The Official Student Publication of the University of the Philippines Manila Thursday 21 November 2013 Volume 27 | Numbers 8-9
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SC Oral Arguments News 03
Subsidence Features 06 Highway to Hell(Week) Culture 08 Implosion Editorial 10 Saving Grace Opinion 11
02 NEWS
Volume 27 Numbers 8-9 21 November 2013 | Thursday
SC holds oral arguments on PDAF
COLLEGE BRIEFS
Constitutionality of ‘Pork Barrel’ questioned News Team
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ollowing the petitions to abolish the controversial Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or the ‘pork barrel’, the Supreme Court (SC) conducted oral arguments on the procedural and substantive issues of the said fund on October 8 and 10.
state scholars and PDAF beneficiaries. Dy stated that “there is nothing more pressing than the abolition of the PDAF” and that the Congress and local governments should take other solutions to address such problems.
In addition, Carpio stated that it is the duty of the Court to decide on the case given the serious constitutional questions forwarded in the petitions.
Clearly Unconstitutional
Calls for Abolition
In the consolidated petition filed by Greco Belgica, et.al, Social Justice Society, et.al, and Pedrito Nepomuceno against Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, et.al, Senate President Franklin Drilon, et.al, and President Benigno Simeon Aquino III, the main issues of the cases include: whether or not PDAF constituted undue delegation of power; breached the separation of powers principle; impaired the system of checks and balances; and violated the accountability provision in the Constitution.
During the proceedings, Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio ruled that the pork barrel in the 2013 General Appropriations Act (GAA) is unconstitutional. He cited the provision in the 2013 GAA which allowed cabinet secretaries, legislative committees, and legislators to identify projects and re-align funds.
Meanwhile, militant groups such as Bayan, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), and Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD) held protests outside the SC, hoping for favourable proceedings and calling for the complete abolition of the PDAF.
In addition, the issue of the legality of the “presidential pork barrel” and the petition to partially lift the temporary restraining order (TRO) on the PDAF were also included. Detrimental to Democracy In the opening arguments, Atty. Alfredo Molo III, one of the petitioners, described the pork barrel system as a “state capture” that ruins accountability, checks and balances, and the power of impeachment which are all vital in Philippine democracy. Molo claimed that PDAF’s damage is not only limited to the stealing of public money but also to the blatant abuse and misuse of power. In addition, fellow petitioner Atty. Aldrich Fitz Dy expressed his disagreement on partially lifting the TRO on the ‘pork’ releases to fund the
According to Carpio, the said provision is against the 1987 Constitution which states that the only the President, not the cabinet, can readjust the funds and these appropriations should be concurred by the whole Congress, not a committee or an individual legislator. Moreover, the 2013 GAA allowed the executive and legislative branches to share powers, which violated the constitutional provision on checks and balances. On the other hand, Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza contended that the legality of the PDAF should no longer be questioned by the Court. He asserted that the ‘pork barrel’ is constitutional and issues relating to the said fund only arose from its flawed implementation. Instead, Jardeleza noted that further policy changes to strengthen the operation of the funds should be institutionalized. However, Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno claimed that constitutional lines which should be drawn despite the 22 years of the ‘pork barrel’ system’s implementation.
According to Roger Soluta, KMU SecretaryGeneral, the oral arguments will further expose President Aquino as the true “Pork Barrel King”. “The SC oral arguments will show the extent to which Aquino will distort reason and ignore the people’s interest in order to maintain the pork barrel system. These will highlight the fact that the president is the biggest benefactor of this scheme of plunder and deceit,” said Soluta. In addition, HEAD Secretary-General Dr. Geneve Reyes described it as an insult if the SC will not decide against the PDAF given the Court’s proximity to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH). Reyes claimed that the government and the judiciary should witness the plight of the Filipino people and abolish the pork barrel to direct it to social services. The SC will decide on the constitutionality of PDAF come November, although the said fund was already realigned into five governmental agencies in the 2014 budget. On the other hand, a fourth petition was filed on the SC contesting the President’s Disburse Acceleration Program (DAP). The Court deferred the issuance of a TRO against the DAP while the oral arguments were reset from October 22 to November 11, 2013.
UP Town Center officially opened
Students slam admin for ‘commercialization’ project Elizabeth Danielle Quiñones Fodulla
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fter the success of the first partnership project of the University of the Philippines (UP) and Ayala Land Incorporated (ALI), the UP Town Center, UP and ALI’s newest venture worth P3B, was officially opened to the public on September 30.
The UP Town Center started its construction in mid-2012. The Phase 2 of the said project, which involves the construction of the offices, will be accomplished on 2015.
Partnership of Industry and Academe
Meanwhile, UP President Alfredo Pascual affirmed that the Town Center is an example of his administration’s initiative to generate revenue from the university’s assets. He argued that part of his strategic plan is to achieve financial stability by developing UP’s existing properties.
Located at the former site of the UP Integrated School (UPIS) in Katipunan Ave. Quezon City, the 7.4 hectare ‘university town’ is dubbed as the ‘playground for the curious minds’. It showcases a variety of high quality retailers, business process outsourcing (BPO) offices, restaurants, bookstores, and services which are said to benefit the students, workers, and residents around the community. According to Jorge Miguel Marco, head of ALI Corporate Communications, the UP Town Center displays commercial enterprises within the university and forges a close collaboration between the industry and the academe. The said establishment will present opportunities for onthe-job trainings and potential businesses. In addition, the Town Center also features an amphitheater, an outdoor activity center, and a sculpture park that exhibits pieces from UP students and alumni.
Utilizing UP’s Resources
The site of the University Town was awarded to ALI through a bidding held last November 2012. The land will be leased to ALI under a 25-year agreement. According to Pascual, UP is very attractive to investors not only because of its lands but also because of the prestige of the ‘UP brand’. However, Pascual clarifies that the partnership endeavors of the university is not commercialization since these do not affect the university’s academic agenda. Pascual said that while the income generated from the Town Center will be used to repair buildings and purchase new equipment, the
state’s brazen abandonment on financing the operations of the university will never be justified.
The College of Public Health (CPH) is celebrating the PH month this November. From November 13 to 29, different activities such as Flashmob, PH Exhibit, PH 101, Survival of the PHittest, Mr. and Ms. PHUPM, Org Week, Catching Fire Movie Block Screening, Cinema Lara 2013, Clean UP Day, and Simulaw will be launched. See the Facebook page of the CPH SC for further details.
ORGANEWS Do you want to help high school students have a decent high school computer laboratory while helping save mother earth? The 37th Medicine Student Council (MSC) and UP Circuit of Diliman, in partnership with UP One Earth and the College of Arts and Sciences Student Council (CASSC), brings you The E-Waste Project. Just bring your old, defective, and obsolete electronic devices and appliances and deposit them on their different collection sites in the colleges around UP Manila from November 11 to December 6 and you can help the Caloocan National High School have a new computer laboratory. See UP MSC’s and UP One Earth’s Facebook pages for further details. The College of Public Health (CPH) Student Council brings you the blocked screening of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire on November 21, 2013, 6:00 pm, at Robinsons Midtown Cineme 1. Tickets can be bought for PhP 260.00 at the CPH-SC booth, 2nd floor, Lara Hall. Calling all students of College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Batch 2014. Do you and your friends want to enjoy the last party you’ll ever go to as undergrads? Do you want to have the best grad party ever? Then join the Aninag 2014 Graduation Party Committee. To sign up, just go to the Aninag Facebook Page and click on the link for application or text Kevin Villanueva at 09177122462.
“[But] UP cannot be sustained by income from these assets. Our Charter says that whatever is generated by the development of these assets will not in any way reduce the commitment of the government to provide it with budget appropriation,’’ Pascual stated. Closer to Privatization While the UP administration boasts about its newest venture, students expressed their dismay over the opening of the University Town Center and slammed another move of the administration towards commercialization and privatization of UP. Student leaders have expressed their dissent in the offline and online world. In an online account, Ana Alexandra Castro, current Chairperson of the UP Diliman University Student Council (USC), pointed why the UP Town Center is unacceptable. Castro gave three reasons: saying that the lands of UP should only be for academic purposes; that private entities
Continued on page 04
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NEWS 03
Volume 27 Numbers 8-9 Thursday | 21 November 2013
HOR approves P2.268-T 2014 nat’l budget
UPM USC Chair Zubiri Faces Impeachment Case
PDAF ‘realigned,’ itemized
10 offenses validated by USC
Ronilo Raymundo Mesa
T
By Carlo Rey Resurreccion Martinez
he House of Representatives (HOR) approved on October 22 the P2.268trillion proposed national budget for 2014 with the controversial lump-sum pork barrel funds removed and apportioned to other government agencies.
HOR.
The HOR passed the “pork-less” House Bill (HB) 2630, or the 2014 General Appropriations Act (GAA) with a vote of 219 to 22, in light of the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam.
The said guidelines, which will be followed starting 2014, include setting a cap of P24.5 million for each infrastructure project proposal. Moreover, non-government organizations may not be involved in implementing the projects.
Under HB 2630, the P25.2-billion Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of lawmakers and the P200-million social service fund of the Office of the Vice President were removed and rechanneled to six departments. These departments are the Commission on Higher Education (Ched), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Of these agencies, DPWH will get the biggest allocation at 35 percent or P8.82 billion, while DepEd will receive the smallest at five percent or P1.26 billion. Line Budgeting On the other hand, despite the removal of the discretionary PDAF, the approved budget still contained allocations for various infrastructure project proposals submitted by members of the
These infrastructure projects, proposed under new HOR guidelines and approved by DPWH, were included as line items in the department’s list of projects for 2014.
Aside from the aforementioned regulations, lawmakers may not fund “soft projects” such as scholarships and medical assistance programs but instead may just “recommend” these projects to concerned government agencies. Budget Allocations Meanwhile, the DepEd, DPWH, and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) will receive the largest allocations under the 2014 GAA. DepEd will get the largest chunk of the budget amounting to P281.8 billion, while DPWH and DILG are set to receive allocations amounting to P207.3 billion and P100.2 billion, respectively. (See Table 1 for the allocations of some other agencies) The House-approved budget bill has already been given to the Senate on October 24 and is now awaiting the Senate’s approval.
Government Agency
Allocation
Percentage Share
Department of Health
85.1
3.75
Department of Social Welfare and Development
84.5
3.73
Department of National Defense
82.2
3.63
Department of Agriculture
68.6
3.02
Department of Transportation and Communication
45.1
1.99
State Universities and Colleges
34.7
1.53
Table 1. Allocation of some government agencies under the 2014 GAA, in billion pesos. (Reference: rappler.com)
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our officers of the University of the Philippines Manila (UPM) University Student Council (USC) have filed a resolution for the impeachment of Chairperson Maryliz Zubiri. Ten of the 14 alleged offenses listed in the resolution were validated during the UPM USC’s 7th General Assembly held on October 24. Councilor Raymart Macasaet, Councilor Nikkolai Thaddeus Mappatao, and the College of Nursing (CN) Representative (Rep.) to the USC Venice-Marie Dee and College of Allied Medical Professions (CAMP) Rep. to the USC Franchesca Dalangin presented the resolution to the USC’s 6th General Assembly (GA) on October 16. Multiple Offenses The resolution lists ten counts of misconduct that undermined the integrity of the USC, two counts of gross neglect of duty, and two counts of willful violation of the UPM USC Constitution and the USC Rules of Internal Governance (RIG) that Zubiri allegedly committed between March 31, 2013 and October 3, 2013. Moreover, the resolution was filed based on the provisions stated in Article IX of the UPM USC Constitution which states that the GA may impeach or suspend any of its members on any of the following grounds: willful violation of the Constitution; gross neglect of duty; or any form of misconduct which undermines the integrity of the USC. Furthermore, the UPM USC Constitution also states that a member shall be impeached upon a two- thirds vote of the GA. Legality Questioned During its 6th GA on October 16, the USC approved a motion for the body to validate all offenses listed in the resolution through majority vote. The first case, spreading of malicious grapevine to UPM students about a USC officer, was invalidated. The validation of the remaining 13 cases continued in the USC’s 7th GA on October 24, presided by USC Secretary and Councilor Charmaine Camille Manilay due to the absence of both Chairperson Zubiri and Vice Chairperson
Adrian Sampang. However, Councilor Carlo Lorenzo and Councilor Allia Acosta questioned the legality and refused to join the 7th GA. As of press time, Lorenzo noted that the USC has failed to reach consensus regarding the recognition of the 7th GA. Moreover, Zubiri claimed that the 7th GA was not supposed to push through because of a motion by Acosta that was raised and seconded in the 6th GA. This motion stated that the 7th GA would be tentatively set on October 24 but it should be postponed in the event that a council member would have an exam on the same week. Sampang claimed that he contacted Manilay on October 21 to inform her that he had an exam on that week, but she allegedly failed to reply quickly. Invalid Cancellation However, College of Public Health (CPH) Rep. Charmaine Cabaña claimed her motion in the 6th GA, which was approved and adopted by the body, superseded Acosta’s motion. Cabaña’s motion stated that the 7th GA should push through as long as quorum of at least 9 officers was obtained, regardless of the schedule of any officer’s exams. Furthermore, Councilor Manilay argued that the 7th GA was legal because the USC RIG states that GAs cannot be cancelled within 24 hours prior to their set schedule. Manilay claims that Zubiri has only contacted her for the cancellation of the meeting within the 24 hour period prior to the GA. Moreover, Manilay reiterated that quorum was obtained. Aside from Manilay, other officers present were: College of Medicine (CM) Rep. Jose Paolo Albaño, College of Pharmacy (CP) Rep. Romeo-Luis Ramirez, College of Dentistry (CD) Rep. Rebekah Tuparan, CAMP Rep. Dalangin, CN Rep. Dee, CPH Rep. Cabaña, Councilor Macasaet, and Councilor Mappatao. Subsequently, the 7th GA validated 10 of the remaining 13 cases and moved to request Zubiri to submit her defense in writing. As of press time, Mappatao noted that there is no tentative schedule or fixed agenda for the UPM USC’s 8th GA.
04 NEWS
Volume 27 Numbers 8-9 21 November 2013 | Thursday
Dating Propesor ng UP, Hinuli ng mga Militar
Mga militanteng grupo, kinondena ang iligal na
pagkakadakip
Ano ang masasabi mo sa kaso 1laban ng impeachment na inihain kay University Student
Adolf Enrique Santos
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aghain ng “not guilty plea” noong Oktubre 24 si Kim Gargar, isang physicist at dating propesor sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Diliman, para sa lahat ng kasong isinampa sa kanya. Hinuli si Gargar noong Oktubre 1 ng mga militar matapos itong matagpuang duguan malapit sa lugar ng sagupaan sa pagitan ng New People’s Army (NPA) at mga militar sa Cateel, Davao Oriental. Kinasuhan siya ng illegal possession of explosives, firearms, and ammunitions, frustrated/attempted murder, at paglabag sa election gun ban.
Militar: “Kasapi si Gargar ng NPA” Sa ulat ng mga militar, natunton ng isang K-9 unit si Gargar na walang malay mula sa mga tinamong sugat sa ulo at paa. Paulitulit umano ito na bumubulong ng “suko na ako”habang hawak-hawak ang isang M16 rifle at nakahandusay malapit sa isang nasawing NPA. Naniniwala ang mga militar na natamo ni Gargar ang kanyang mga sugat sa nangyaring putukan noong 2 n.u noong Oktubre 1. Natagpuan din umano sa tabi ni Gargar ang ilang mga dokumento ng NPA at landmines. Ayon sa mga militar, nakasaad sa mga natagpuang dokumento na taong 2012 nang sumapi si Gargar sa NPA Compostela Valley. Itinuturo din si Gargar bilang isa sa mga gumawa ng landmines ng NPA at tumulong kay Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Chair Jose Maria Sison na maglimbag ng mga subersibong libro para sa NPA. Inilahad din ng militar ang pagkakaroon nila ng mga record kung saan tahasang inamin ni Gargar ang pagiging miyembro niya ng nasaad na kilusan. Gargar: “Nananaliksik lamang ako” Gayonpaman, pinabulaanan ni Gargar ang mga paratang laban sa kanya. Sa isang panayam, sinabi ni Gargar na ang kanyang pag-amin bilang isang NPA ay pag-ayon lamang sa mga militar upang hindi siya saktan. ”Lahat ng sinabi ko, ginawa ko mula nung dinakip nila ako is to please them kasi I don’t want to antagonize, so kung ano yung gusto nilang marinig sa tingin ko, yun yung aking sasabihin,”pahayag ni Gargar. Dagdag pa niya, naapektohan din ang kanyang mga sagot sa militar ng takot na dulot ng mga kaharap niyang 10 sundalo na may matataas na kalibre ng baril. Ayon sa abogado ni Gargar na si Atty. Joel UP town center officially opened / From Page 02
only enrich themselves given the low lease rates of UP lands; and that the government use these kinds of projects to abandon its financial support to the university. Moreover, former Student Regent (SR) Cleve Arguelles asserted that the UP Town Center violates Sec 22 (F) of the UP Charter. This provision states that income generating projects utilizing the properties of the university should
ITANONG KAY ISKO’T ISKA
Mahinay ng Union Peoples’ Lawyers in Mindanao, naroon ang kanyang kliyente bilang parte ng pananaliksik sa naging epekto ng bagyong Pablo sa mga lugar sa Davao Oriental at Compostela Valley. Ito ay bilang bahagi ng ginagawang rehabilitation and reforestation program ng Balsa Mindanao at ng environmental group na Panalipdan. Nang mismong araw na nangyari ang engkwentro, sinabi ni Gargar na naroon sila upang magsagawa ng “nocturnal activity assessment, yung sa mga animals na may nocturnal activities.” Nang makita siya ng mga militar, siya daw ay may malay at ang kanyang mga sugat ay nagmula sa kanyang pagkahulog sa isang talon. “Nahulog ako doon sa pagmamadali at kaba kaya ako nagkaroon nito,” ani Gargar. Sinabi rin niya na nang makita niya ang mga sundalo, sumigaw siya na wala siyang dalang mga armas. Militanteng Grupo: “Ang pagdakip ay isang paglabag sa karapatang pantao” Mariin namang kinondena ng ilang mga grupo ang pagkakadakip at pagsasampa ng kaso kay Gargar. Ani Juland Suazo, tagapagsalita ng Panalipdan Southern Mindanao at isa sa mga katulong sa ginawang pag-aaral ni Gargar, ang propesor ay nagsasaliksik lamang ukol sa epekto ng Bagyong Pablo sa biodiversity ng naturang lugar. Si Gargar ay kasalukuyang Local and International Networking Officer sa Center for Environmental Concerns-Philippines (CEC-Phils) sa Quezon City. Miyembro din siya ng Samahan ng Nagtataguyod ng Agham at Teknolohiya Para sa Sambayanan (AGHAM). Sa isang press release, ipinarating ni AGHAM President at UP Diliman Professor Giovanni Tapang ang kanilang pagtutol sa iligal na pagkakaaresto kay Gargar. Winika niya na nahahalintulad ang kaso ni Gargar sa naging pagpaslang sa botanist na si Leonard Co noong 2010. Nagtapos si Gargar bilang Magna Cum Laude sa kursong BS Physics sa Mindanao State UniversityIligan Institute of Technology. Kumuha naman siya ng kanyang Masters degree UP National Institute of Physics at kalaunan ay nagturo dito bilang Teacher Associate. Naging propesor din siya sa Mapua Institute of technology, Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) Sta. Mesa at Don Mariano University sa Cagayan De Oro, Misamis Oriental. Nag-aral din ng Chronobiology si Gargar para sa kanyang PhD sa Rijksuniversiteit Groningen sa Netherlands noong 2009. adhere to the university’s academic mission and the funds shall not replace the appropriations received by UP from the national university. According to Pascual, the UP Town Center is just one of the many lands of UP being converted through private partnerships. Parts of UP Los Baños have been converted into economic zones while lands in UP Mindanao are being developed into a Cacao plantation. He also cited a plan to convert the remaining idle lands of UP Diliman into a science and technology park.
Council (USC) Chairperson Mariz Zubiri?
Hindi ko alam kung sinong Poncio Pilato ang
nagpasimuno niyan, pero tanang buhay ko ngayon lang ako nakakita ng impeachment complaint na yung grounds eh tungkol sa lock picking, 'paninigaw' kuno sa isang kawani, panchichismis, at kung ano pang mabababaw na dahilan. Kung sino ka man, ito lang ang masasabi ko sa iyo: "Tangina mo bakit hindi ka pa maglason?" - Madason, 68315, CAS Uncalled for naman ata yung impeachment kay ate mariz. we cannot avoid conflicts. instead of doing something that may render the USC useless, why not zoidberg well, wala rin akong maisip na solution e. Pero hindi rin naman solusyon ang pagtanggal sa kanya. Respect na lang rin sana kasi deserving siya sa position niya. She won it fair and square. -2012-00255 jansport BA SocSci (Area Stud) CAS Seems like someone can't get over losing the last election. --little miss anonymous This impeachment a year too late; 2) WALA KAYO SA TIMING; 3) This just shows how divided the USC always is, no matter how much they promise that they are "one color" so please, sa susunod na USC, wag niyo na lang sabihin kung di niyo kayang panindigan. Nakakadisappoint kasi. -insert witty codename here, 2011, CAS This impeachment doesn't benefit the students at all; it will just advance their personal and political interests. So much for being critical and practicing good governance. -Tobias, 2012-XXXXX, CAS
Pwede ring ipadala ang inyong mga sagot sa pamamagitan ng pag-text sa 09069447782! (Pero bawal ang textmate!)
We are all for good governance, transparency, and accountability. Pero with the impeachment case looming on the USC, I don’t think the UPM community sees these virtues. For one, yung ibang mga kaso doon were not really manifestations of the three violations which were bases for impeachment. In fact, some were really petty that they could have solved it within themselves instead of airing their dirty laundry outside. Second, the proceedings could have used logic and due process. Third, I know you guys came from different parties. But hell, USC kayo, the students’ governing body. Mahiya naman kayo. Do not act like children being pitted against each other. USC, please know what you are doing. While UP is a microcosm of the society, it’s a shame na yung flawed na sistema ng ating pamahalaan ay naaadopt sa ating pamantasan. – crossedfingersforgraduation, 2010
2Ano nang status ninyo ni CRS? Ayun, parang "Pare Ko" lang ng Eraserheads: "Pinaasa niya lang ako; lecheng pag-ibig to....." -Madason, 68315, CAS Ayus lang isang subject na hindi nakuha na major pero Y.O.L.O haha di po katulad nung blockmate ko GG for the second time. -201200255 jansport BA SocSci (Area Stud) CAS Ayun, gumana naman yung pag-aalay ko ng baka. Loljk. Worth the wait naman pala yung pre-enlistment results. -little miss anonymous It's Complicated. Mejo may tampo parin ako. -insert witty codename here, 2011, CAS I need space. -Tobias, 2012-XXXXX, CAS
Mappatao Macasa Mamakusa, Mappatao Macasa Mamakusa (sing to the tune of Please Don't Stop the Music by Rihanna) -pilyong KERUbin
Heto, we're good. Honeymoon phase na kami. Puro hugs and kisses (XOXO) ang nakukuha ko mula kay CRS. --tambaykanto, 2nd Year OrCom
Isang malaking pamumulitika lang ang kaso ng impeachment laban kay Mariz. Gusto nilang pagandahin ang imahe ng USC? Kung talagang may pakialam sila para sa mas nakararami, bakit hindi nila unahing asikasuhin kung ano ang makapagpapabuti sa kalagayan ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan at ng mamamayan? Ang daming oras para makipagdiskusyon para mapatalsik si Mariz, kulang naman sila sa aksyon para sa mga bagay na mas nangangailangan ng pansin. -eponinenymous, 2011-*****
we're still Constructing the Restructuring of the Structure -pilyong KERUbin
Ako lang ba o pandagdag boto lang yung Dalangin para masabing may quorum? Salita ka di pag may time haha. -Cham Tsaka na, 2010, CAS. Politics. Pinakita niyo nga talagang hindi kayo "para sa" bayan. Eh hindi naman kami interesado diyan. We want our rights back. We want UP and the other SUCs to get what they deserve. And dont tell me na hindi niyo yan move as a party. Walang maniniwala sa #denylang niyo. -superhero ng ermita Wala akong alam about dun. Wala po akong kasalanan. Patawad! -embezzledheart, 2013-xoxox, CAS
Matagal nang nakipag-break sa akin ang CRS. No matter how much I try to patch things up, nakapag-move on na siya sa akin. Kaya dapat mag-move on na din ako. Mahirap, pero kakayanin. Makaka-enrol din ako sa mga subjects na kailangan ko. -eponinenymous, 2011-***** Hello po, Ma'am Lu. -Cham Tsaka na, 2010, CAS. Okay man kami ni CRS o hindi, 20k pa rin naman babayaran ko every sem eh. -superhero ng ermita Ayun, nganga pa din yung iba. Keri lang, may awa pa din ang Math. Hindi ako ginawang TRES. -embezzledheart, 2013-xoxox, CAS Okay kami ni CRS. He was more than kind and willing to give me what I want. Epal lang kasi si Grades. Third party. – crossedfingersforgraduation, 2010
Volume 27 Numbers 8-9 Thursday | 21 November 2013
NEWS 05
06 FEATURES T
he present administration willingly jeopardizes the lives of its citizens for the sake of profit. This is the plight currently confronted by the citizens of Nueva Vizcaya due to the effects of mining operations in their area. With countless protests and pleas, the Vizcayanos ceaselessly fought for their rights and for the protection of their province in the hopes that the administration will lend an ear to them. But as the government remained deaf to the cries of the citizens for their rights, the people received nothing but the continuing lack of concern that was never failed to serve to them.
The Locus Being the host of two of the large-scale mining operations in the country, Nueva Vizcaya is a land naturally endowed with mineral resources. Two transnational corporations have been leading the mining projects in the said province. Oceanagold Philippines Inc. has been operating a gold-copper project in the town of Didipio, Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya while FCF Minerals Inc. has been pushing through with their gold-molybdenum project in Runruno, Quezon, Nueva Vizcaya. However, different issues have also surfaced in the area, as these companies’ operations went on during the past few years. Different cases of biodiversity loss, water pollution, and human rights violations have been discovered by the fact-finding mission spearheaded by the anti-mining groups “Defend Patrimony” and Alyansang Nagkakaisang Vizcayanos para sa Kalikasan (ANVIK). Last August 21, 2013, Bryan Epa, an anti-mining activist, was detained by the police and after some days of absence, has become a victim of enforced disappearance. Alarmed by the incident, some citizens who knew about Epa’s arrest sought for him in the police station. They were informed that Epa has been released on the same night of the arrest, though the police records stated that it was not Epa, but another man who was released at that time. Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (KAMP) spokesperson Piya Macliing Malayao stated that the military and police have been responsible in violating the human rights of Vizcayanos in several villages. The Commission of Human Rights has also confirmed the abuses that Oceanagold has been committing towards the villagers opposed to their mining ventures. According to reports, its manager, Brennan Lang, allegedly had his security guards detain a farmer after the latter declined to sell his farm to the mining company. In the Didipio River, where Oceanagold purportedly releases its mining wastes, a “foul, orange brown siltation” and disappearance of aquatic resources have been discovered by the fact-finding mission. Similar observations were reported by the mission on the waters of Runruno, where FCF Minerals allegedly releases its effluents. According to Dr. Chito Medina, the lead expert of the scoping team in Runruno, there was a decrease in the flow, volume, and quality of water, with signs of chemical contamination in the waterways of the area. Therefore, as the people continue using the contaminated water, their health is also put at risk. However, despite Defend Patrimony and ANVIK’s investigations, the Mines and
Volume 27 Numbers 8-9 21 November 2013 | Thursday Geosciences Bureau (MGB) still pointed out that the small-scale miners are the possible culprits of the water pollution and biodiversity loss in Didipio River. Since June of this year, MGB stated that it has been receiving reports on the presence of small-scale mining activities in Kasibu. However, it could also be noted that Oceanagold’s commercial operations have started as early as April, and that it has been operating on full-swing since June. This only means that Oceanagold has already started ahead, even before the small-scale mining operations. Besides, it was also the smallscale miners themselves who have lamented their experiences of itching and inhalation of unpleasant odors while exposed to the waters of Didipio. In addition, the massive deterioration of water quality in such a short span of time cannot be simply caused by smallscale mining operations alone. Plagued with different mining issues, the locus is currently facing its slow degradation.
The Blasting Cap Hounded by mining issues which persist in their domain, the people are urged to seek the resolution of the problems that the administration has been burying with passivity. Last September 11, 2013, environmentalist groups Defend Patrimony and Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE) held a picket in opposition to the mining conference of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) .Blocked by the police and guards, the protesters denounced the different cases of human rights violations committed by the mining companies to their host communities. The said groups also raised their concerns on the weakening mining market and the possible implications of large-scale mining to the citizens and their environment. The
growing
concern for the livelihood of the people in mining communities has been one of the issues tackled by the environmental groups. Defend Patrimony specifically cited the shutdown of Oceanagold’s New Zealand mining project, in contrast to the supposed guarantee of jobs and profit by the large-scale mining industry. In the said shutdown, the company has lost $70-M and retrenched about 300 workers due to the declining demand of the market. Therefore, in the event that profit also starts to decline for Oceanagold Philippines, the same end result may possibly happen to its workers as well. The abating global demand for metals, in line with the slowdown of China’s economy, has also been raised, since China is considered as the main consumer in metal production. In the case of Oceanagold Philippines, Kasibu Mayor Chito Bumolo has stated that only few of their locals have been hired by the company. And due to the human rights violations that it has committed upon its entry on the area, the citizens of Kasibu are even filing cases for the
closure of the company. Even the present sources of livelihood of the Vizcayanos are affected by the effects that the mining operations have inflicted in their province. According to the locals, the water snails, shrimps, carp, mudfish and other local species that used to be abundant in the river have disappeared. They have also observed the reduction in the population of frogs and the increase in the population of mosquitoes, which could lead to the outbreak of dengue and other diseases. The effects that the situation posed to the communities contributed to the lack of job opportunities for the residents and the depletion of the resources which they depend on for their livelihood. In addition, the situation does not only foresee the effect it might impose to the workers once profit declines; the health of the people in the mining communities is also put in peril. Defend Patrimony and Kalikasan PNE believe that in dealing with these factors, the companies will also affect the environment as
FEATURES 07
Volume 27 Numbers 8-9 Thursday | 21 November 2013
In its sole concern for its economic exploits, the government has failed to acknowledge the exigencies in addressing the situation of its people living in the mining communities.
The Explosive Complementary to the government’s failure in ameliorating the condition of the mining communities are the existing flaws and loopholes in the mining laws of the country that the large companies have been utilizing for their benefit. Last July 6, 2012, President Benigno Aquino signed the Executive Order (EO) No. 79, also known as
“Institutionalizing and Implementing Reforms in the Philippine Mining Sector Providing Policies and Guidelines to Ensure Environmental Protection and Responsible Mining to the Utilization of Mineral Resources”. Through the signed EO, mining companies will be given extra benefits on their projects. On the other hand, its flaws are imposing more impending threats to the environment. For instance, one of the contents of the EO, which is the closure of some areas for mining projects, provides a big loophole with respect to the protection of the land domain of the villagers. According to Kalikasan Partylist, the only areas classified as “closed” are those already labelled by other laws as protected zones. Nueva Vizcaya, for example, has not yet been considered as an area in need of protection even with the environmental and social issues that have plagued the province. Thus, any area that has not yet been closed will remain open despite their fragility and need of protection, lest the government labels them as such. With this, it is probable that possible mining communities might experience the same problems that Nueva Vizcaya is already suffering. Apart from this, the EO seems to delimit the open areas only for the usage of the large-scale mining companies, hence, limiting small-scale mining practices. During the past years, President Aquino had been very vocal in putting the blame on the small-scale miners of the mining problems in host communities. By establishing the EO, not only will the large scale-mining operations be given the privilege to exploit the open areas, but they will also be restricted from the small-scale miners who are mostly Filipinos. The EO also issues a directive instructing the local government units of host communities to conform to any mining policy and regulation released by the National Government. In promulgating this, the
government obviously limits the communities’ right to decide their stand on the mining operations done in their area. With the local government knowing the host area’s current problems and mining issues the most, the directive is disadvantageous to the mining communities. As the directive only rests the final decision to the National Government, it fully deprives the people of their freedom of choice, leaving them with no other option but conformity. The worsening situation is aggravated by the protocol on the EO’s National Industrialization Plan (NIP), which claims to renew the goal of the mining industry. According to the NIP, it aims to primarily address the needs of the country before focusing on the development needs of other capitalist countries. But this supposed idealistic thrust of the NIP is obliterated as the NIP is patterned from the Philippine Development Plan (PDP). While the NIP claims to address the country’s interests, the PDP visualizes a mining industry with the incentives given to the transnational companies, large-scale mining, and even public-private partnerships (PPP).With the support of the PPP, private mining companies are then given the chance to acquire originally governmentowned lands for their mining purposes. Eventually, the government will lose its control on the area once a company acquires the land, and will end up having the upper hand on the exploitation of the land’s resources. The loopholes in the provisions simply prove that not only has the Executive Order No. 79 been futile in improving the mining laws, but it has also showed the willingness of the government to sacrifice the domain’s proper utilization in exchange of serving the wrong beneficiaries. As the current situation of mining in the country continues to worsen, the necessity to return the country’s lands back to the people intensifies. Taking from the drastic experiences of the residents in the host communities, there is an evident need for the government to repair the loopholes of the country’s own mining laws. Moreover, the leniency of the government to large-scale mining operations in contrast to its negative view to small-scale mining has only exposed its unsparing discrimination to its own people. The different issues in mining that the Vizcayanos have faced for so long have just detonated a part of the crooked path that the administration has been leading its people with. And even if the government may earn profit through these mining ventures, it will never justify the fact that as long as these projects continue unregulated, the people’s lives will always be in danger.
"As the current situation of mining in the country continues to worsen, the necessity to return the country’s lands back to the people intensifies"
SUBSIDENCE*
well. In fact, villages in Nueva Vizcaya have been opposing the entry of mining operations by maintaining barricades since 2007 due to the adverse impacts of such activities to the environment. But according to KAMP, these actions were reciprocated with the deployment of military forces in the province to dismantle the barricaded areas. In this case, the government has just shown its partiality by remaining tolerant to the mining giants operating in the area, rather than helping its own people who only sought to protect their homes and lives.
Liezl Ann Dimabuyu Lansang Illustration by Daniel John Galinato Estember *The gradual sinking, or sometimes abrupt collapse, of the rock and soil layers into an underground mine.
08 CULTURE A
Volume 27 Numbers 8-9 21 November 2013 | Thursday
ll hell breaks loose.
If there is one permanent thing in UP, that’s Hellweek. No amount of preparation, rage tweets, and comfort food can extinguish the fires that catch every student. It seems that everyone experiences a change in their usual mindset and emotion. It could be seen that a single event is enough to break even the strongest UP student and subject everyone to a range of emotions— and each Iskolar ng Bayan defy (or deny) its effects in one way or another.
Highway to
Hell (Week)*
Yet no sacrifice is ever enough. No amount of energy will be spared in dealing with hellweek. The damage may have different effects on each person, but hellweek is inevitable. As much as it is recurring, no one is ever ready to face it.
Angelo Dennis Aligaga Agdeppa
Illustration by Lizette Joan Campana Daluz
No one shall obtain mercy. No one is spared from its wrath.
Denial
Anger
“Wala pa naman akong kailangang gawin eh. Matagal pa deadline nu’n.”
“Ano ba naman ‘to? Bakit ba kailangan naming gawin lahat ng ‘to eh hindi naman related sa course.”
We are all guilty of making this statement. Sometimes, this is the root of all evil that burns us. We defend ourselves from the doom of hellweek — the high chance of failure, sleepless nights, and expectations from people— by denying that hellweek is still a long way off. We want to get away from the reality where people have to face exams and deadlines. “Selective amnesia” also serves as a defense mechanism when we suppress the fact that we have exams and requirements to be met. Being bombarded with activities from our classes and our organizations is enough to make us worry about failing ourselves and others. If we worry less, we suffer less. However, there is a deeper reason on why we deny the idea that there is a surge of workload coming during Hellweek. Creating such shell gives us the mechanism to defend ourselves from possible stains on our reputation. Being tagged as Iskolar ng Bayan, there is nothing graver than an attack on our ego. What better way to defend ourselves than to look as if we are not affected by any threat? We deny the existence of hellweek to save our faces, and to feel superior. In this society, we are looked upon as excellent students; and this society expects us to have grace under pressure. It is an excellent move to protect one’s reputation — you won’t get hurt and you won’t hurt people. It is better to create a smokescreen where people will not recognize any mistakes. Students can come up with any reason on why they fail — they can blame others while saving their prized reputation. Denial, which is first seen as a sign of weakness, actually becomes an almost impenetrable defense mechanism.
Depression
Then, what kills you is the second part. Every student now recognizes that a horrible event is happening — there is no escape. Hellweek is now in front of us with such ferocity and suddenness. Anger seeps in because we underestimate the effect that the hellweek has brought. On the contrary, as we experience anger, we begin to come to terms with reality that days of extreme perseverance will be needed if we are to pass the semester. Rage mode, as some call it. We vent out our anger to the instructor, the subject, the curriculum, the group mate, the computer— yet we comply with the requirements and do tasks in an impressive speed and energy. But despite all of the productiveness, is anger really the solution? Anger has become an emotion that does not seem to end. It is a world of hurt; and with pain, we begin to perceive the world as unfair. But anger is not only projected towards the outside world — we also get angry with ourselves. We think that we are never good enough. An unfair world and an unsuccessful character make hellweek in the university much worse. The denial we continuously exercise in the past is not effective in protecting our ego. So, we cope with what reality has given us. Then, we realize that venting our anger does not always work; and sometimes just creates the opposite effect. Overall, anger is not, and will never be, a productive feeling. The ego that we continue to prize becomes our weakest spot. An attack on our ego brings the beast and the irrational in us. After a series of irrational actions, a rational mindset will let the student see who are to be blamed and what feelings should be left.
Yet a defensive move can never conquer.
“H
Fight against our limits and a test of our character. It is a challenge to move our
“Hirap na hirap na akoooooooo. Huehuehuehue” Now the hellweek is on a whole new level. The flames of depression burn our hopes like how fire feasts on dried leaves. Education is said to be the ticket to success. The youth struggle to gain college degrees so as to gain respect from a society that values educational attainment as a key in improving the lives of the Filipino family. Being in UP, we feel that we are expected to pass that standard set by society with flying colors. Yet hellweek is preventing us to create an image that the society needs. Depression stems from our fear of failure. This society has become a prison for young minds as old concepts of success and failure still influence us in every move that we make. We are governed by numbers in class cards — and this is what the depression in hellweek implies. Grades seem to measure our worth. We are in a society that values education more than other things, even the happiness that every student should feel while studying. Instead, there is only happiness when we have an advantage over others. We only feel happy when we garner high grades. Grades seem to be the pinnacle of learning.
“Ayoko na. Bahala na ito. Tanggap ko na ang grade na makukuha ko rito, Pasado man o Bagsak.” We begin to come to terms with our mortality. Like a renewed spirit, we then reflect to the events that transpired, and what are its effects on us. In turn, learning and acceptance take place. But then again, acceptance is a vague word. It is still unclear if you have accepted defeat, or the truth that you need to lower your standards for the things that you can do and achieve. Or maybe you found that silver lining and swear that during the next hellweek, you’ll do better.
It is our own expectations that hinder us from feeling better during hellweek. The pursuit of excellence compels us to attain that high standard — to finish a degree with flying colors, while still maintaining our sanity and reputation. In this society, we can only gain respect after getting a diploma, or if a high position is associated to our name. Yet depression pushes us to enforce change. As we fall into the pit of uncertainty, some desperately find something to hold on to — trying to usher any strength and hope left to change the course of their fate. On the other hand, some will be immobilized by shock and disappointment, and be consummated by the fire. Hellweek is not just about chronicling the struggle that we have to endure in order to attain the grades that we desire. It is not about meeting expectations in order to get a passing grade. The only expectation that should be met in college is that every student should learn, and enjoy while doing so. The burn marks from hellweek are battle scars — a reminder that people can only change at the brink of defeat. Hellweek is a fight against our limits and a test of our character. It is a challenge to move our mindsets from being a victim into a mindset of a hero. Enduring the UP Hellweek does not mean that you forget. It will never make any hurt go away or remove your sadness. The essence of hellweek is that it is not only a measure of what you have learned in the semester, but of what you have learned in life.
ellweek is a
mindsets from being a victim into a mindset of a hero
Acceptance
”
Hellweek will make you a better person, regardless of the difficulties it posed. Hellweek is change. Hellweek is revolution. *a pun intended for AC/DC’s Highway to Hell
FEATURES 09
Volume 27 Numbers 8-9 Thursday | 21 November 2013
T
he medicine that was supposed to ease the malady that consumes the system brought nothing but injurious complications. The Socialized Tuition Financial Assistance Program (STFAP) was institutionalized in 1989 with the goal of alleviating the burden of paying for unreasonably high tuition fees. The UP Board of Regents described the program as “part of UP’s effort to democratize access and admission to its academic programs and promote fairness and social justice in the University, benefiting its status as a State-supported institution of higher learning”. The program employs a bracketing system, through which each student is assigned to a bracket depending on his or her family’s income and expenses. The higher the income, the higher the tuition fees— which then creates the illusion that the rich are subsidizing those in the lower brackets. In turn, the program is believed to provide a more accessible education to students.
Subtle Treachery The medicine slowly permeates the system. The fallacious system begins with the assessment and assignment of brackets – A, B, C, D, E1, and E2. The administration evaluates the annual income of the student’s family, as well as their yearly expenses, and appoints a bracket. A student may appeal to his or her case in order to avail a lower tuition fee cost. Moreover, additional documents – water and electric bills – are required to be submitted by the applicants in order to prove his claimed socioeconomic status. This is the crude mechanism used by the administration to gauge the ability of a student to shoulder his or her tuition fee. The STFAP assumes the student’s capability to pay based on his
family’s income and expenses yet these standards are both malicious and insufficient. The entirety of the system is plagued with flaws as it inefficiently and viciously evaluates the student. For one, the program runs through the premise of “ceteris paribus” – all applicants are treated the same. This assumption deceives students into believing that the processing of documents is entirely democratic and fair. According to Professor Roland Simbulan’s article, this assumption is far from reality. Students may own the same number of appliances, but these appliances do not have the same value. Nonetheless, the evaluators use this premise and disregard the volatility of the economy and prevailing market prices. The present situation of the university is as attributable to the State as it is to the administration. The survival of the university is no longer ensured by the government for they continue to neglect their duties of subsidizing state universities. The budget cuts that kept on increasing continue to cripple the university. For this year alone, the government lodged a 1.43B budget cut for the whole UP system. Last 2011, the budget was slashed by P1.39 B – which amounts to a total of P5.5B for the said year. The administration has found recourse in STFAP, and it continues to do so. It is meant to deceive rather than to fix the current situation. State neglect has led to the deplorable status of the university today – where education is no longer a right but a privilege. The inefficiency of the program to subsidize tuition fees for some students has led to problems that further aggravate the situation. In Academic Year 2012-2013, the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) listed a total of 984 loan applications. But even with the availability of the loan, some students are still unable to shoulder their tuition fees. Also, despite the tedious application process, the release of STFAP results often coincide with the beginning of the semester – sometimes even more delayed. And in order to enrol, the students who applied for the program will be given temporary brackets that bring more burden to the Iskolar. With these presented, it can be seen that
Dire Consequences
entering the university because of the high tuition fees also arises. AY 2010-2011 listed a total number of UPCAT passers in UP Manila reached 1,048, but only 860 students enrolled.
The medicine betrays its recipient as it continues to distress the mechanism.
Clearly, the State University has lost its public character.
The University of the Philippines is losing its identity as a state university. As a State University, it is mandated to provide quality yet accessible education for the Filipino youth. However, circumstances altered the said mandate. The STFAP is a mechanism that promotes inaccessible education to students. The program is continuously being used to cover the tuition fee increase. Former Student Regent Krissy Conti noted that the STFAP is a “smokescreen of tuition fee increase”. The program’s scheme of using the bracketing system as a filter for those students who are deemed to be unfortunate implies the increase of tuition fees. The students are assigned to a default bracket and not everyone can be admitted as beneficiaries of the program. With this, the increase of fees is clearly hidden and masked.
Other than the skewed demographics of the university, STFAP and state neglect have paved the way for anti-student policies. Last year, the no late payment policy that denied students to participate in classes due to unpaid fees greatly impacted the whole UP community. Clearly, the university no longer caters to the needs of the disfavoured students and instead supports those who can ensure the payment for their fees.
the program is unsuccessful in giving the students attainable education.
The program is utilized by the university to earn but despite the generation of income, the UP education remains out of bounds for the underprivileged. The population of students who can readily shoulder their fees without the need to apply for a lower bracket is gradually increasing. In fact, the mere existence of the bracketing system alters the identity of UP as a state university. The lack of subsidy from the government and the inefficiency of STFAP have led the university to implement schemes that modify the university’s demographics. In AY 2010-2011, there were only 242 beneficiaries for Bracket C, 154 beneficiaries for Bracket D, 37 for Bracket E1, and only 4 for Bracket E2. When totalled, these figures would not even reach half of UP Manila's population. According to an Inquirer article* by Professors Roland Simbulan and Ted Mendoza, the population of the university is dominated by those of the higher income brackets -- comprising 76% of the whole student population, and only 24% apply for STFAP. Meanwhile, the possibility of a number of UPCAT passers have become disenfranchised to pursue
The university has also become a niche for privatization and commercialization. The STFAP commercializes education for it denies the accessibility of education to students. In the program, students who will not be able to abide will be disenfranchised in entering the university. It is a device to tolerate the negligence of the State to its duties to ensure the university’s survival. The STFAP is an ineffective scheme that is nurtured to hide the prejudice that permeates the system. The university is no longer characterized by its true identity. The STFAP – despite being the solution presented by the administration – did nothing but to repress the students’ right for accessible education. The questionable process embedded within the program further inhibits and chains the students from attaining quality education. It has changed the identity of the university. Furthermore, its existence is the reflection of the State’s abandonment of its responsibility and the university’s tolerance to the neglect. The University must never deviate from its mandate. UP was regarded as the national university for nothing. The “Iskolar ng Bayan” must remain. *The article did not specify the academic year.
Placebo
Jennah Yelle Manato Mallari Illustration by Joanne Pauline Ramos Santos
10 EDITORIAL N
Volume 27 Numbers 8-9 21 November 2013 | Thursday
ever has the integrity of an institution sworn to uphold students' rights been this undermined and ridiculed, and all for the advancement of competing political interests. Editor-in- Chief
The University Student Council (USC) saw its time-honored mandate as representatives of student interest being dishonored; surprisingly by the members itself. The council has become a tool, and even an arena, for both parties to exercise dominance over the other—all shrouded under the notions of transparency and accountability.
Aries Joseph Armendi Hegina Associate Editor for Internal Affairs
Angelo Dennis Aligaga Agdeppa
Associate Editor for External Affairs
Kathleen Trinidad Guiang Managing Editor
Ruth Genevieve Austria Lumibao Assistant Managing Editor
John Vherlin Canlas Magday
These last two General Assemblies, which were held last October 16 and 24, proved the council’s preponderance over its own internal affairs rather than rendering quality projects and programs that are responsive to the genuine needs and demands of the student body. This rigid subscription to rules wasted much time and space to actually talk about issues and projects that matter.
News Editor
Christine Joy Frondozo Angat Gr aphic s Editor
Deonah Abigail Lugo Miole News Correspondents
Ezra Kristina Ostaya Bayalan, Elizabeth Danielle Quiñones Fodulla, Leonard Dangca Javier, Carlo Rey Resureccion Martinez, Ronilo Raymundo Mesa Culture Correspondent
Jamilah Paola dela Cruz Laguardia
While the council’s Constitution provides virtue and rationale to the ongoing deliberation of the impeachment case filed against USC Chair Mariz Zubiri, this does not sufficiently and necessarily translate to matters regarding representation and relevance. The validity of this political exercise is not merely conformed to what is stipulated in the council’s Constitution or in any rules on internal governance; it is, and should always be, in accordance to the consent and general interest of the student body. This consent to the demands of the student body serves to reconcile the differences in principles of both parties. Therefore, it is but an affront to the reputation of the council once these party interests assume predominance over the overarching principles of unity that the council should embody. A divisive student council translates to a divisive university. Should this council continue to implode, not only would this produce adverse effects to the student body, but it would also aggravate the growing degradation of the university’s character which is of being of service to the people. A student council could only do so much as to collate the problems and demands of the students and turn them into efficient programs and policies. Thus, they cannot utilize any of their delegated functions to create avenues to pursue their own political motivations. Their bureaucratic dispositions are but mere facilities to conduct their internal affairs properly— they cannot utilize it as a front to their own preconceptions of what is significant. They cannot utilize the council as an arena to enshrine their respective parties. The student institution cannot be blamed for what they may have apparently perceived as virtuous, but unjustified means only produce unjustified ends. Also, the primary issue in the said impeachment case is that whether the student body will ever benefit from the results of the council’s
Fe atures Correspondents
Christian Reynan Ibañez Durana, Jennah Yelle Manato Mallari, Angelica Natvidad Reyes, Charlotte Porcioncula Velasco Resident Illustr ators
Lizette Joan Campaña Daluz, Mon Gabriel Posadas Distor, Daniel John Galinato Estember, Mark Jason Santos Flores, Gerald Miranda Goco, Princess Pauline Cervantes Habla, Noemi Faith Arnaldo Reyes, Joanne Pauline Ramos Santos, John Zeus Cabantog Taller
Princess Pauline Cervantes Habla
Resident Photojournalists
Patrick Jacob Laxamana Liwag, Kessel Gandol Villarey
Implosion actions. It is high time to reconfigure priorities. This impeachment manifests more of the council’s growing ineffectiveness and incapacity to provide for the needs of its constituency. This impeachment could be seen as a desperate move to cover up for missed opportunities to provide and sustain programs which will be of service to its constituents. This is an act to salvage the vision of a united front which eventually fell to the same evils that engulfed its predecessors. In these times when the university and the nation is confronted with more pressing issues, no more could
each member’s respective programs of action, nor any sound policies as to matters that directly affect the student community such as tuition and registration, academics, national issues, and civic engagement. The student community does not deserve this kind of student council. The student community really does not need this impeachment trial. It is heeded for the council to rejuvenate its commitment in serving the student body, a commitment coursed to the longstanding principle that has put the university in the annals of history: to serve the people.
Resident LAYOut ARtisT
Romelyn Taip Monzon 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 themanilacollegian.tumblr.com
MEMBER
College Editors Guild of the Philippines
Solidaridad - UP Systemwide Alliance of Student Publications and Writers’ Organizations
The Cover
The student institution cannot be blamed for what they may have apparently perceived as virtuous, but unjustified means only produce unjustified ends. we accept this kind of leadership and representation. It is not accountability when it is merely accorded to suffice the council and its rules. It is not even validity, for even the process itself of validation is questionable. It is just a matter of sensibility. Nothing much has been sustained from
like The Manila Collegian Facebook page www.facebook.com/ themanilacollegian Illustration by Noemi Faith Arnaldo Reyes
OPINION 11
Volume 27 Numbers 8-9 Thursday | 21 November 2013
En ami*
Marka
Kessel Gandol Villarey
T
uluyan na ngang nagtapos ang unang semestre. Nagwakas na naman ang isang yugto sa aking buhay kolehiyo. Kasabay nito, nagsimula na ang bagong semestreng dala ang mga panibagong pagsubok na kakaharapin hindi lamang ng mga kapwa kong mag-aaral ngunit pati ng mga guro. Bitbit din nito ang mga bagong aral na aking matatalos: mga aral na hindi nakakulong sa loob ng unibersidad. Ito ay mga aral na nagmumula sa aking mga nakakasalamuha at sa aking mga karanasan— mga naging tagumpay at kabiguan. Sa gitna ng lahat ng ito, batid kong nagsimula na rin ang wakas ng aking buhay kolehiyo. Oo, isang semestre na lang ang kailangang pagdaanan bago ako tuluyang makapagmartsa suot ang toga o sablay, makatuntong sa entablado, at makuha ang pinaghirapang diploma. Sa makatuwid, isang semestre na lang at ako ay makakapagtapos na! Ngunit bago pa man ako makapagtapos, o bago pa man umabot sa kalagitnaan ng bagong semestre, nais kong magbaliktanaw sa aking mahigit tatlong taon sa unibersidad. Nais kong balikan ang mga aral na nakaimpluwensiya at tumatak sa aking pagkatao. Freshie pa lang ako nang sumampal sa akin ang bago at mapanghamong kultura na likas sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas. Ika nga, na-culture shock ako. Marahil ang malaking bahagi nito ay dulot ng nakasanayan kong sistema sa aking high school, kung saan kadalasang namamayani ang mga ideya na ‘okay lang’ at ‘puwede na’. Hindi kalaunan ay aking napagtanto na hindi kailanman sasapat ang ‘okay lang’ at ‘puwede na’. Hindi magiging okay ang hindi pinag-isipan at hindi magiging puwede ang hindi pinaghirapan. Dahil sa bawat takdang aralin, pagsusulit at mga gawain sa
paaralan, ang tunay na sinusukat ay hindi lang kung ano ang kinahantungan kung hindi pati ang mga aral na natutunan habang ginagawa ang mga ito. Para sa akin, naging mahalaga ang bawat pagsisikap upang makabuo ng mga proyektong masasabing mahusay kaysa ‘okay lang’ o ‘puwede na’. Tila hindi naging mahirap unawain ang kabuluhan ng pagsisikap at pagpupursigi sa UP, lalo na kung patuloy na mayroong
“
Susulitin ko ang bawat sandali at buong pagmamalaki kong haharapin ng may mga marka ang dala nitong mga hamon at pagsubok.
nagpapaalala nito: Honor and Excellence. Sa tuwing ako ay nakakakita ng bluebook, ang mga salitang ito ang kaagad na bumubungad sa akin at nagsisilbing tanda ng isinusulong ng ating pamantasan: dangal at husay (bukod pa ang serbisyo para sa bayan). Ito, sa palagay ko, ang isa sa mga magiging marka sa akin ng UP. Naging hamon din ito para sa akin upang laging magsumikap sa anomang gawain, dahil batid ko na sa tuwing pinaghihirapan at binibigay ko ang lahat ng aking kakayahan sa isang bagay, wala akong pagsisisihan. Bukod pa rito, gaya ng aking mga nabanggit, hindi lamang sa tagumpay nakukuha ang mga aral sa buhay. Madalas pa nga, nagmumula ito sa mga pagkakabigo, gaya na lamang ng pagbagsak sa isang kurso, pagkatalo sa isang patimpalak, o hindi kaya’y kasawian sa pag-
ibig. Sabi nga ng ibang tao, mas mainam na makaranas ng kamalian habang maaga pa dahil magiging daan ito upang makilatis ng isang tao ang kanyang tunay na kakayanan, at higit pa, ang kanyang sarili. Nang dahil sa aking mga pagkukulang, nagkaroon ako ng mas malinaw na pananaw at higit na kagustohan upang paghusayan at itama ang aking mga pagkakamali. Pinagsikapan kong makakuha ng aral mula sa bawat pagbagsak nang sa gayo’y hindi na ito muling maulit. Ang pagbangon matapos ang kabiguan ay isa rin sa mga maituturing kong markang nagpatibay sa akin sa UP. Dahil alam kong likas na mataas ang pamantayan ng ating unibersidad, hindi na naging iba sa akin ang walang tigil na mga hamon na sumusubok sa aking kakayahan. Ayon nga sa ilan, sa bawat hamon ay mayroong mga pagkakalugmok. At ang mga pilat at galos na aking nakamit ay maghihilom at magiging parte ng kung sino ka ngayon. Tulad nito, ang bawat pagkadapang aking naranasan ay nag-iwan ng marka upang tumulong na patikasin at buoin ang aking pagkatao. Kaya naman sa huli, sa muling pagbubukas ng bagong semestre at pati na rin sa nalalapit na pagtatapos ng aking buhay kolehiyo, inihahanda ko ang aking sarili. Susulitin ko ang bawat sandali at buong pagmamalaki kong haharapin ng may mga marka ang dala nitong mga hamon at pagsubok. Nais kong salubungin ang kinabukasan ng may karangalan at kahusayan. Nais kong ipamalas ang aking pagsisikap at pagbangon sa bawat kabiguan. Ikaw naman, ano ang maiiwang marka sa iyo ng UP? Ano naman ang maiiwan mong marka rito? *Nanggaling sa salitang Pranses nangangahulugang “bilang kaibigan”.
Stardust
Drowing
Noemi Faith Arnaldo Reyes
S
a MKule, madalas kong naririnig na pinagtatambal ang mga salitang “halaman” at “pag-ibig”. Noong una, hindi ko gets pero sa paglipas ng mga araw ng pagtambay sa opis, nalaman ko na ito pala yung pagiging autotroph o self-nourishing pagdating sa love life. Kung ganon, Farmville pala ang peg ng institusyon at isa ako sa marami sa amin na kung pagdating sa usapang pag-ibig ay tigang. Hindi naman dahil sa walang nagkagusto sa akin pero kasi hindi ako ‘yung tao na hindi mabubuhay kung walang love life. Mas pipiliin ko na maging single kaysa ma-involve sa isang relasyon na parang tae o ‘yung “trial-and-error”. Ayoko na magkamali at ayoko ring masaktan kaya mula pa noon, hindi ako nagtangkang subukin ang buhay taken. Hindi rin naman dahil sa wala akong natitipuhan. Hindi ko naman ikinakaila na na-in love na ako. Hindi naman ako bato. Pero mas gugustohin ko lang na magmahal mula sa malayo kaysa pumasok sa isang relasyon na sa bandang huli, may isang talunan. Ayokong natatalo. Hindi rin naman ako yung tipo ng babae na magsasabi na may crush ako sa isang tao. Siyempre, hindi naman iyon masama pero ako ‘yung tao na bibihirang datnan ng lakas ng loob para maglabas ng feelings. Sa madaling salita, torpe. Kaya nga siguro pagguhit ang nagiging paraan ko para magpakita ng saloobin. Papel, lapis, at pintura ang naging katuwang ko upang magpahayag ng damdamin. Sa apat na kwadra ng komiks ko dinadaan ang lahat ng mga bagay na hindi ko kayang sabihin. Ngunit kung titingnan, madalas ay hindi ito sapat. Pero ayoko kasi na magtapat tapos sa huli ako ay mabigo.
na
Kaya lang, bilang estudyante ng UP, hindi ako nakaligtas sa pagkakamali. Hindi ako nakaiwas sa pagkatalo. Ilang beses ako na sumubok at madalas na nabigo. Saksi ako na sa buhay, walang sinoman ang nakakaiwas sa kasawian. Kung tutuosin, mas masarap din na mabigo dahil dito tayo mas natututo. Marahil ay ganito rin sa pag-ibig. Two years ago, nakita ko ang tao na naging dahilan ko ngayon para subukan ang mga bagay na hindi ko nakasanayan. Hindi naman talaga ako mahilig mag-eksperimento sa paghahalo ng pagkain dahil baka hindi masarap ang maging lasa pero nasubukan
“
Ayoko rin na dumating ang araw na magsisi dahil hindi ko nasabi, na manghinayang dahil hindi ko sinubukan. Baka sa bandang huli, dahil sa hindi ko pag-amin, mauuwi na dun ako mas talo.
ko ang pagkain ng fries na sinahok sa sundae dahil nakita ko na gusto niya iyon. Bibihira ako manuod kapag hindi Disney pero nanuod ako ng Avatar dahil nalaman ko na sinusubaybayan niya iyon. Hindi naman talaga ako nagbababad sa Facebook pero nasubukan ko na mag-online ng hanggang hatinggabi para malaman kung anong oras siya nag-o-online. At marami pang gawi na bahagi ng mundo niya na aking kinilala at unti-unting minahal. Sa loob ng dalawang taon, at hanggang
ngayon, natututunan ko ang isang bagay na sa buong buhay ko ay lagi kong iniwasan at tinakbuhan. Ngunit siyempre, hindi naging madali ang lahat. Maraming beses na akong nagkaroon ng pagkakataon na magtapat pero pinalampas ko dahil wala akong mahugot na lakas ng loob at sa takot na baka mailang siya sa akin. Pero kailan lang sinabi niya sakin na dapat magkaroon ako ng kumpiyansa sa sarili. Dapat ay hindi na ako takot na magkamali dahil pinatibay na ng maraming bagay ang aking loob. Dapat ay hindi na ako mangamba sa pagkatalo dahil sa buhay, totoo na mas masarap na madapa at muling bumangon. Ayoko rin na dumating ang araw na magsisi dahil hindi ko nasabi, na manghinayang dahil hindi ko sinubukan. Baka sa bandang huli, dahil sa hindi ko pag-amin, mauuwi na dun ako mas talo.
Luisa A. Katigbak
Tindog Visayas*
B
efore anything else, let us offer a moment of silence for the thousands of unnamed victims and unsung heroes claimed by super typhoon Yolanda. Every single time I hear or see the word “Yolanda,” a sudden pang of grief and loss strikes me from within. Yolanda has been recognized to be the most disastrous calamity ever to wreak havoc in the Philippines. It has been posited that it is the strongest typhoon to hit the world this year. You can barely imagine the horror and devastation rendered by Yolanda. As I am typing this, an approximated three thousand casualties were recorded. Thousands and thousands more are still missing. Survivors are starving. “Lootings” are widespread. Relief operations are disorganized and politically motivated. The government, as usual, has done more harm than good by More than being just a natural disaster, Yolanda is a tragedy indelibly marked in our nation’s history. Everything seems such a blur to me. It was only last week when I was enjoying the last days of my semestral break in my dilapidated dorm, watching the last episodes of The Newsroom. I was even relieved that Manila still enjoys a gushy Thursday vibe while my parents, who live in Samar, informed me that a signal number 4 typhoon was heading to pound Leyte the day after. My mother, usually very soft-spoken and calm, sounded a bit frantic. I can sense that something was not right. Nanay still managed to reassure me that tatay already repaired our thatched roof. Nanay’s farewell message left me utterly sleepless that night. “Isay, take care. Everything will be fine. Pray for us.” Friday came. It was quarter to eight when my roommate came barging in my bed to wake me up. I was about to punch the hell out of her face but on screen, I saw Atom Araullo’s “deathdefying” coverage of the storm surge in Tacloban. Unconsciously, I reached to my phone, clicking speed dial number 2 but only to be disappointed by the voice telling me that “The subscriber you are calling is out of coverage area.” I tried contacting my aunties and cousins to no avail. I died a million times over. Could this be it? Imagine the emotional toll of listening to that voice prompt for four long days. It sucked the remaining shards of optimism out of my system. Those days were the longest and darkest days of the past 17 years of my existence. No commercial flight was available, so did shipping lines. I was on the verge of my sanity.
Kaya ngayon, pinili ko na magsulat dahil ayoko na maging drowing lang ang lahat.
It was Tuesday. Exactly 1:03 in the afternoon. The much-anticipated ring reverberated across the room. I scrambled across the bed to see that I received a text message:
Gusto kita.
“Nak, naka-survive kami ni tatay mo.”
Ngayon, ang gagawin ko na lamang ay maghintay, magpatuloy na sumubok, at matuto.
That was all that I needed to see.
Tell me your sumvong.
https://www.facebook.com/ pages/Lola-Patola/
Let us salute the Filipino nation for remaining resilient in the face of such a heart breaking tragedy. *Tindog means “stand up” or “rise” in Bisaya.
Mga Fulung-Vulungan ng Nagjijisang… 18 Years In The Industry Espeshal Edishuuun!
Heleeer deeer, aking mga afows!! May hangobeeeer pa aketch sa semvreak kaya frinses-frinses ang peg ko ngayon! Syemfree, katatapos lang ng aking birthday kaya parteh parte mode pa rin aketch. Uh-huh! Pero dahil sa aking curfew na 12 midnayt, avaaa, di aketch naavutan ng jinyong Lolo Upo. Huhukelyabels!! Soooooo… Kumustasa naman ang jinyong vekeshoon at enrowlment? Miss niyo na va akeeetch? Alam kong oo, do not denyyy! Miss ko rin naman kayong aking mga afows. Lablablab. Eniway hemingway highway all the way, siguro marami na naman ang mga najirits sa mahahabang fila and ebretheeng. Aynaketch!! Mas lalo kayong majijirits to the hayest levels dahil sa mga pasawayz na people na ayaw talagang paawat!!! Mygolliebells jingle bells!! Kapit na sa inyong mga chairlalo becozz itey na ang mga chismaxers na aking na-getchung. Voilaaaa!
Once upon a time na-left-sung
ko ang aking glazz shoooes sa RH stairs chismaxers numvah wan: Ehem sa ubeeer delayed na sweldetch ng froppucinos.
Anetch naman talagey itey navalitaan ko! Ders dis vagong froppucino na nagtuturo galing sa hindi-ko-ispluukna-department. Ang valita, dehins niya pa nagegets ang kanyang sweldo since Maaaay! Yuuuh! Since May! Ava! Nastress kahit ang fairygodmothaaa ko! Sabi ng office na nagaasikaso ditey, di pa daw
Lola Patola
kase nag-gigive ng credenshals itong si frop. But but pero, say ni frop eh matagal na siyang nakapagpasa ng credenshals niya. Mas matagal pa sa tulog ni kumareng Sleeping Byuteeh. Abaaa. Eh wut happened? Nawawaley ang kanyang mga pinapasang dokyuments dahil di ito carefully tinatago ng office na itey. Kalurkey! Nawaley nitong office ang original, yeees original, na copy ng statement of assest and liabilities niteng si kumpareng frop kaya nagkandaleche-leche na ang pag-process ng kanyang sweldoo! Hindi lang si frop ang may froblem na ganitey. Say ng aking source, kahit yung ibang fropuccinos ay di nakakatanggap ng kanilang sweldo… as in six months na! Jusme!! May manganganak na naman eh wala pa rin ang sweldo nilaa! Nagkakanda-lostlost ang mga fafeles na pinapasa niley dahil pinagfafasa-fasahan ng mga offices! Kalokaaaa. Jusmiyo. Maawa naman kayo sa mga frop. Effort effort sila magturo tapos dehins magi-give ng sweldo! Parang yung pag-hold ng gobyerno sa mga relief goods, huh! Pls. make ayos of that! Now naa!
Once upon a time na-left-sung ko ang aking glazz shoooes sa RH stairs chismaxers numvah two: Yung totoo, Honesto, promise, dehins ko know kung anetch ang ilalagay kong subhedeeng nitey. Masyadong masakit sa headache. Sweeeaaar. Anyweey, ganitech kasi yun. Meron aketch jisang afows na merong nightmare
encounter sa jisang frop. Itey kasing afow ko, nag-rant sa Pisbuk tungkol ditey sa isang frop. Avaaaa. Once upon a time, nagkita ang frop at ang aking afow sa jisang defartment at nagkaroon sila ng confrontation! Yes, parang mag-jowa lang na nag-away at may kasama pang nfrw**@@U#?! words. Kalurkeeey! Sabi daw nitong wonder frop na ito, kakasuhan niya ng libel si afows dahil sa pinagsasavi nitey. At nagcherla-cherla confrontations pa sila forevaaah. Hanggang sa nagpost julits si afow sa kanyang Pisbuk account ng isang mensahe para sa labs na labs niyang frop. Aynaketch. Kumustasa naman ang mga ganap na ganitey? Not funneeh at all. Helleeeer??? Sana mej pinatunguhan naman ng maayos ni frop si ishtudent para dehins na umabot sa ganun. Anek na lang sasabihin ng ibang people dibaa? Frop pa naman sa YuFiEm tapos ganun. Haaay. Dapat itey maging lesson sa lahat. Para peace out tayo sa sangka-YuFiEm-an.
Once upon a time na-left-sung ko ang aking glazz shoooes sa RH stairs chismaxers numvah two: En duh awardina for the veeeest actooor for a SLOOOOOOOW moshooown picshuuur iiiiisssss dis
FROP!
Aneeeek! Da who naman itechiwang froppoccino na cannot be reached daw kahit ngayong nagsimula na ang 2nd semester? Sumvong ng isa kong affow eh strike three na raw sa pagpapasakit ng ulo ang froppy na itey. Major major pa naman ang subject pero wapakels etong sadistang froppy. Kawawa naman ang aking mga affowz, pinahirapan na nga sa ispichez e pinagtake pa sila ng written eksumz. Sabi ni affow, expected na raw nila na babalu ang grades nila pero di nila inexpect ang pagiging chaka ng froppy na itechiwa. Nag-announce raw ito na magreremubals ang ilan sa mga affowz ko
pero howlalu would this happen if hindi pa niya napapakita ang grading sheet?! Huwaaat do you think of my affowz? They can't make hula of everything! Ang mas chaka pa raw dito ayon kay affow eh wiz sila binibigyan ng reply ni froppy! May seenzone seenzone pa raw sa chatikels. Sheym omayGashsiya! Valita nila affowz e nagpasa na raw ng grades si froppy sa Department of AnekSung, pero dadaan pa itechiwa sa Opisinang Chaka at Slowfolkz bago mailagay sa ChervalooReyjShiztem. Graviteeeh to infiniteh and veyond na naman ba ang pag-aantay ng mga affowz ko for their grades? Lyk really, haler it's the second sem na kaya. Kilos kilos rin kasi wala ng taym and froppy pls, don't make dedma of my affowz! I'm on fayer na talaga. NKKLK, erkheey?! Odavaaaa. Dats it pansit! Kahit far far away aketch dahil sa aking getaway trip ay nakakarating far in sa akin ang mga sumvooong na itey. Kalurkeyballs. Ansaveeh naman ng mga fasaways forevaah? Oshaaa. Gogora na muna aketch dahil mag-help pa ako sa relief ops. Tulong tulong din tayo pag may time para di puro kalurkeyhan ang inaatufaag! Vavooosh! Hugs and kisses to all of yaaaah! Labs na labs na labs ko kayo! Mwah mwah mwah chup chup!! XOXO, Lola Patola Maganda.