Waichin, Zo Cloze but yet Zo Faar!!

Huweeeeeeyt dersss more! At b a k i t naman

w it pa daw pinapagamit ang bagong renovated na LargeTeeth sa mga affhowsz ko!!? Antagal na nilang inintay na magamit ito at sobrang haggardo na sila sa paghahanap ng malafit at magandang venue for their activities and events. Imbey nemen! Hayyyynaku.

For huwaat pa na pina-beauty and the best itech kung dehins rin nemen pala ipapagamit? Mukhang after 1 year pa raw ito bago magamit ng mga beloved affhowsz ko? Mamaya baka mas mahalan

niyo pa ang rental fee ng LT huhubels, paano na ang mga affhowsz ko. Saan sila pupulitin? Sa kangkongan? E warlaks nemeng kangkongan ditey sa Yufiem!!!

Awezam Yufi-em Fieztahh Zelebreyshun Sumvhong Numbah Churee: Frappy where art thou powz?

Maibey nemen us ng chovaline. Sinetch naman itechlavung proffie from DaSosyalbutSimple! na mukhang hindi raw forte ang subject na tinuturo niya. Puro basics lang daw ang natutunan ng mga beloved affhowsz ko.

Coz of this, tinatamad na pumasok itong mga c u t i e s aff howsz ko sa klase niya kasi wala din n a m a n daw sila nat ut una n.

Wish ng mga affows ko na sana man lang m a g -

feedback ito sa mga assignments na binibigay niya. Ang laluh nemern oh! Don’t make abuso naman sa academic freedom na binigay sayo proffie at magturo talaga for the sake of my dear affhowsz.

So der u go mga affowz. Ayan ang mga nagbabagang isplukemberish ng mga aketchmga afows. F na F ko ang rage nila sa kaganafan sa lyf nila sa YuFiEm. O sha, f ly f ly away muna atashi. Speak out lang mga affowz and keep your sumvhongs heard! Eclavu chenelyn baboosh! Mahal ko kayow, xOxO.

nong masasabi mo sa mataas na bayarin para sa mga pinagdarausan mga

kaganapan

(Little Theater, Science H a l l)? # We Ne e d S pac e

A

nong gusto mong sabihin kay House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez tungkol sa pahayag niya na pangkaraniwan lamang ang pangangaliwa para sa mga kalalakihan, kumpara kay former Senator Leila De Lima at sa mga kababaihan?

Parang subtly nilang tinatanggalan ng access ang mga estudyante para magamit ang espasyo na nararapat lang naman sa kanila. Lantaran By all means, say whatever you naman ang pag-akumula ng can to look good :) It's useless. salapi mula sa mga estudyante. - queenslayer, CAS - queenslayer, CAS Wow, am I not shocked. Another We need space, and it we of Duterte's people inspired by are being hindered by the his desperate actions to be seen administration (SUPRISINGLY?) 'more as a man'.

Ano lang ba ang makapagprovide ng espasyo para sa mga estudyante? It would be easier sana kasi to meet and work in school. It's like they're slowly killing our right to convene in groups.

- krung krung

It's also disgusting how they admit they have extra-marital affairs and wear their deeds as medals.

- krung krung

Ang dadamot!

- batang kalye, 2014

Sana inamin na rin niya na pangkaraniwang bobo mga alagad ni duterte tulad niya. kakajirits ha.

- sprikritique, 2014

Excuse to you and your patriarchal remark. And if ever di ka aware, hindi nakaganda Ang tataba ng mga wallets ng imahe't reputation mo yung namin, noh? Also, we pay for sinabi mo. Pwe. certain facilities na poorly - boom panesthesia, 2015, white maintained so kami pa yung Ang bastos! lugi.

- boom panesthesia, 2015, white - batang kalye, 2014

Nagbabayad kami para saan?

Maintenance ng facility e parang wala rin namang nangyayari??

Patriyarkal na lipunan nga So ano to parang IGP ang peg? naman oo. WALA KAMING - sprikritique, 2014 PAKE KUNG LALAKI O BABAE HOY UP ADMIN! ALAM ANG NANGANGALIWA. PARENAMING MGA KAPITALISTA PAREHAS LANG SILA. DAPAT KAYO PERO PAKIBAWASAN NA NATING WAKASAN ANG ANG PAGIGING PASISTA AT SISTEMANG BULOK!!! HUWAG SA MANYAK, PAGIGING MUKHANG FEES. TUMULAD BASTOS AT WALANG MODO NA Napaghahalataan na eh. Mga kamag-aral, occupy facilities na YAN! #WagMoKamingIdamay - Antok na ako kaso nakaka-agit, ito!!!

- Antok na ako kaso nakaka-agit, 2014-53797, CAS

2014-53797, CAS

Volume 30 Numbers 14-15 April 21, 2017 | Friday

12 GRAPHICS

WAITING GAME

GENEVIEVE IGNACIO SEÑO

MKULAY

JUSTINE VINCE AMANCA de DIOS

AGAWANG BASE Para magkonsumo ng mga produkto!

Window shopping. Lalantak sa restawran. Gagalugarin ang bawat palapag makahanap lang ng pwedeng paglibangan. Samakatuwid, lahat ng pinaghirapang pag-iponan ng manggagawa ay pakikinabangan lang ng mga gumawa nung mall.

Kumita na si Henry Sy, nakatulong ka pang isustena ang capitalist-friendly environment.

Siyempre, hindi pa diyan nagtatapos ang pagmaneobra ng kapitalista sa isipan ng mga kumokonsumo.

Dapat maparamdam na masarap sa pakiramdam ang maglustay ng pera sa kung ano-anong produkto.

Maglulunsad tuloy ang mga negosyante ng mga feel-good na kampanya, tulad na lang ng “Go Green. Use our Ecobag™!” para kahit papaano’y maisip ng konsyumer na nakakatulong siya sa kalikasan. Habang ‘yung tao naman sa likod ng eco-bag ay nagpapanatiling mababa ang sahod at kontraktuwal ang

mga taong nagyayari nito, kaalinsabay pa ang pagputol sa mga puno para makapagpatayo ng bago niyang condominium. Very ironic, ano po?

Katangian din ng space ang maging isang midyum. Sa konteksto ng siyudad ngayon, saan ka man lumingon ay saglit-saglit kang mapapadaan sa dambuhalang mga billboard na anytime ay kayang pataobin ng nagngangalit na panahon. Sino ba’ng may hawak sa mga iyan? You guessed it; it’s the capitalists! Kung walang kinalaman sa mabuting salita ng diyos ay malamang sa malamang, produkto ang ipamumukha sa’yo.

Dahil sangkatutak na billboard ang nagsikalat sa kahabaan ng lansangan, hindi mo na namamalayang nanormalisa na ang opresibong kultura na paminsan lang natututokan ng publiko. Ultimong motorsiklo na nga lang ang ibebenta, kailangan pang kabitan ng babaeng halos puro balat na ang nakikita. O ‘di kaya ‘yung pampaputi na kulang

na lang ay kondenahin ka sa pagiging kayumanggi mo.

Ang tao naman, natututo ding magpakawala ng mga outdated na kaisipan gaya ng sexism o racism na wala na dapat lugar pa sa kasalukuyan.

Ganun din ang kapitalista. Pero ang kapitalista, trends ang turing sa progresibong pagpapanibagonghubog, at balewala ito sa kanya kung hindi niya ito pagkakakitaan.

“Nauso” lang bigla ang feminismo, sapatos pa rin ang gustong iduldol sa pagmumukha mo. Kesehodang biktima ka pa ng domestic abuse, kailangan nakakolorete ka pa rin so you’ll feel sexy. At sa deka-dekadang pakikipaglaban ng LGBT sa kanilang karapatan ay susuklian lang kayo ng advertisement ng dalawang baklang naglalaplapan para ipadama sa atin na Wow, ayos ‘tong kompanyang ‘to: proLGBT! LOL Maglalako lang pala sila ng apparel.

Sa pag-urbanisa ng espasyo, lagi itong may ineendorsong lifestyle na tutugon sa huwad at unsustainable nitong “development”. Makapagtayo lang ng private space kalapit ng isang state university, mababaligtad na nito ang taglay na public character ng pamantasan. UP Town Center pa lang, ang lakas maka-sosyal. Mula botique hanggang kainan, branded. May bago na namang review spot ang mga mayayaman. Kung hirap kang makakeep up, sorry na lang. Hindi ka bagay d’on. Sa Puregold ka na lang mag-aral.

Aminin na natin: conyo-shaming, pero kung hindi tayo mulat sa ganitong realidad, hindi natin matutukoy ang ugat at bunga ng huwad na pag-unlad — na ang urbanisasyon mula sa itaas ay walang iba kun’di mekanismo para pagulongin ang sistemang siya ring lumilikha ng sarili nitong mga krisis.

Itong krisis ay overproduction. Kapag wala nang bumibili ng produkto, mababawasan ang halaga nito. Kung kaya’t kikilos ang kapitalista na parang kongkistador — sasakop ng virgin space para makataguyod ng panibagong merkado na mapaglalagakan ng surplus at mapagkukunan ng bagong resources. Dadaan ulit ang maikling panahon, natural lang na madedevalue sila kasi nga limitado lang ang space. Magpapalawak silang muli sa bingit ng pagkalugi at kakain uli ng espasyo hanggang sa maubos na lahat.

Parang linta lang, ‘di ba? Ano ‘yun, unli-space? Isang bagay ang malinaw: hindi kayang sagutin ng kapitalismo ang krisis na patuloy nitong pinalalala.

Tumbang Preso Kung pwede lang hatakin ‘yung nagcomment na magnanakaw daw ‘yong mga umookupa sa Bulacan at bulongan

GRAPHICS 13

Volume 30 Numbers 14-15 April 21, 2017 | Friday

FROM P.16

ng “Konting perspective naman oh, pre”, gagawin mo eh. Kung ikaw ba naman na tinanggalan ng matitirhan at may tinapat sa’yong bahay na walang laman kun’di alikabok ay tiyak na iisipin mo’ng angkinin ito. Gayunman, hindi ka ganun ka-petty para batukan pa isa-isa ‘yung mga post nang post ng mga [social] cancer-inducing na kontra-masang pahayag. Palulutangin mo na lang kung sino ang tunay na inagawan.

inaapakan? ‘Yung matagal nang nakatira doon sa puntong mawawalan din ng panghanapbuhay kapag biglaang pinaalis? O ‘yung ganid na piniling yumukod sa kagustuhan ng korporasyon dahil mauubosan pa ng pondo ang magpaunlad ng komunidad? Ilang reclamation site man ang ihain, kung hindi naman natutugonan ang basic social services ay pareho lang silang mauuwi sa galit at sagupaan.

Tayong may peace loving tendencies ay nashu-shookt kapag nalagay tayo sa kontradiksyon sa pagitan ng mga puwersahang umokupa sa pamamahay na hindi sa kanila nakatitulo (dahil ‘di nga nila ito kayang bilhin) at ng mga pinaglaanan ng lote ngunit hinahayaan lang itong nakatiwangwang. Sa mata ng batas, litaw na litaw kung aling panig ang mas matimbang. Pero kung sisipatin ang sistema ng mga hukuman dito, mula pa lang sa kung gaano ito kabagal umandar hanggang sa kung paanong piling tao lamang ang nakakakamit ng katarungan, pagdudahan mo na ang iyong moralidad kung mahigpit ka pa ring magpapatali sa legalismo.

Ayon kay Zizek, may dalawang uri ng pagiging bayolente: “subjective” para manatili ang hawak sa kapangyarihan, at “divine” upang iwaksi ang pang-aapi.

Masasabing subjective ang violence ng sistemang kapital dahil sinusupil nito ang alinmang puwersang nagbabanta rito, habang divine naman ang mula sa hanay ng masa dahil ito’y mapagpalaya. Ang pagiging bayolente rin ay naipapamalas din sa sikolohikal na aspekto. Sa midya pa lang na kontrolado ng mga kapitalista, madaling manipulahin ang balita at ipakitang sila ang pinagnanakawan ng mahihirap gayong silang mga walangwala na ang tinangkaang pag-agawan at binalaang pagguhoan ng tirahan.

Kinikilala natin ang batas kung pinagtatanggol nito ang ating karapatan, ngunit kailangan ding kilalanin ang hangganan nito. Hindi lang tao ang sumusunod sa batas.

Hinuhulma ang batas batay sa kaligiran ng madla. Hindi nito kayang ipaliwanag ang sosyo-ekonomikong kalagayan ng bansa. Mahirap ipaintindi sa mga legalista ang konteksto kung papaanong hindi nabibigyan ng sapat na pabahay ang mga nangangailangan nito gayong may espasyo naman at resources para makapagpatayo para sa kanila. Ang problema kasi kapag istrikto tayo sa batas habang bulag sa mga uring humahati sa lipunan ay hindi talaga magiging pantay at patas ang pagtingin natin sa lahat ng tao, lalong-lalo na sa mga mahihirap na wala namang pambayad sa abogado o multa. Pinaiiral ang batas sa sinasaklawan nitong space para maprotektahan ang kapangyarihan ng mga bumuo nito, at sino lang rin ba ang may kapit dito kung hindi ang burgesya. Kaya kung may napagiwanan man, huwag tayong magtaka kung pinili nilang talikuran ang utos ng hari.

Importante ang mga pagkilos gaya ng Occupy Bulacan at ng mga rebolusyonaryong bandalismo dahil sa pag-angkin ng pribadong espasyo para sa pampublikong pakinabang, hinahayag ang pagtutol at paglaban ng masa sa patakaran ng mga naghaharing-uri, na sila lang daw ang may kalayaang magpatayo ng kung ano-anong gusali kahit wala namang silbi sa milyong kataong kumakalam ang tiyan. Kahit ano pang bihis sa space para magmukha itong moderno o world-class, kung burges pa rin ang konsepto ng pag-unlad, mananatili pa rin itong walang saysay at mukha sa likod ng nabubulok na sistema.

Minamarkahan ng mga api ang teritoryo bilang babala na hindi sila dapat maliitin, na may kapangyarihan din silang mang-angkin at mamahala ng espasyo.

Hanggang may pananamantala sa uri ay patuloy silang mag-iingay, mag-ookupa, at makikibaka.

Anarkiya man ang tingin sa puwersahang pag-okupa o sa pagtanggol ng demolition area, mas mauunawaan ang pagkabayolente ng tao kung titingnan natin kung sino ang mas sinasagkaan. Sa kaso ng mga informal settler, katunggali nila ang gobyerno na ang plano sa lugar ay tayuan ng establisyimento.

Kaninong karapatan kaya ang mas

Kailangang demokratiko ang pagkontrol sa espasyo. Sa pinakamaliit na ambag, kasama tayo sa paglahok ng mga mahihirap dahil hindi hiwalay ang papel natin sa lipunan sa kanilang karanasan. Bagkus, samasama tayong nagpapalakas upang maangkin ang means sa produksyon na pangunahing mekanismo upang makontrol ang space, na sa halip na naiipon ang labis na kapital sa iilang tao ay makamtan ito ng abang-uri para mapakinabangan ng lahat.

SO, SINO'NG MAG-A-ADJUST? Occupational Therapist. Geodetic Engineer. Accountant. “Ano ‘yung Philippine Arts? May pera ba d’on?”

Ang inaasahang sagot mula sa kanila ay kung may maisusukang salapi ba ang mapiling trabaho na malayo sa iyong childhood dreams. Sumandig na ang konsepto ng ambisyon sa ekonomikong pag-unlad — na ang pangarap ng isang simpleng musmos ay dapat nakatuon sa kung paano niya matutulungan ang kanyang pamilya pagdating ng araw, at sa kung paano siya makakalikom ng yaman sa hinaharap.

Kung noon ay sinanay kang pagsabihan ng nakatatanda na maging “pinaka”, ngayon ay pinakikisabihan tayong huwag munang gawing matayog ang pangarap dahil “Kulang tayo ng badyet.

Hindi kita kayang pag-aralin sa mahal na kurso. Pwede bang piliin mo naman ‘yung magiging financially stable ka.”

Pa’no kung panalo ka na sa financial stability pero sa loob-loob mo, talunan ka pa rin? ‘Yung tipong sumusuweldo ka na sa trabahong batay sa pinasok mong kurso, saka ka mapapabulong ng “I have the money, but I lost my soul.”

Binenta mo na kamo sa demonyo.

Ang katotohanan ay tao rin ‘yung demonyong ‘yon (and vice versa) at siya’y walang iba kun’di kapitalista.

Pinaiinog nila ang pamumuhay sa monetaryong halaga, kaya mas pipiliin ng mga tao na maging praktikal.

Kunwari, isa kang karpintero na gustong maging fashion designer. Hindi ‘yon praktikal dahil wala kang pambayad sa fashion school. Pagsasabihan ka pang hindi bagay ang pang-mayamang kurso sa kagaya mong bilad sa araw.

(Sasabihin ng mayayaman, sunbathed tan.) “Isa pa, bakit sa arts pa? Wala ka na ngang pera, gagastos ka pa sa pag-aaral ng trabahong lalo mo pang paggagastusan. Magsanay ka na lang sa vocational. Mataas suweldo nun sa ibang bansa.” Kung ikaw ‘yung kapitalistang nakadiskubre sa karpinterong ‘to, malamang ay gagawin mo siyang charity case para mapabango ang pangalan, este, brand mo. Against all odds na hindi magkrus ang landas niyo at mag-isa siyang nagpursige, makalipas ng ilang taon ay isa na siyang kilalang brand sa industriya. Ibabalita ang rags to riches story niya na magsisilbing gold standard sa mga mahihirap na dinaan sa pagtitiyaga ang tagumpay, kahanay nung anak ng tricycle driver na topnotcher at guwardiyang magna cum laude — pampaubos ng excuses sa hindi nakapagtapos. Pero ganun pa rin ang turing sa tagumpay: isang indibidwalistikong pagsisikap.

Sa kapitalistang lipunang nagbubunga ng edukasyong kolonyal, komersyalisado, at pasista, nawawalan ng kalayaan ang mag-aaral na

mapaunlad ang sariling talento at napapalitan ng pagpili sa trabahong malaki ang suweldo. Nagkakaroon ng diskriminasyon sa pagitan ng agham at sining at nakukulong ang isip sa apat na sulok ng klasrum. Nawawala pati abilidad na kumuwestiyon at kung saang aspekto ng lipunan talaga nababagay ang kanilang kakayanan.

Ang paaralan ay nagsilbi na lamang pabrika ng mga manggagawa, na magsisilbi sa malalaking korporasyong pinatatakbo ng mga naghaharinguri na patuloy na kumokontrol sa ekonomiya para sa pansariling ganansya. Dahil kung mananatili kang mababa ang sahod o walang pinag-aralan, sa iyo sisisihing hindi ka

FROM P.10

naging sapat para sa pamantayan nila.

Mapapasailalim ang mga mamamayan sa paghatol ng sistema at kung hindi abot sa pamantayan ay talunan na.

Ang pagiging mahina ay ‘di naaayon sa kahinaan sa paaralan, trabaho, o pisikal na katangian. Hindi ang bigong makasunod ng tao sa pamantayan ng lipunan ang nagdudulot sa atin ng kabiguan kung hindi ang pagiging sunod-sunuran sa sistemang patuloy na bumibigo sa atin. Labas sa estado at kakayanan ng bawat isa ang ipaglaban ang karapatang magkaroon ng puwang sa lipunan, dahil kung matitibag ang tatsulok ay mawawala rin ang kompetisyon.

Sinakop. Nilupig. Lumaya!

Inihahandog ng Development Studies 122, katuwang ang Development Studies 152, ang isang produksiyon na pinamagatang CASERinlan.

Tatalakayin nito ang kasalukuyang kalagayan ng lipunang Pilipino, at ang kaugnayan nito sa Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms (CASER).

Mamulat sa katayuan ng iba’t ibang sektor at institusyon, tulad ng pamilya, simbahan, paaralan, pamahalaan, kababaihan, kabataan, at midya sa bansa. Gayundin sa iba’t ibang aspeto ng CASER tulad ng tunay na repormang agraryo, pambansang industriyalisasyon, kapaligiran, kasarian, pampublikong serbisyo, at ugnayang panlabas.

Manood ng CASERinlan sa Mayo 5, 2017, 2-4 ng hapon, sa PGH Science Hall.

Para sa tickets, lumapit lamang sa kahit na sinong mag-aaral sa ikatlong taon ng Araling Pangkaunlaran, o kaya’y bumili sa link na ito: bit.ly/CASERinlanTixSale SASAMA KA BA SA PAGLAYA?!

14 OPINION Truth Be Told

Mico Cortez A GRAND PERFORMANCE For the people.

That phrase will become so overused in the upcoming student council elections. This year will be my second to the last one, fingers tightly crossed. But based on the previous two I’ve witnessed, it’s going to be one roller coaster, drama-filled ride.

As you’re well aware, there are two political parties in UPM. The first one believes in collective action, genuine change, and taking a more radical approach. The second one believes in objectivity, compromise, and inclusive, consultative and rational decision-making.

One advocates that students offer themselves completely to the masses, to be one with them and immerse in their struggle. The other believes in developing one’s self first, before eventually returning to serve the underserved masses.

One advocates for ending socialized tuition completely and attaining free education for all; genuine land reform and an end to a capitalist society ruled by greedy bureaucrats and imperialists.

The other advocates for reforms to socialized tuition; reforms to the agriculture sector, and mental health, just to name a few.

I will not evaluate each of their principles, advocacies, or achievements as (1) I am not in any way qualified to do so and (2) I don’t have the time to do that right now.

I will say this though: what you will see during the election season is a show, a performance, a façade of sorts. That is not to say that it is not genuine, that their passion is forced or their words mindlessly uttered.

What I’m saying is that those people – the candidates, their campaign managers, and their party members – will be putting on their biggest smiles and be on their best behavior (most of the time). They’ll shake your hand, discuss their platforms, and defend their supposedly pristine records. They’ll do all of this, naturally, because they want to win; and to win that seat, they have to win you over.

But that’s just the start.

Winning is the first step in a year long term that may or may not benefit us, the student body, as well CONTINUED ON PAGE 07

Volume 30 Numbers 14-15 April 21, 2017 | Friday

INTERLUDE

I can still smell the cigarette smoke enveloping the room, the beer trickling down my throat, and the tears running down my face. I faced the two of you, who were seated across the table. The only things between us were the coldly perspiring bottles of alcohol. Other than that, a pool of salty water formed from the waterfall that was my eyes. I am not actually sure if I faced you because most of my profile was hidden from view. I only wished that the shadows of the night cloaked my face like a veil. I didn’t want to show the two of you the pain, the grief, and the feeling of betrayal.

This time around, I am certain that I have recovered from the night I was told of your relationship. Of course, I wasn’t like this at that time. Heck, I wasn’t even myself back then. I didn’t know what to make out of what I just heard. It took me a lot more time to digest everything than expected. Even the information that I have studied prior to the conversation became slurry to even recall. My final examination was on the following day and yet this kind of news came? Actually, it was my volition to have you come over to JOSE PAOLO BERMUDEZ REYES

the place I was studying in. Maybe the ambiance of the place helped set the mood, or maybe because there was no other time for this conversation.

If I had let my overly paranoid mind wreak havoc for a few more days then I would have gone mental.

You see, I was the clueless one on this side of your story. Nobody told me a single thing, much less a hint to what was happening. I was led to the fact that I was the only one here who was

I ONLY WISHED THAT THE SHADOWS OF THE NIGHT CLOAKED MY FACE LIKE A VEIL. struggling with my feelings. I kind of regretted pouring them into one of you before. Because if I hadn’t, curiosity wouldn’t have killed the cat. But being the gullible and trusting person that I am, I saw no objection in telling personal matters to someone else. Yet here I am having this conversation with the two of you. I knew that you would tell the truth in one way or another someday, but that couldn’t change the fact that you hid it from

me in a span of months that seemed too long and too painful already. As I gradually fell into the cave created by my tugging heartstrings, I didn’t realize that I would unknowingly land hard. And when I did, I saw the two of you: standing in front of me, with hands nervously clasped to one another.

Do you know what I did? I stood up, not minding the ache. I walked past the two of you, held your still-clasped hands and bravely led you out of that dark cave. I could feel the sharp pain slicing across my chest like a saw as I walked with you. I didn’t mind.

I sucked up all of the grief spilling like a leaking water tank. But have you ever wondered why I never felt angry? Others would’ve told me that such an emotion is justifiable for a situation like this. I felt betrayed, right? Consequently, I should feel burning rage. I would have stood up abruptly, broke my glass beer bottle, and stormed out of the room. And yet why am I still with you, leading you through the darkness?

That’s right.

You two were my best friends, and you will always be.

EDITORIAL 15

A

NG PILIPINAS AY ISANG bayang minasaker ng kaniyang sariling pamahalaan. Noon at ngayon, ang paglaban ng mamamayan para kamtin ang kanilang karapatan ay patuloy na sinasalag ng dahas, ng bala at tear gas.

AN OATH TO KEEP

ANONYMOUS

It has been a few months since I found out about it, hasn’t it?

Volume 30 Numbers 14-15 April 21, 2017 | Friday

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 Niña Keith Musico Ferrancol Leah Rose Figueroa Paras Shaila Elijah Perez Fortajada 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 Marilou Hanapin Celestino C U LT U R E E D I T O R S Josef 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 Jonerie Ann Mamauag Pajalla 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

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Solidaridad - UP Systemwide Alliance of Student Publications and Writers’ Organizations

The Cover

Illustration Danielle Montealegre Rodriguez

Layout Kyla Dominique Lacambacal Pasicolan & Jazmine Claire Martinez Mabansag

Isang taon na ang nakalipas nang tumungo ang mga magsasaka ng Kidapawan, North Cotabato sa sentrong bayan at militanteng nagbarikada upang hingin ang ayuda para sa pinsalang dala ng El Niño. Gutom ang nagtulak sa kanila upang magprotesta.

Kagipitan ang nagpakilos sa kanila upang singilin ang pamahalaan sa mga ipinagkakait nitong karapatan.

Subalit, sa paghingi ng 15,000 sako ng bigas, pondo para sa kalamidad, pagpapataas ng presyo ng kanilang aning produkto at pagpapanawagan sa kagyat na pagpapatigil sa militarisasyon sa kanilang komunidad, kamatayan ang sumalubong sa ilan at kaso ang isinampa sa hukuman.

Ayon sa ulat, kinitil ang buhay nina Rotello Daelto, Victor Lumandang at Enrico Pabrica, kung saan mahigit 100 katao ang sugatan at nasa 80 katao naman ang inaresto dala ng isang violent dispersal ng mga pulis at militar.

JOSE PAOLO BERMUDEZ REYES

GIPIT ng kalamidad bagyo man o tagtuyot – ang totoong piitan.

Tunay ngang gutom, kahirapan at inhustisya ang mahigpit na kalaban ng pamahalaan sa pagpapanatili ng kaayusan at maigting na pakikipagtunggali ng mamamayan. Hangga't nakatanim sa lupang sakahan ang inhustisya sa hanay ng mga magsasaka, walang aasahang pag - unlad sa

Bagkus, salamin ito ng mataas na kamulatan ng mamamayan sa pagkilala sa kanilang mga karapatan. Sa panahong hindi pagmamakaawa ang huling baraha upang kamtin ang mga batayang karapatan, kasunod nito ay pagukit sa makabuluhang kasaysayan.

Higit kailanman man, pinatutunayan ng kasaysayan na sa kasalukuyang sistema kung saan isyung bitbit walang tunay na reporma sa lupa at burukrasya ang pinaiiral para sa aya naman ang pagdanak ng dugo pagbibigay ng ayuda, ay hindi nanangangahulugan ng walang karapatang makakamtan kung pagsuko ara sa mga magsasaka hindi lumalaban ang ang pagkakatali sa lupang hindi pag mamamayan.

Dagdag pa rito, ang ng mga magsasaka at ang dahilan ng kanilang kilusang masa ay pinulaan pa ng pagsasangkot sa kanila bilang mga komunista at pakana lamang ng aari sa pagkakabaon sa utang para mga maka-Kaliwa Mayorya ng ating ang kanilang kilossa kagamitan at sa mga panginoong populasyon ay protesta.

Ilang magsasaka, agrikultura maylupa na ganid sa hatian isama pa dekada na ang ang gulugod ng nakalipas, ngunit ang pananalanta ng kalamidad bagyo ekonomiya, palay ang hindi ito ang unang sandigan ng pagkain man o tagtuyot ang totoong piitan kilos-protesta na sa pang-araw-araw. tangan ng mga Tunay na mahalaga ang magsasaka ay parehong sektor ng agrikultura.

Walang pagkakamit ng mga magsasaka panawagan at lalong hindi ito aasahang tunay na progreso kung para sa batayang karapatan sa lupa, ang unang masaker sa Pilipinas. halos 75 porsiyento ng mamamayan benepisyo at ayuda.

Walang mali Umuusbong ang isyung ito hangga’t ang walang habas na pinapatay at na tumindig para sa mga ito lalo na hindi nasosolusyonan at matalas na sinasamantala. sa panahon ng kalamidad. tinutugunan ng pamahalaan ang mga batayang pangangailangan ng Samakatuwid, hindi lamang dala ng Ngunit sa katotohanan, gipit ang kaniyang mamamayan. ahitasyon ang lahat. Makatarungan dalawang panig. Dahil sa kagipitan, Kaya naman, ang pagdanak ng dugo ang pagbabarikada, pagpipiket at ang mga magsasaka ay patuloy na ay hindi nanangangahulugan ng tahasang paniningil sa pamahalaan lalaban. Dahil din sa kagipitan, pagsuko. Para sa mga magsasaka, ng mga magsasaka ng Kidapawan. papaslang ang pamahalaan. At ang pagkakatali sa lupang hindi Hindi ito nangangahulugan ng hindi makakamtan ang batayang pag-aari, sa pagkakabaon sa utang kawalang pasensya sa pagdating karapatan ng malawak na hanay ng para sa kagamitan, at sa mga ng tulong. Hindi ibig sabihin mamamayan sa pakikipagdayalogo panginoong maylupa na ganid sa nito ay kawalan ng tiwala sa lamang. ng gobyerno. hatian – isama pa ang pananalanta kapangyarihan

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Aga w ang Base Konsepto ng Espasyo sa Ilalim ng Kapitalismo JOSE LORENZO QUEROL LANUZA “I need space, babe. Gusto kong mapag-isa.” T*nginang cliché ‘yan.

Kulang pa ba ‘yung space sa noo niya? Pero, kalma lang muna. May katotohanan din naman ‘yung sinabi niya. Bagamat hindi lahat ay gustong mapag-isa, masisiguro nating lahat tayo ay may pangangailangan para sa space — sa metapisikal at literal na kahulugan nito.

Mula sa toxic na relasyon hanggang sa tip ng condom, kakailanganin mo ng sapat na space dahil kung hindi ay tiyak na magkakaproblema ka. Sa lipunan, mahalagang usapin din ang space (available/unoccupied area) dahil kung susuriing mabuti, ilan sa mga isyung kinakaharap natin sa aspektong politikal at kultural ay mauugat sa agawan ng space — sa kung sino ba ang dapat na magmayari nito at sa kung paano at saan ba ito dapat gamitin.

Langit-lupa Para mas madaling makita ang kahalagahan ng space, maglakbaydiwa tayo sa takbo ng araw natin.

Sasakay ka ng jeep sa umaga, sana may space pa. Pagpasok mo sa klase,

DIBUHO NI JAZMINE CLAIRE MARTINEZ MABANSAG

magno-notes ka; sana may space pang makapagsulat. Titingin ka sa kaliwa, nadatnan mo sa peripheral vision si crush; sana may space pa sa puso niya. Pero may isang bagay tayong na-overlook. Bago ka makarating ng school, makikita mo ‘yung mahirap na pamilyang ginawang tirahan na ‘yung gilid ng kalsada. Tapos pagpasok mo ng mall, napansin mong ang daming space pero bakit bawal ‘yon gamitin at gawing tirahan ng mga mahihirap?

Usapin lang nga ba ‘yon ng batas? Ng aesthetics? O baka naman usapin na ito ng klase ng sistemang pinapairal nito?

Sa kasalukuyang kondisyon ng lipunan, habang mas yumayaman ang mga mayayaman, mas nangangailangan silang makasakop ng bagong space na kung hindi man magiging bagong merkadong bagsakan ng kanilang produkto ay magiging daluyan ng kapital upang sila ay makalikha ng mas marami pang produkto — in short, mas maraming kita. Samantalang ang mga mahihirap na mas lalong naghihirap ay nawawalan ng karapatan na magkamit o makagamit ng space, partikular rito ang karapatan sa pangmasang pabahay dahil sa

wala silang kapital upang makuha ang gusto nilang space. Kung kaya sa simpleng obserbasyon ay makikita na nagsisiksikan ang mga mahihirap sa mga slums kung tawagin, habang ang mga mayayaman ay nagpapasarap sa kanilang mga subdivision. Sa tingin mo ba gugustuhing makitira ni Ayala sa mga “iskwater”? Hindi, dahil eyesore ‘yon sa kanya at kaya nga siya rin mismo ay may sariling subdivision!

Sabihin natin halimbawa sa sobrang yaman mo, hindi mo na kailangang tingnan ‘yung bill sa tuwing kakain sa kahit na anong mamahaling resto.

Sabihin nating may successful ka nang business at dahil saturated na ‘yung unang market mo, kailangan mo ngayong maghanap ng bagong market — ng bagong pagtatayuan ng negosyo.

Sa ganitong lohika (dahil nga umiikot sa surplus at profit ang kapitalismo) hindi maiiwasan ng kapitalista na mag-expand, at sa prosesong ito kailangang maghanap ng kapitalista ng panibagong space na maaari niyang pagtayuan ng bagong market o kaya nama’y mapagkunan ng bagong resources. Pansinin mo na lang ang napakaraming malls na kinalat ng pare-parehong kapitalista. Hindi ka ba kinikilabutan at karamihan ng sinasakyan mong pampublikong sasakyan ay siguradong may signboard na “SM chuchu” o pangalan ng kung anong mall?

May kakayahang bilhin ng mga kapitalista ang gusto nilang space at paalisin/i-demolish ang lahat ng kasalukuyang nakatira dito. Dito sa lungsod, ang laging tinatamaan ng mga demolisyon ay ang mga mahihirap na walang titulo sa kanilang lupa. Sa kanayunan naman, ang mga Lumad at iba pang katutubo ay pinapalayas sa kanilang lupain upang magbigaydaan sa mga large-scale mining at iba pang dayuhang industriya. Magha-hire rin ng pribadong pulis o ng mga goons ang kapitalista para dahasin ‘yung mga

lalaban sa kanila. At dahil kontrolado rin nila ang media, kayang-kaya nilang ipalabas na sila ang biktima, at ‘yung mga mahihirap naman ay magnanakaw at mga kriminal. Mahihinuha na sa ganitong siklo, patuloy na magigipit ang mga mahihirap. Unti-unti silang mawawalan ng lugar sa lipunan, habang ang mga kapitalistang ganid ay patuloy na lalakas sa pamamagitan ng pananakop ng social space.

Patintero Kung sino ang may kontrol sa kapital, siya ang may kontrol sa space. Kung sino ang may kontrol sa space, siya ang may kontrol sa kulturang umiiral sa espasyo. Sinasaad ng Right to the City na ang lungsod ay repleksyon ng values ng mga bumubuo sa lungsod.

Ibig sabihin, kung ano’ng hitsura ng urban mo, automatically may pinoproject ‘yon na klase ng values nito.

Kung sino ang makakakontrol ng space sa urban, siya ang magkakaroon ng power na palawakin at paunlarin ‘yung class interest niya. Kung interes mo nga namang magkamal ng malaking halaga, titiyakin mo na mapasaiyo ang espasyo dahil dito ka magpaparami ng salapi.

Halimbawa, balikan natin ang walangkamatayang mall. Ano kayang klaseng value ang binibigay nito? Hindi ba’t konsyumerismo? Paano? Sino lang ba ang madalas magpunta sa mall kung hindi ‘yung may pera. Sa unang screening pa lang a.k.a. ‘yung entradang may metal detector, hindi na uubra sa sekyu ‘yung paslit na nakatsinelas lang at gutay-gutay ang sando.

Iisipan niya ito agad ng masama. Dapat kasi, magmukha kang pormado’t handang magwaldas. (For all we know, ‘yung mukhang propesyonal pa’ng nahuhuli sa CCTV na magnanakaw.)

Bakit kaya sila pumupunta sa mall?

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