The Manila Collegian Volume 28 Number 6

THE MANILA COLLEGIAN

THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES MANILA

MORE INSIDE

Thursday November 27, 2014 Volume 28 Number 6

03 NEWS PGH Increases Laboratory Fees 07 CULTURE Ka-me-hanime-wave!

08 FEATURES Collateral Damage 10 OPINION In Memoriam 11 EDITORIAL Abandonado

02 NEWS

Volume 28 Number 6 November 27, 2014 | Thursday

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UPM commemorates Yolanda tragedy Genuine recovery still far from 100% ARTHUR GERALD BANTILAN QUIRANTE

UP Manila relived the onslaught of typhoon Yolanda through lighting of candles, hanging of black ribbons, and symbolic cloaking of the “Oblation,” emphasizing the lack of government support and action with regards to the relief and assistance of the victims of the typhoon surge in line with the Yolanda anniversary.

Local recall UPM University Student Council (USC) spearheaded the program participated by students in front of Rizal Hall on November 6 recalling the devastation and effects of the strongest typhoon that hit our country.

USC Chair Carlo Lorenzo called out for certain public officials to be held liable for the withholding and hoarding of relief goods that were supposed to be for the victims of the typhoon. Chair Lorenzo also pointed out that people should mourn this November not only because of All Souls Day but also because of various mass killings that took place during this month highlighted by the destruction of super typhoon Yolanda leaving thousands dead and wmany others still homeless, the Hacienda Luisita massacre killing farmers who were fighting for their land, and the Maguindanao massacre where journalists were kidnapped and brutally killed.

UPM USC released a statement regarding the commemoration of the Yolanda victims which focused on finding justice for the traumatized people and blaming UPM Chancellor Agulto’s administration for the lack of response to UPM School of Health Sciences (SHS) in Palo.

“Ang UP Manila University Student Council ay nakikiisa sa paghahanap ng hustisya para sa mga biktima ng bagyong Yolanda.

Kaisa ang konseho sa paghahanap ng katarungan para sa mga nasalanta, na mula noon pa man hanggang ngayon ay inaabandona ng gobyerno. Kaakibat nito ang pagpapanagot din sa administrasyong

Agulto dahil sa pagpapabaya sa UPM SHS-Palo na kabahagi ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Maynila. Ang mga kandilang sinisindihan ay ang tatanganang pag-asa ng ating mga kababayan. Hindi pa rito nagtatapos, bagkus ito ay bagong simula para sa ating lahat,” said Marianne Montel, USC Councilor for Gender, Students Rights and Welfare, and Basic Services.

Gabriela Youth Chair Lyrra Magtalas, ASAPKatipunan member Cid Manalo, and College of Arts and Sciences Student Council (CASSC) 2nd year Batch Rep. Steven Besana also spoke before the students sharing the same sentiments showing how the Aquino administration was very ineffective during the relief and rescue operations in Leyte, and citing other related matters where the government failed to do its duty such as providing justice for the affected families and helping them recover in their livelihood.

Students started lighting up their candles and momentarily kept silent to offer prayers and pay respect to the departed souls while pitching candles near the cloaked “Oblation” after the program.

Foreign support Meanwhile, US peers spearheaded the rehabilitation of UPM SHS-Palo library early this year after being totally devastated by typhoon Yolanda, being left with only standing walls.

Unnamed donors from USA lent a hand to SHS Palo donating 20 boxes of new medical and nursing textbooks which summed up to 1,500 learning materials and two student scholarships for continuity of study in UP Manila. By the second month of the year, SHS Palo went back to full operational status after recovering from the effects of the disastrous typhoon.

Moreover, according to the Department of Social Welfare Services (DSWD), donations of different local organizations

from US, Australia, United Kingdom, and other countries in Europe for the relief and rehabilitation of Yolanda survivors accumulated to P735 million.

Masked government On the other hand, it took almost a year for the government to finally approve the P168billion “Yolanda” plan which was signed by the president last October 29 that will serve as the primary source of financial support for the recovery of damaged infrastructures and ruptured agricultural lands.

Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said that the projects and programs were designed for the 171 affected cities and municipalities in 14 provinces and six regions that make up the “Yolanda corridor.”

Recently, DSWD acknowledged that P2.8 million worth of relief goods for “Yolanda” victims were spoiled due to alleged “improper handling,” according to the report of Commission on Audit (COA) that found 7,527 wasted family food packs.

The COA report on “Yolanda” relief operations, which was posted on its website, revealed that 19,172 canned goods, 81 packs of noodles, and 21 sacks of rice went to waste. Apart from spoiled food items, COA also noted that bottled waters collected in Manila summing up to P69.3 million were not distributed in Tacloban City due to “lack of transport facilities.”

In addition, according to Cecilia Alba of Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, only 142 houses were built for 250,000 families who need permanent shelter. Furthermore, a National Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) report showed that there are still 1,785 missing persons caused by Yolanda.

COLLEGE BRIEFS The UP Manila College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Student Council (SC) recently held its Students’ Rights Week with the theme “The Right Fight: Celebrating Activism, Continuing the Fight” from November 10-14. Activities included a Students’ Rights and Welfare Forum, a film showing, and a cultural night. Partnered with the CASSC were the UP Political Science Society, UP Manila Concerned Students for Justice, and UP Manila Saribuhay.

ORGANEWS The UP Political Science Society will celebrate its 13th anniversary from November 12-22 with the theme “Excelsior: The Rise of the Marginalized”.

Activities include a photo exhibit which will be displayed on the LT Walk from 17 to 21, a forum titled “Papertowns: Urbanization, Demolition, and Relocation” on 17 in the CAS Little Theatre (LT) from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, a discussion on the issues of the 2015 national budget on the 18th also in CAS LT 1:00 – 4:00 pm, and a Gender Bender event on the 21st in CAS LT from 1:00 – 4:00 pm. For more information, please visit the UP Polis Facebook page.

The Faura Project, a project spearheaded by the Philippine 164 class of the BA Philippine Arts program, under the Department of Arts and Communication (DAC), will be holding its awareness campaign from November 24-28. A forum will be held on the 24th in the Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) Social Hall entitled “Operation: Faura” with a speaker from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), the event on the 25th is an amazing race-style competition that will take its participants around Padre Faura, on the 26th there will be an interactive walking tour from Paco Park to Robinson’s Place Manila, as for the culminating activity on the 27th, there will be a drive-in movie-style film viewing showcasing Philippine independent films. For more information, visit their Facebook page at Faura Project.

read and download MKule issues at issuu.com/ manilacollegian like us on Facebook: facebook.com/ themanilacollegian LOOKING BACK. A year after Typhoon Yolanda, students commemorated the destruction brought by Yolanda and criticized the government’s slow action in rehabilitating the victims of the typhoon. Photo taken by Arthur Gerald Bantilan Quirante

follow us on Twitter: @MKule

The previous rates of procedures for Clinical Microscopy and Microbiology were implemented on July 12, 2013 through PGH Memorandum No. 2013-120.

Presently, PLB, AUPWU, and CM students are seeking for a dialogue with the PGH director. Further consultations with more students and stakeholders will also be undertaken. The groups encouraged students, doctors, employees, and patients alike to assert their rights for quality and accessible healthcare.

According to PLB, poor patients should not be shouldering the high fees and that the government should instead allot a bigger budget for PGH. Moreover, AUPWU also noted the non-implementation of the health worker’s Magna Carta benefits which are also in need of an upgrade in line with the increasing costs of living.

Accessible Healthcare

Contrary to Gonzales, PLB discussed that the increase in lab fees would delay the management of healthcare. Moreover, it might lead to doctors giving empirical medications before laboratory tests are done since patients would have to pay for both the diagnosis (laboratories) and the medication, which are cost intensive.

In a discussion-consultation held on November 14, members of the All UP Workers’ Union (AUPWU) and Pangkalusugang Lingkod Bayan (PLB), and students from the College of Medicine (CM) criticized the action made by Gonzales. They noted that there was no mechanism for the implementation which resulted to differences in the process of waiving fees in different departments, if available.

The UP-MSC also argued that this action is against the goal of PGH to provide equality of services for all patients and that the act of overpricing hospital fees for Class D patients is unnecessary.

Moreover, they pressed that the high fees will not contribute in pulling up the hospital budget, especially if the patients are financially helpless.

The University of the Philippines Medicine Student Council (UPMSC) reported that most of the patients, health workers, and doctors were not informed of the announcement regarding the new fees.

Furthermore, the confusion resulted to lags in hospital assistance and delivery of healthcare for both charity and pay patients.

Setbacks in Procedures

Based on the comparison provided on the memo, manual methods are slower, more labor intensive, and could only identify approximately 50 levels of species for the microbiology tests which lead to lower detection rates. Meanwhile, automating the services will give faster results by at least six hours as it is less labor intensive and allows identification of over a hundred species.

According to Gonzales, the revised rates were imposed in order to achieve full automation of the laboratory services under Clinical Microscopy and Microbiology. Moreover, he reasoned that the shifting from manual to automated methods will improve as well as enable parity in the quality of health services provided for both service and pay patients

‘Better Services’

The two memoranda, Memorandum No. 2014-173 or the “Ultrasound rates at the Central Edoscopy Unit (CENDU)” and Memorandum No. 2014-179 or the “Revised Rates of Procedures of the Sections of Clinical Microscopy and Microbiology,” were issued by Gonzales on October 13 and 14, respectively.

Following the previous rate revisions of the Department of Laboratory last year, Philippine General Hospital (PGH) Director Jose Gonzales implemented another memoranda on October 22 and 23 which further increased the prices of laboratory procedures.

GAYLE CALIANGA REYNA AND EUNICE BIÑAS HECHANOVA

Delays and disproportionality ensue

125

--70

FECT Occult Blood

65 60

45 55 45 45 40 ---

RBC Count Differential Count pH Specific Gravity RBC Morphology Direct Wet Mount

70

245 -------

Urine GS/CS MRSA Screening MAKI/Environmental TPN

45 120

India Ink KOH Mount TMG

180

70

70

70

70

395

505

970

790

1,000

75

35

35

35

35

35

---

---

---

195

195

195

---

195

195

195

---

---

35

---

---

35

30

30

45

40

40

75

60

---

40

120

45

45

---

---

155

Previous

115

55

55

55

55

55

265

380

485

700

835

925

755

955

460

720

545

60

40

125

40

50

45

45

65

60

60

110

70

120

50

160

55

60

35

50

230

Revised

Class C

Service Rates

45

30

30

30

30

30

---

---

---

150

150

150

---

150

150

150

---

70

45

45

45

45

45

255

360

445

665

795

880

720

910

440

685

520

50

35

120

30

45

35

35

60

50

50

95

65

110

45

140

50

55

30

45

220

Revised

B. Microbiology

---

**30

115

---

30

**25

**25

**40

**35

**35

65

**50

---

**30

115

40

40

30

**45

150

Previous

Class D

A. Clinical Microscopy

225

80

55

90

90

90

---

---

---

786

560

630

---

560

785

1,350

---

---

---

---

---

130

80

80

---

---

---

150

---

---

---

160

115

115

115

---

250

Previous

335

120

80

135

135

135

315

445

1,120

1,325

1,360

1,360

1,650

1,360

1,360

1,890

935

100

100

250

80

145

120

120

175

150

150

225

100

180

80

200

125

170

140

*

260

Revised

Out-Patient Ward

395

80

60

90

245

245

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

135

125

125

---

---

---

270

---

---

---

320

130

120

125

---

270

Previous

590

120

90

135

365

365

340

480

5,100

2,550

2,550

2,550

1,850

2,550

2,550

2,550

985

150

205

365

150

150

130

130

300

350

250

405

195

220

150

375

145

180

155

*

275

Revised

Semi-Private

Pay Rates

470

90

80

90

290

290

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

400

---

---

---

360

170

170

170

---

290

Previous

705

135

120

135

435

435

360

515

5,100

2,550

2,550

2,550

1,900

2,550

2,550

2,550

1,040

200

270

400

205

170

190

190

450

525

380

600

270

280

205

385

---

200

230

*

---

Revised

Private/Studio/ICU

ISKOTISTIKS

Table 1. Comparison of the Previous and Revised Rates of Procedures for Clinical Microscopy and Microbiology * Pay patients were already given automated lab tests prior to the implementation of the memo **Class D rates with asterisk are automatically waived for the first examination except when covered by a valid guarantee letter. Prior to the revisions made last year, the following tests were free for Class D patients. Currently, all tests require payment for both charity and pay patients.

45 45

Gram Stain

45

245

Stool GS/CS

45

280

245

Respiratory GS/CS

AFB (Modified)

735

---

Fungal CS

AFB (Auramine)

875

245

Exudates GS/CS

485

750

570

245

---

Anaerobic Culture

70

45

245

---

Ferning Test

CSF GS/CS

40

Vaginal Washing

130

50

65

Blood GS/CS

---

Semenalysis

d. Others

65

45 80

65

115

Qualitative

140

75

140

55

180

60

55

WBC Count

c. CSF Studies

50

Fecalysis

b. Stool Examination

Pregnancy Test

65

50 50

Myoglobulin

---

RBC Morphology Hemosiderin

40

---

Urinalysis (manual)

240

160

Revised

Previous

Urinalysis (automated)

Class B

a. Urine Examination

Examination/Procedure

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NEWS 03

04 NEWS

Volume 28 Number 6 November 27, 2014 | Thursday

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Mga Fulung-Vulungan ng Nagjijisang

ITANONG KAY ISKO’T ISKA Anong masasabi mo sa mabagal na pag1naapektuhan usad ng rehabilitasyon ng mga lugar na ng bagyong Yolanda, isang taong matapos nitongmanalanta?

Sobrang frustrating. Madami ng nga ginawang pubmats at petitions para makapag-raise ng awareness sa sitwasyon nila pero pagdating sa gobyerno, wala din.

Yun. Frustrating. - ConcernedCNStudent, 2011-***** kamote. unahin nila ang pamumulitika, tutal di naman mahalaga para sa kanila ang mga buhay ng nasalanta ‘di ba? - superhero ng ermita (nagbabalik!)

I’d say the relief distribution system in itself was a big problem, not counting the various politics between the different politicians and government branches that made things bad during the initial aftershock of Yolanda (since there were A LOT of supplies that went bad).

For the current day stage though, if I were to be frank, it’s not very surprising considering just how inefficient both government and people alike are. Not that I’m saying that the people are to blame for the disaster, but everyone’s trying to get ahead of everyone else which messes up an already messed up system. - SawIsko, CAS, 201*-7000 Wala eh. Philippine Government yan eh.

May bago pa ba? Mabuti pa ung mga charity, mabilis. Kung ung mga politiko natin ay gusto talagang makatulong, magcharity nalang sila. Huwag na sila tumakbo. Tungunu nila.Angelina Jolie CAS 2013-21217 Pawang ang ating pamahalaan ay hindi kumikilos upang manumbalik ang dating kalagayan na bago masalanta ng Bagyong Yolanda ang mga lugar. - WalaLang, CAS, 2014-00*** Sec. Lacson’s statistics paint a rosy picture of what the conditions on the ground should be, in stark contrast to what it actually is.

Funds are being released but it seems no one on the ground is receiving them. - Page, CAS, 2013-14696

Pwede ring ipadala ang inyong mga sagot sa pamamagitan ng pag-text sa 09175109496!(Pero bawal ang textmate!)

Uhhh hindi na ko nagulat na ganun yung nangyari. Medyo nasasanay na ko sa mabagal na pag-aksyon ng gobyerno natin sa mga isyu ng lipunan (parang student center lol) Pero kahit ganun, nakakalungkot syempre.

Kasi may panahon sila sa mga bagay na kung tutuusin ay makapaghihintay naman pero dito, meh. Oh well. Mahirap talaga umasa. Mendiola, CAS, 2014-xxxxx Walang kwenta ng gobyerno, mabagal kumilos. Iba talaga ang priorities. - Rei-chansan, CN, 2011-***** Nauunaha pa sila ni Turbo (yung snail) sa pagle-level up ng speed. Grabe kayo naungusan pa kayo ng snail. Get your act together. - getalife, CAS 2012-xxxxx Kung magkakaroon ka ng sakit na 2 maaaring makahawa ng maraming tao, ano iyon at bakit?

Bakit gusto niyo ng nakakahawa na sakit?

Ano ine-expect niyong sagot dyan? haha ConcernedCNStudent, 2011-***** heartache. ay wait lang marami na palang may sakit nun - superhero ng ermita (nagbabalik!) ang sakit sa pag-ibig para di ako nag iisa Anonimus 2012-***** SocSci, CAS Katamaran. Just because. - VousEtesMonMari, 2013-@#$%*, CAS I’d say...being heart-broken (nakakahawa yun ah) so everyone can see love as more than just some majestic flowery thing.

People will see love as it is, both malevolent and benevolent. - SawIsko, CAS, 201*-7000 Lagnat? Para hindi masyadong hassle makahawa compared sa ibang sakit. XD Angelina Jolie CAS 2013-21217 Ako ay magiging kanser dahil may kanser ang ating lipunan na hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin napapagamot. - WalaLang, CAS, 2014-00***

Ipinapakita lang nito kung paano isinantabi ng gobyerno ang mga mamamayan nito.

Totoo na napakalaki nang naging relief operations noon, pero isa lamang itong pansamantalang tulong na kung titingnan ay halos puro foreign aid pa. Sa pagkakaalam ko eh kahit yung mga nasalanta ng mga bagyo bago pa ang Yolanda ay nga-nga parin na hocus pocus ang mga pondo kuno para dito, as usual. Hay nako. - Saumensch

Sakit sa ipin, pero saka na kapag dentista na ako. Tapos sakin sila papagamot. huehue #kapitalista hurhur - Saumensch

Ayun: mabagal. Di na ito usapin ng pangungurakot o pagiging tuta ng ibang bansa eh. Nakain na ng sistema pati pagiging humane ng mga nasa gobyerno. - prolet, naCAScas, 2014

Siguro common sense. Para naman kahit isang araw lang, maging maayos ang mundo.

- Tom Jonez, 201zzz

Nakakalungkot lang po. Mismong mga kababayan natin, di nila matulungan? Tapos nangingibabaw pa ang petty matters kaysa dito. Grabe lang po. Gagohan talaga. - Tom Jonez, 201zzz Sorry but I can’t really say anything that hasn’t been said. I wouldn’t even call it rehabilitation at this point. - kissable, CAS, 20xx-xxxxx

Foreign Accent Syndrome. I mean, why not. Iskandar, CAS 2012-24633 Yung pagiging malandi. Pwede ba yun? Para naman lumandi back si kras, diba. - prolet, naCAScas, 2014

Mononucleosis. Those who won’t be affected just haven’t been kissed yet. - kissable, CAS, 20xx-xxxxx EBOLA PARA COOL AT PWEDE AKONG MAGFEELING-WICHITA KUNG SAKALING MAGING ZOMBIE APLOCALYPSE - Mendiola, CAS, 2014-xxxxx Thirst for knowledge. Hahaha. - Rei-chansan, CN, 2011-*****

Lola Patola Haller halooo my beloved afowz!

Kagagaling ko lungz sa cinematiccczzz and I must say, and ganderr ng pinanood ko mga afowzz! After my movie date with yerr Lolo, tapos you knowss we headed sa ano… Well anyways! Want ko talaga si Baymax huhuhu as in! Me wantz someone that huggable and kind! And when I say, “heeelp”, Baymax comes der furr meh leik a knight in bubbly armor! Charaught! And when my afowzz say, “heeelp”, I saaay…

Lola Patola is heeere mah babiezzz!

I am yerr personal chismax Baymax provider numbah one!

Ay eto talagurrr nakakalurkey lalo na’t hellweek, like fire-y fire! Like, yung incident sa RH sa Bio hall. Charaught!

Hihihi. Sinetch itey Pachuchu ng Dehins Sumasantow sa Studentzzz na nagpaannounce ng reporting chorva niya two day before ng reporting itself? Ay ang harot mo! Kwento sa akin ng aketch kawawang afowzz na usually daw three days before da clasz siya nag-gigive ng kanyang reportz. (duhhh dapat nga at least a week eh! Grrr) Sooo noong linggow na itech eh relaxation nation lang ang aketch afowz kasi dehinz naman daw nag-email sa charot! Pero bigla siyang nag-email na two days after na! At itech paaa! Ay hindi tumitigil ang kababalaghan nitech. Charing! Two groups daw sa day na iyownnn. Kalurkey huh.

Kawawa aketch afowzz framiss! Na-sasad aketch kasi itech afowzz kowzz eh super toxicityyy sa hell week tapos may test siya a day before ng terror reportzz! Aguy.

Two groups paaa like kawawa naman aketch mga afowzz! Next time Pachuchu, you have to like make ayos-ayos da sched para dehinz naman agrabyadow sa aketch afowzz. Like, teacherzz can’t make lesson plannings two days, why should my afowwz make reports two days dibuhh? Kalurkey!

I am yerr personal chismax Baymax provider numbah two!

Ay itech mga afowwz super duper latest kalurkeyy news and dehinz lungs ang mga aketch afowwz ang involved, liek, da whole Charot Anezz Shemerlut! Pero itech huh, itech ang nakakashocking shockinz forevz.

According sa Fire Code of the Felepenz eh dapat every building may safety

Big Hero 6 Edition

chenez and what not! Siyemperz kasama na ditech ang pagkakaroon ng fire alarm, as indicated sa rule 10 division 2 letter G. Ay charaught! Hihihi nag-Google pa sexayyyy lola niyo diyan! Well, anyways ayownn nga. May mga afowwz aketch na kebs lang sa third floor, nasa RH 313 lang sila and deyr liek having da time of their liiives!

Ahihi! Nag-tetest sila siyemperzz! So ayun na-tsugi itech electricity and everythaaang dibuh? Pero liek da rili super duperz goodies na UP afowwz that they are, nagcontinue ang aketch afowzz sa test nila, not knowing na may nagbabagang chenes na pala sa labas! Aguyy! RTR ang bagong peg na alarm! Paano kung hindi na-RTR?! Edi I have lechon for afowzz na?! And kwento pa ng isang Pachuchu, very berry near lungz ang bio lab na nasunog sa chem lab! So if liek liek you know dehinz na-warn agad, edi nag-boom boom pow ang buong Charot Anezz Shemerlut nation! Kaya ayan huh if yerr reading this mga, well you knerrr, mga nasa seat and everythaaang I hope you do somethaaang naman for da facilities of every building here in YuFiEm! My afowzz pays and then they get lechonated? Ay unacceptable!

So ayown naa aketch afowzz! Mwah mwah kiss kiss hug huggzz! Rememberrr, when my beloved afowzz are in perilous perilsss, don’t make alangan to ask yerr very sexayyyy Lola! Vavavoooom! I’m always hirrr to help youuu aketch afowzz! Love ya!

NEWS 05

Volume 28 Number 6 Thursday | November 27, 2014

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CD Secretary chosen as new OSA Director

STS, FBCP and other issues to be addressed objectively ADOLF ENRIQUE SANTOS GONZALES AND SOFIA MONIQUE KINGKING SIBULO

Dr. Tristan Nathaniel C. Ramos DDM, MPH of the College of Dentistry (CD) was chosen

by Chancellor Carmencita Padilla, MD as the 6th Office of the Student Affairs (OSA) Director.

Past Administrative Experiences In a university-wide search, Ramos was chosen as the 6th OSA Director, ending the term of OSA Director Honey Libertine Achanzar-Labor, PhD. The selection of the OSA Director is through direct appointment by the chancellor after series of evaluative searches from notable UPM staff.

The newly-proclaimed OSA Director, a graduate of CD, has served three terms as the CD College Secretary from 2001 to 2010. Additionally, Ramos also headed the Department of Clinical Dentistry and taught for the College for almost 30 years. During the OSA administration headed by Dr. Reynaldo Imperial, Ramos was appointed as the Student Organizations Adviser and was tasked to revive the Intrafraternity Council.

Lastly, Ramos was appointed as the NSTP Director during Mr. Agulto’s administration.

The Office of the Student Affairs Director ensures that the OSA provides “quality

and gender-sensitive student welfare programs” that will address the individual needs of the students. The Office of the Student Affairs is also the ones responsible for granting scholarship to students that are financially incapacitated, providing support for students experiencing different stresses, supervising student activities and organizations, and devising projects that will aid the nurturing of the students.

Stance on Issues On the other hand, an issue that all students bear is the Socialized Tuition Scheme (STS).

After the disclosure of the results under the newly constituted scheme, appeals have skyrocketed and was evaluated in a discrete time by the Committee on Appeals.

Also, some appeals were not granted causing disappointment to students that was assigned into higher brackets. Seeing this, he wants it to be SCRAPPED, but if not feasible, it should at least be reformed. He also added that “OSA only implements and that you can’t blame the administrators, we don’t have enough funds.” Also, during the interview with The Manila Collegian, Ramos articulated that he is against the commercialization of education.

However, he expressed that he is in favor

Ex-Chancy Agulto, ex-VC Jamir guilty of grave misconduct THE NEWS TEAM

The Office of the Ombudsman found former UP Manila Chancellor Manuel Agulto and former Vice Chancellor for administration and finance Joselito Jamir guilty of grave misconduct over the employment of the university's current security service without proper public bidding.

in December 2013 and was prematurely terminated.

The two former officials were meted the penalty of dismissal from service, including perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

A copy of the Office of the Ombudsman's decision can be accessed at Issuu (http:// issuu.com/manilacollegian/docs/decision).

In its 14-page decision signed October 24, the anti-graft court said that “[t]heir acts as established by the facts and evidence on record constitute a flagrant disregard of well-known law and legal rules on procurement....”

This article was first published online on The Manila Collegian’s Facebook page on November 12, 2014

According to the ruling, Agulto and Jamir, “in the exercise of sound management prerogrative,” engaged the services of Commander Security Services Inc. (CSSI) on July 31, 2013 “to prevent a hiatus in the security situation of UP Manila,” as the contract with complainant 168 Security and Allied Services Inc. (SASI), UPM's previous security agency, expired on the same date.

However, the ombudsman indicated that the former officials “failed to show any convincing justification for the take-over of the contract within the contemplation of the procurement law” other than the aforementioned claim.

Moreover, 168 SASI earlier maintained that the contract should have expired

On the other hand, charges of abuse of authority, and oppression filed against Agulto and Jamir were dismissed due to lack of substantial evidence.

Hold on.

Attendez.

Espere. どっこい. 堅持，稍等 Kapit lang.

Matatapos rin ang forever, este ang sem na ‘to.

- Lola P.

of the university going into a commercial enterprise in order to support the university’s financial needs. He approves of the newlybuilt UP Town Center. “Okay naman siya (UP Town Center), you earn money from that kasi ‘di mo naman nagagamit ‘yung piece of land mo. And it also helps improvement.”

His stand on student activism is “It is okay as long as student activism is tolerant and to reach its maximum tolerance. I want everyone to be able to express their ideas but at certain limits.” He also mentioned that student activism should also have limits and must not lead to physical assaults or violence.

Ramos thinks that the first problem that OSA is facing is the cooperation with student leaders as the student body does not comply with their orders. In the case of the Freshman Block Coordination Program (FBCP), he thinks that it still needs to be reviewed. Ramos sees that OSA offers a lot of programs but are not well utilized. His response is that it needs to be evaluated because it has been a long time since the services are not assessed. Additionally, Ramos also mentioned that the services are not well advertised that is why only few comply.

Vision and Goals When the chancellor called him, Ramos said he was surprised to be chosen as the new director, but he accepted the challenge with no hesitation. Satisfied by being a faculty, he added that he does not seek or aspire higher position, but anything that can help the students is acceptable. Like the vision of the chancellor, Ramos mentioned he wants a student friendly environment and enough student support experience for a good life in UP. He quoted that after his term, he sees UP Manila “still the same but with expanded services that reaches everyone.” Ramos believes that those visions will be accomplished through cooperation, and rest assured that all programs will be consultative in nature and decisions will be made bottom-up. Lastly, in his vision, “Isa lang naman yan e, ‘yung service to the students making a good change in their lives... If I accept a task, I’ll make sure I do it and I don’t fail.”

KA-ME-HANIME WAVE! MULA SA PAHINA 07

ating mga lolo’t lola. Ngunit sila na yata ang pinakamatandang halimbawa ng grupong militar sa mundo ng anime. Ang kwento nga, ang anime na ‘to ay ipinagawa ng Japanese Navy upang itanim sa utak ng mga batang Hapon noon ang kahalagahan ng pagmamahal sa bayan at militarismo.

Ang anime kasi ay orihinal na ginamit sa Japan noong panahon ng giyera bilang isang instrumentong nagpapalaganap ng politikal na adhikain ng gobyerno. Hanggang ngayon ay meron pa ring politikal na adhikain at konsepto sa karamihan ng anime kung susuriin nang mabuti. Sa katunayan nga, ang mga popular na anime ngayon ay may temang sosyolohikal o politikal. At karamihan sa mga ideyang politikal na ‘to ay talaga namang makakatulong sa pagbuo ng ating nasyon.

"Itaas niyo ang inyong mga kamay! Ipahiram niyo sa'kin ang inyong enerhiya, mga tao sa planet Earth!" Kung ang Pilipinas may Bonifacio, ang anime may Goku. ‘Di lang kasi ang Saiyan powers niya ang nakakatalo sa mga mananakop ng Earth kundi pati ang collective effort ng mamamayan. Astig.

Kadalasan ‘di napapansin na nagpapakita rin ito ng anime ang mga kamalian sa mga politikal na sistema, at mga kawalangkatarungan sa lipunan sa isang malikhaing paraan. Tinatahi ang mga eksenang ito sa mismong kwento nang pasadya ngunit patago. Minsan naman, lantaran ang paglalahad.

Para sa mga gumagawa nito, ang anime ay nagsisilbing isang epektibong instrumento na magagamit upang magpakalat ng politikal na propaganda. Halimbawa, may

isang episode ang Gintama na na-ban dahil ginawa nitong katatawanan ang isang politiko sa Japan. Kung gusto mo namang makapanood ng satirical view ng world history at international politics, nandyan ang Hetalia. Kung gusto mo namang makita ang mga kamalian sa awtoritaryan na klase ng gobyeno, panoorin mo ang Psycho Pass.

Hindi namamalayan ng mga manonood na ang kanilang politikal na pananaw sa mga bagay-bagay ay unti-unting naiimpluwensyahan ng kanilang pinapanood na anime. Malikhain kasi ang approach ng paghanda ng politikal na putahe sa mga palabas -- instant at dramatic, na agarang nakakahimok ng rebeldeng pag-iisip. Kadalasan, panonood ng ganitong klase ng anime at pagpuna sa istorya nito ay maaaring magsilbing mitsa na magpapaalab ng rebolusyonaryong pagiisip, at damdaming nasyonalismo ng mga manonood.

Ang pagkahumaling sa anime ay ‘di lamang nangangahulugan ng pagsubaybay at paghahanap ng bago pang mapapanood.

Madalas, ito pa nga ang nagiging paraan ng ating pagkatuto ng iba’t ibang mga konsepto, ideya, at maging mga prinsipyo.

Sa ating pananatili sa mundo ng anime, ang mga ideya’t prinsipyong ito ay pinaniniwalaan nating kapaki-pakinabang sa mundong ibabaw hanggang sa untiunti nating nagagamit ang mga ito upang ikorte ang nakasanayang realidad at sa huli’y maitulad dito ang ating ideyal na mundo.

06 FEATURES

Volume 28 Number 6 November 27, 2014 | Thursday

ILLUSTRATION BY JAMELA LIMBAUAN BERNAS LIEZL ANN DIMABUYU LANSANG

SILENCING DISSENT

REASSERTING THE STUDENTS’ FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND THE RIGHT TO FIGHT

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he University of the Philippines has Tdissent been the hallmark of substantial against the abusive status quo. It is through the active social participation of the students that the university has transcended academic excellence confined in the four corners of an educational institution. The young blood of the Iskolar ng Bayan has established an indispensable significance in nation-building in the face of its fearless opposition to the anti-people moves of the government as well as its unfaltering call for societal reforms and national progress.

However, this symbolic character of the university as the champion of freedom of speech and expression has been continuously challenged by different administrators under the fascist order of the reigning regime.

The present situation shows that students are being subjugated and silenced by repressive school administrators.

Those who dare voice out the call for comprehensive change in school policies faces unreasonable charges and sanctions as the government remains immobile in passing laws that protect and emphasize student welfare. The academic freedom of the students has been replaced by policies that endanger their basic rights, and even their lives.

It is ironic that the same institution which inculcates the importance of democratic ideals and principles also creates the atmosphere of fear and suppression for its students. This not only poses a threat on the core values of the University of the Philippines but most importantly presents the erosion of the supposed democratic foundations of the country-- a direct onslaught against the progressive will of the people.

T HE JE OPA RDY “The national university has the right and responsibility to exercise academic freedom.” – Section 5 of the Republic Act 9500, An Act to Strengthen the University of the Philippines as the National University Academic freedom which entails the

freedom of speech and expression as well as the freedom to dissent against antistudent policies inside the university has not only been a right but an obligation of every Iskolar ng Bayan. It is on this basis that they have always been firm in taking a progressive stand on issues affecting their welfare as students and their interests as part of the masses. However, the changing dynamics of the university catering to the neoliberal paradigm espoused by the government stipulates this freedom which consequently restrains the students from exercising their right and impedes them from performing their obligation as Iskolar ng Bayan.

Recently, 9 student leaders were confronted with legal charges after allegedly leading the mob against the eviction of the Gat Andres Bonifacio Cafeteria (GABCAF) concessionaires in the College of Arts and Sciences UP Manila. According to the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administration Jose Lapeña, the concessionaires were to be terminated at that time due to the expiration of their contracts. However, the said move of the administration has not undergone due consultation with the stakeholders, particularly the students.

Willing to protect their rights to accessible and affordable food as well as the rights of the concessionaires to livelihood, more than 2000 UPM students signed a manifesto of disagreement to the GABCAF eviction.

This campaign was disregarded by the administration which resulted to more collective actions from the students and ignited the February 27 incident. In the said incident, students staged a protest calling for the administration to stop the eviction scheduled in the following day. However, the administrators denied the students the dialogue they were asking for which led to a series of events such as the barricading of the College of Arts and Sciences dean's office. Despite the clamor and the evident dissent from the stakeholders, the eviction pursued.

Following the eviction, nine student leaders were placed under investigation through a fact-finding team sponsored by the then Agulto administration.

Furthermore, the resulting list which includes the names of the nine student leaders

was deemed controversial. According to University Student Council Chairperson Carlo Lorenzo, two of the accused students namely Niel Navarro and Alyanna Gutierrez were not even present during the protest.

The charges were also filed and passed to the Student Disciplinary Tribunal of UP Diliman without informing the respondents, the students. When asked for a copy of the complaint, the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) denied the request, a bastardization of the students' right to information and due process, in general. It is due to the charges that the OSA also denied College of Arts and Sciences Student Council Chairperson Rodel Cahiyang’s request for a good moral certificate causing him to lose his chance of nomination in the Gawad Chancellor Awards. The administration did not just trample upon the freedom of expression and the rights to dissent of the students, its repercussions accompanied by bureaucratic measures were extended so as to deprive the students of their academic rights.

To implement a rule of law is worthy but to listen to the call of the students and of the masses is imperative. However, in an administration where despotic instead of democratic measures are being implemented, to fight is not just a right; it is an obligation.

TH E LIQ UID ATIO N With the school administrations as its machinery to silence its young dissenters, the government rewards indemnity to the perpetrators and remains inutile in the midst of the harassments experienced by the students.

In the National University (NU), student council members James Bryan Deang and Jose Mari Callueng were stripped off their scholarship grants from the SM Foundation.

This took effect after both students participated and spoke during the protests regarding the proposed 3.5 to 10 percent NU tuition fee increase held last February 28, 2014 in Mendiola. The foundation dubbed Deang and Callueng’s participation in the protests as “misbehavior" and disqualified them from availing the scholarship program where students are required to observe good conduct in accordance to the standards of the foundation. Meanwhile, four students from the University of San Carlos are currently facing the threats of expulsion after joining in the demonstrations against the termination of more than 70 employees in their school’s General Services Office. Aside from almost being unable to enroll for the first semester due to a registration block, the students were subjected to disciplinary actions after purportedly having violated university rules.

Amidst this rampant student repression, the government remains mute on the suffering of the Filipino students.

Kabataan Party List Representative Terry Ridon immediately refiled House Bill No. 1098 and 1099 following the effectivity of his term in the 16th Congress last 2013. HB 1908, also known as the Student Rights Bill aims to protect the right of students to academic freedom, information, and expression.

HB 1099, or the Anti-‘No Permit, No Exam’ Bill, on the other hand, aims to uphold the rights of students to take midterm and final examinations despite unsettled school fees.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 09

CULTURE 07

Volume 28 Number 6 Thursday | November 27, 2014

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私に気づく、先輩! (Notice me, senpai!)

Katabi mo na nga senpai mo eh. Mag-hi ka naman. Ang hina naman nito. Puro ka “Notice me, senpai,” pero wala ka namang ginagawa. Dapat kasi nanonood ka ng mga shoujo o harem na anime para may mga bago kang da moves. Sino ba kasing nagsabing ‘di pwedeng mangyari sa totoong buhay ‘yung mga eksena sa anime.

Mga bitter lang naman nagsasabing ‘wag kang maniwala sa anime. Ang ‘di kasi nila alam, makakakuha tayo ng mga konsepto, da moves, at ideya sa anime na pwede nating gamitin bilang gabay sa buhay.

感じで隠れ里

Hidden Village in the Feels

“Balang araw, magiging hokage rin ako.”

Aminin mo na sa isang punto ng buhay mo’y ginaya mo ‘yung ala-ninja na pagtakbo, at ‘yung mga hand seals sa Naruto. At siyempre, na-inspire kang baguhin ‘yung sarili mo depende sa mga iniidolo mong characters. ‘Wag kang mag-alala, ok lang ‘yan. Sino ba namang ayaw maging ganun ka-cool? Pero higit sa pagiging cool at astig, ang paggaya natin sa kanila ay may iba pang mga dahilan.

Ang kagandahan ng pagkakaroon ng isang bagay na maaring takbuhan sa tuwing nagiging masalimuot ang buhay ay maaari ‘tong gamitin bilang instrumento sa pagpapaunlad ng ‘yong identidad.

Halimbawa, tinutumbas natin ang ating personalidad sa paborito nating anime character, o sa kurso ng aksyong kanyang ginagawa. Gusto nating maging hero/ heroine sa sarili nating kwento kaya nama’y ginagaya o kino-cosplay at kinakatawanan natin ang isang anime character na itinuturing natin bilang ang ating “ideyal na sarili.”

Ang mga kwento ng anime na may temang surealismo ay nakakapukaw ng interes, isip at damdamin ng mga manonood.

Katulad halimbawa ng anime na Sword Art Online kung saan pinaghalo ang gaming world at ang realidad. Marami ang nahuhumaling sa panonood ng anime dahil sa mga nakakasilaw na mga eksena dito na mas astigin pa kaysa sa realidad, at ang posibilidad na magkaroon ng pagkakatulad ang mga sitwasyon sa anime at sa totoong buhay.

Nakakahiligan ang anime dahil nagsisilbi itong paraan upang makahanap ng temporaryong “pagkakapitan” sa kabila ng mga paghihirap sa buhay – isang madali at kaaya-ayang uri ng “pagtakas.” Bagama’t ang stereotypical na pagtingin ng lipunan sa anime ay isang paraan ng pagtakas sa realidad, hindi ito katumbas ng pagsuko ng mga otaku sa buhay. At sa halip, ang anime pa nga ang nagiging pundasyon, inspirasyon, motibasyon, at nagbibigay ng positibong pananaw sa buhay.

究極しがみつく術 Ultimate Clingjutsu

“‘Di ka mananalo dahil mag-isa ka lang! May mga kaibigan ako, at sila ang nagbibigay sa’kin ng lakas, g@g*! Humanda ka na, ipapakita ko sa’yo ang tunay kong lakas!

Yaaaagh!”

Ilang anime characters na nga ba ang napanood mo na kumukuha ng lakas sa sa pagkakaibigan, at bumubuo ng ugnayan sa isang komunidad? Gaya ng mekanismo ng kapatiran sa anime, ang mga otaku rin ay kumukuha ng lakas sa isa’t-isa sa pagtatagpo nila sa mga maliliit na komunidad. Bilang grupo, napapalawak nila ang kanilang social networks sa paguusap ng hottest anime, at mag-debate tungkol sa kwalipikasyon ni Naruto upang maging Hokage.

Ang mga komunidad na ito, maliban sa pagiging tahanan ng mga anime enthusiasts, ay nagsisilbi rin bilang lugar ng cultural exchange. Ang anime rin kasi ay isang kultural na representasyon ng bansang Japan. Sa panonood nito, naipapasa ang kanilang mga tradisyon dahil naka-angkop na ito sa kwento. Hindi mo na kailangang magpunta ng Japan para maranasan ang kanilang kultura, manood ka lang ng anime eh solb ka na.

Dahil dito, maging mga norms ng mga Hapon sa anime ay tumatagos na rin sa realidad. Isa sa mga natatanging katangian nito ay ang kadalasang hindi nito pagsunod sa dinidiktang mga tradisyon, moralidad, at kultura ng lipunan.

Sa halip, ginagawa pa nga nitong katatawanan ang ilang mga norm, at niroromantisa naman ang mga taboo sa kontemporaryong lipunan.

Sa anime, wala ring diskriminasyon sa itsura, kasarian, talino, etc. Kung meron man, agad-agad naman itong nireresolba sa isang punto ng istorya.

Hentai, yuri, yaoi, incest—ilan lamang ‘to sa mga taboo na niromantisa ng anime.

Kung sa’tin hanggang pangluto lang ang pusit, sa anime hanggang sa kama.

Seryoso. Kung ang patriyarkal na lipunan ay sensitibo sa “homosexual love”, sa anime ito pa ang kinokonsiderang “true love.” Naipapakita ng mga ito na ang anime ay isang uri ng deviant art.

Ibig sabihin, ‘di ito nagpapa-alipin sa moral standards ng lipunan dahil ang ipinapakita nitong values at moralidad ay nakabase sa interpretasyon ng manonood.

Masasabi na ang anime ay isang malakas na pwersang kayang baguhin ang lipunan.

Dahil una, nagpo-promote ito ng cultural relativism. Wala ‘tong dini-discriminate at ine-exclude sa lipunan. Nagpo-promote rin ‘to ng pagkakapantay-pantay sa class, rights at gender. Halimbawa sa anime na Shangri-La, ipinakita na ang mga homosexuals at transgenders ay may mahalagang tungkuling ginagampanan sa pagbuo ng lipunan. Pinapaalala rin nito na tayo ay responsable sa ating mga ikinikilos—dahil kahit ang mga bida, nagkakamali rin.

プロパガンダ技術のシックス パス Six Paths of Propaganda Technique

May nakakakilala pa kaya kina Momotaro at ang kanyang naval army na binubuo ng cute na mga hayop?

Sabagay, kapanahunan pa kasi sila ng IPAGPATULOY SA PAHINA 05

かめはめ波!

KA-ME-HANIME WAVE! ANIME BILANG “TAGPUAN” NG REALIDAD AT IDEYAL

PIA KRIEZL JURADO HERNANDEZ AT JOSE LORENZO QUEROL LANUZA DIBUHO NI MARIA CATALINA BAJAR BELGIRA

08 FEATURES

Volume 28 Number 6 November 27, 2014 | Thursday

ILLUSTRATION BY JOANNE PAULINE RAMOS SANTOS

JOLEEN AIRA RESTERIO ESTELLA, LOISIRC MACALINTAL GO AND AMANDA ERIKA MITERIA LIM

THE JENNIFER LAUDE CASE VIS A VIS THE VISITING FORCES AGREEMENT

COLLATERAL DAMAGE

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She was found with a blanket covering her naked, lifeless form- neck bent; head hovered down the toilet. Asphyxiation by drowning was the identified cause of her death-- the perpetrator used its superior strength and choked the victim out of her life.

JUS TICE DEL AYE D The murder of Jennifer Laude involving US Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton has been sensationalized by the mainstream media as a “crime of hate,” given that Laude is a transgender. Furthermore, the media has repeatedly talked about Jennifer Laude as a sex worker who concealed her identity as female which leads to a conclusion that justifies her death. However, these generalizations by the transphobic society is deceptive as much as it is discriminating.

From the 2013 update of transgender murders reported, a constant rise in murder rates was discerned from the 217 cases recorded in 2009 to 267 cases recorded in 2012. In the Philippines, there have been four recorded transsexual murders from 2012-2014. These severe conditions is accompanied by the lack of laws passed that eradicates discrimination against transexuals.

It is indeed important to note that the death of Laude shows the vulnerable position of transgenders in the Philippines; however, the case must be viewed on a greater scale so as not to be diverted from another issue at hand--the inability of the government to hold the perpetrators and the Visiting Forces Agreement itself accountable for its crimes and human rights violations against the Filipino people for the past years of its existence.

“The custody of any United States personnel over whom the Philippines is to exercise jurisdiction shall immediately reside with United States military authorities…

In the event Philippine judicial proceedings are not completed within one year, the United States shall be relieved of any obligations…”

–VFA, Article V: Criminal Jurisdiction, Paragraph 6 The provision stated above shows the leaning of the VFA in favor of the perpetrators. Along with the inefficiency of investigative and judicial proceedings, it clearly shows how indemnity is given to the United States forces. This then creates a vicious cycle which dictates that the perpetrators can do the same offenses over and over again without being held accountable, and victims never achieve justice.

Moreover, despite being charged for murder, Pemberton’s custody is still with the United States. This is despite the provision of the Visiting Forces Agreement that the Philippines can demand custody of a service member involved in a crime. The contrary was done as the Aquino

administration only needed a single request from the U.S to hand-over the custody of Pemberton.

With the government's lack of political will and the continuous discrimination against the marginalized minority, it is nothing but impossible for justice to be served within the framework of the lopsided VFA.

JU STIC E DE NIE D The Visiting Forces Agreement is a pact between the United States and the Philippine government for US troops’ periodic “visits” and military exercises in the Philippines which gives “special treatment” to the foreign soldiers. On Article III of the said agreement it is said that “ . . . The Government of the Philippines shall facilitate the admission of United States personnel and their departure from the Philippines in connection with activities covered by this agreement.”

Since the approval of the VFA in 1998 and its ratification in 1999, several human rights violations has been reported implicating US military personnels as perpertrators.

Some of these include the Subic rape case involving Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith in 2005, the mysterious death of a Filipino translator in an American camp in Mindanao in 2010, and the most recent case under investigation, the murder of Jennifer Laude.

As the country experiences the intensified implications of its ties with the United States, an administration willing to sell its sovereignty must be resisted. As said by Professor Roland Simbulan of the JUNK VFA Movement, what the government does “ . . . is an about-face from the position taken by Aquino as a senator – he’s reneging on the resolution he signed calling for a review of the VFA, and, if the US ignored that, to have the VFA abrogated." Clearly, the progressive stand of the president was only to widen his electoral base and now that he is in power, service is to his real bosses--the foreign and the elite interests.

Only the termination of the VFA will pry the Filipinos away from the shackles of the US military abuses. The Jennifer Laude case is not the first of the many heinous crimes that the Visiting Force Agreement between the Philippines and the United States has incurred to the Filipino people. Masked under the virtue of military defense collaboration, the said agreement has perpetuated the uneven relationship between the former colony and its colonizer-- one that is exploitative to the former and favorable to the latter.

As administrations fail to recognize and address the faults of the ties between the two nations, history will keep on recording these exploitations which does not only lie on the bastardization of laws and damaging of natural resources; it directly poses danger to the vulnerable groups of the Philippine society and continuously put the lives of every Filipino at the risk of its rights being violated and its life being the collateral damage.

GRAPHICS 09

Volume 28 Number 6 Thursday | November 27, 2014

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LANDAS

PATRICK JACOB LAXAMANA LIWAG

LABAS-MASOK MULA SA PAHINA 12

SILENCING DISSENT FROM PAGE 06

However, both failed to be enacted into laws due to the listless processing of the 15th Congress, in which the HB 1098 only went as far as the committee level, while the Senate failed to create a counterpart bill for HB 1099, thus, cancelling the passing of the latter into law.

The government willingly compromises student welfare in order to perpetuate the threatening atmosphere favorable to pacifying the dissentient and progressive ideals of the students.

Equipped with time and vigor, the Filipino youth has always been an essential sector in shaping the nation through their calls of abolishing repressive policies and regimes.

Historically, the participation of students in underground publications, demonstrations, and militant groups has contributed in the success of overthrowing the Marcos Regime. And even up to present, students have always been in

the forefront of militant activism that pushes for democratic advocacies to benefit the people. They have been active in the struggle with the people against various national and local issues such as unreasonable hikes in commodities and the displacement of the marginalized. But despite the incessant calls of the students for the government to genuinely serve the people, the government has done nothing but to allow the perpetration of repression inside universities, let alone the continuous budget cuts to the educational sector.

Students are constantly harassed and kept deprived of their freedom to practice their principles. The issue of the UPM9 is not an issue in isolation but rather a part of a systematic repression of student dissenters ongoing in the academe. There is a need to call for solidarity amongst the student sector so as to make its voice remain insurmountable as it continues the struggle for its right to fight.

Sa taas ng demand ng lokal at pandaigdigan tagapagsubaybay, umigting ang kompetisyon lalo noong itinayo ang Gawad Arian na nagparangal sa pinakamahuhusay na porno sa Pilipinas. Sumulpot ang mga bagong katunggali na nagpatikim ng samu’t saring putahe na bumagay sa kakaibang panlasa: BDSM, rape fantasies, o di kaya’y trans.

Pero sa dami ng putaheng pagpipilian, mapupunta ulit ang isyu sa mga taong nabidyuhan nang walang kamalay-malay, mula sa mga sikat na artista hanggang sa mga kabataang naloko o na-blackmail ng video dahil nakipag-break.

Mula rito, sasanga muli ang iba pang problema sa lipunan tulad ng privacy, overpopulation, at iba pang karapatangpantao. Mapupuno ang bansa ng usapin sa moralidad, sining, trabaho, ekonomiya at kriminalidad.

Ang lipunang Pilipino ay maraming itinatago mula sa kanyang kapwa at

kanyang sarili, kaya ganito na lamang ang epekto ng mga bagay o isyu tulad ng pornograpiya. Isang halimbawa lamang ang pornograpiya sa mga tagong bagay na may malaking epekto sa pagtingin natin sa moralidad at pagiging bukas ng isipan ng mga Pilipino.

Sa patuloy na tunggalian ng tama at mali, hindi malayong maatim ang isa sa dalawang kahihinatnan ng porno sa hinaharap. Pagsasabatas man nito o pagbabawal, mayroong mga susunod sa pagdidikta, at higit pa, mayroon at mayroong babalikwas sa ngalan ng makamundong pagpapantasya o pagpreserba ng karapatan. *Ang mga nakasulat sa maaaring hantungin ng lipunan ay kathang-isip lamang ng mga manunulat batay sa kanilang pagsusuri sa lipunan

10 OPINION

Volume 28 Number 6 November 27, 2014 | Thursday

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DECAPITULATION

IN MEMORIAM

Gabrielle Marie Melad Simeon

W

hat was he like?

I’ve waited my entire life to be asked that question. God. What was he like? He was everything. He tasted like stale coffee and smelled like metallic sweat. He wore maroon and gold and black and gold. He was golden. On Sundays, he would forget to bathe and spend Monday morning anointing himself with shower gel. When the air skated peacefully against your skin, he would wake himself at three in the morning to read comics on the balcony.

When I gave him roses on some date, he plucked the petals off on our way out the restaurant. He asked, “Are you wooing me?” I said no, even though I was. He wore dirty shirts with holes on the sleeves and a white tie to my gran’s death anniversary.

The one where my uncles asked who he was and he replied her boyfriend, even though he wasn’t yet.

He mumbled things like ‘one life left,’ and ‘the library’s not open’ in his sleep.

When his mother would call begging him to please go to church, he’d send her e-mails about how the staple wires and chromatography paper in his briefcase are his only saints. He said it was an apology.

He only liked walking around the city if it didn’t rain.

What was he like? He hated public transportation. He said trying to fit inside a train was detrimental to his sanity. I often asked him what he thought of me.

His answering laugh was like honey. When I invited him to see my favorite movie, he didn’t show up. He had Gemini tattooed on his left hip. He kissed and pressed the words ‘infinite’ and ‘sick’ onto the crook of my wrist. I remember once he walked three miles to buy pandesal from my favorite bakery.

He called on the way home: “You didn’t have to walk. Don’t you have a car?” I asked. “Gab,” he’d said, “Don’t ask such absurd questions.”

“

HE WAS SPOILED AND SECRETIVE AND HIS HANDS COULD FIX ANYTHING. EVEN ME.

What was he like? I woke up to his random calls. During his visits, his folders would be scattered on my bedroom floor, his pens a mess streaking the carpet. My lights would turn off. What was he like? He’d light candles outside our gate when he forgot our anniversary. He would read these heavy books written by dead scientists who didn’t know the difference between science and faith. “Oh,” he once said, “and you do?” I laughed. I was so in love with

KAKAIBABE

ou will stumble upon someone who will start a fire in you that cannot die.

However, the saddest, most awful truth you will ever come to find — is that they are not always with whom we spend our lives with.” — Beau Taplin, “The Awful Truth” There will come a time that someone special will come into your life and make you feel like a Disney princess you once wished to be. No matter how different and unique the start maybe, it will light a spark and soon you will find yourself clinging unto dear hope that your future with that someone leads to the ringing of church bells and shared vows.

This is the time that every song would remind you of that person. You would enjoy those late night calls about witty conversations that interest both of your lives. You will unknowingly attach yourself into him as you slowly crawl away from your own personal defense. Later, a blissful feeling would emerge until you feel contented and secured from that infatuation.

By some chance, it will turn out into love and sacrifice after quite some time. You might as well be willing to ditch your plans just to spend time with him, to value the connection that sprouted from the admiration of both parties. The money you ought to buy food with, gets stuffed into your pocket for personal savings until

What was he like? He was funny and sharp but could be cruel. He never respected my boundaries, and was impossible if he didn’t get his way--damn the rest of the world, damn everything. He was spoiled and secretive and his hands could fix anything. Even me.

What was he like? He was the type of person to write you misspelled texts and convince you that 3:39 AM was the best time of day.

He explained how poets always describe liquor as golden, but never really was. His grin was carefree and wide when I yelled at him for emptying all my highlighters.

What was he like? He whispered, “Tell me you love this, tell me you’re not miserable,” when he thought I was still asleep. What was he like? He sang lullabies but laughed out loud. What is he like? And this is the part where my throat will burn and I will scratch my collarbones because of how much it hurts.

“Why don’t you ask her,” I’ll say. “Why don’t you ask her?”

THE ART OF MOVING ON

Joleen Aira Restero Estella

Y

him. The curves of his hip. His lips. The smooth slope of his back. His eyebrows. He had such an expressive face--a sharp jaw, and a nice nose. I remember him saying, “Don’t trust a man without a strong nose, love.” I liked his nose. Good nose. How he smiled. How he stole my clothes on Thursdays. How his eyes were gleaming brown I only saw in travel brochures.

another date or “gala” occurs. Sacrifice happens, because that is an act of love.

Then it gets more than that. You will get to treasure that person as the keeper of your fragile heart. He gets the power and control over you because you had given your trust that has completely latched itself unto him. Sometimes you might think other women will become competitors with him.

Jealousy happens if the situation fails to convince yourself that you are protected.

“

BUT SOMEONE WHO HAS GIVEN UP CLINGING INTO YOUR BOND IS SOMEONE YOU SHOULDN’T HOLD UNTO ANYMORE

Along the way each and every unresolved issue become a threat to your relationship.

Was it a matter of jealousy? Of time? Were you too busy? Too young? Too old? Too different? Or were you just bored?

No matter how perfect it may have started, how stable it was going, there will always be a reason why he would have left. Giving your heart entirely to that person would never ensure that he would be able stay with you forever. You would have tried to

mend it, to reconsider the idea, to make certain arrangements, but someone who has given up clinging into your bond is someone you shouldn’t hold unto anymore. He has already served your purpose in your life.

Walking away might be quite easier than looking back. There is really no shortcut into forgetting someone. You have to endure the pain of missing them each and every day, until you don’t miss them at all anymore.

Sometimes you have to turn around and remember that past is only something you could only learn from. Giving up is not that hardest part, but the learning to start over.

At some point you will have to let go in order to move forward.

And for the final act of love, you forgive.

You negate your bitter memories into focusing for a change. You understand that the pain was only transient. The exhausting process will give way for better relationships. You might find someone much unlike the last one, but possibly more fitting for you. And that’s basically how simple how love works, you try and try until you find someone perfectly made for you.

BASAG-ULO Lean Sandigan HARI NG SABLAY Siguro, tanga lang talaga ako.

Sa maikling panahon kong namamalagi rito sa pamantasan, marami akong pagkakamaling hindi karapat-dapat (o at least nakakahiya) para sa isang iskolar.

Minsan, may mga panahon na parang dehins ako sumusunod sa nakasanayang paninindigan na mayroon ang mga isko.

Laging naroon yung pangangamba na baka mali ako, kasi ganito, ganyan. Lagi akong natatakot sa sasabihin ng iba, sa mga magiging puna nila sa akin at sa mga gagawin ko.

Iniisip ko pa lang na magkakamali ako, parang ayaw ko nang gawin pa yung mga gusto ko dapat. Nai-insecure ako sa pagsasalita at sa pagsusulat. Ang daming laman ng utak ko, at hindi ko masabi lahat kasi takot na takot ako sa pagkakamali.

Bukod pa roon, mahina rin ako sa acads. Wala namang aasahan ang mga groupmates ko sa akin, kaya nga mas gusto kong individual palagi ang trabaho.

Nahihiya ako kasi magaling sila, masipag, at may silbi sa group activity. Ayokong hilain sila pababa.

Ewan ko ba, minsan nga naiisip ko na kaya siguro ako pinili para magsulat sa column na ito kasi ako yung representative ng mga tanga sa unibersidad. Mga taong hindi naman karapat-dapat dito sa UP, pero napunta lang kasi naawa sa amin ang admin, may kakilalang mataas na opisyal, o kaya naman sinwerte lang talaga sa UPCAT. Alam ko na rin ang sasabihin ng iba, narinig ko na ‘yan. Nakakatuwa, may mga taong pilit na iniintindi ang sitwasyon ko.

Mabuti sila, naiintindihan nila ako, pero ako sa sarili ko, parang lahat malabo.

Wala eh, kahit madaling makakuha ng inspirasyon at tapang, madali ring makain ng pangamba. Lalo na siguro kung sunodsunod na yung pagkakamali mo sa buhay.

Saka, ginagawa ko naman ang lahat, pero parang kulang lang talaga lahat ng effort ko.

Tsk. Ang hirap ng ganito. Pakiramdam ko, wala akong honor and excellence. Wala rin ata akong tapang at talino. Wala rin akong paninindigan. Ayoko ng ganito — pakiramdam ko wala akong karapatan sa kahit anong nakapaligid sa akin. Wala na akong ibang nasa bulsa kung ‘di mas maraming pagkakataon na magkamali, at barya-baryang tapang kapag kailangan na kailangan.

May pag-asa pa kaya akong tumagal dito?

Sana meron.

Tang*na this.

I-spluk mo na beh : facebook.com/lolapatola

EDITORIAL 11

Volume 28 Number 6 Thursday | November 27, 2014

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ALANG BAKUNA SA SAKUNA, SUBALIT MAYROON PARA SA MAPANLINLANG NA PAMAMAHALA. Isang taon matapos hagupitin ng bagyong Yolanda ang Leyte at Samar, hindi pa rin natatamo ng administrasyong Aquino ang pagkatuto na hindi makagagaling ng sugat ang matatamis na talumpati. Sa kasalukuyan, nagtuturuan pa rin ng sisi kung kaninong pananagutan ang P12.7 bilyong pinsalang iniwan ng bagyo. Hanggang ngayon, pilit pa rin nilang pinaniniwala ang sarili at ang bayan na sapat ang serbisyong ibinibigay ng gobyerno para tumindig muli ang Kabisayaan.

NEWS CORRESPONDENTS Ezra Kristina Ostaya Bayalan Elizabeth Danielle Quiñones Fodulla Adolf Enrique Santos Gonzales Eunice Biñas Hechanova Carlo Rey Resureccion Martinez Ronilo Raymundo Mesa Gayle Calianga Reyna FEATURES CORRESPONDENTS Jennah Yelle Manato Mallari Liezl Ann Dimabuyu Lansang Angelica Natividad Reyes

Higit sa lahat, patuloy pa ring nalulunod ang mga nasalanta sa mga huwad na pangako ng pagkamit ng hustisya at pangako ng pagbangon.

Sa mga nakararaang talumpati ni Pangulong Aquino, lagi nang magigisnan ang pagmamalaki nito sa aniya’y mabilis, episyente at epektibong pagtugon ng kanyang administrasyon sa Kabisayaan. Ilan sa mga ito ay ang Rehabilitation Assistance on Yolanda (RAY) plan, na naglalayong bumalangkas sa mga hakbangin ng gobyerno para sa pagbangon ng bansa.

Kabilang dito ang plano para sa pag-ayos ng mga nasirang kabahayan, sa pag-alalay sa mga naudlot na hanapbuhay tulad ng pagsasaka at pangingisda, at sa paggawa sa iba pang mga nasirang imprastaktura sa Leyte at Samar.

Subalit malayo sa mga inuulat ng Pangulo ang tunay na nangyayari at pighati ng mga nasalanta, lalo na sa aspeto ng hanap-buhay at kabahayan ng mga ito.

Ayon sa ulat ng IBON Foundation, sa 1.5 milyong pamilyang nasalanta ng bagyo, 215,471 pamilya lamang ang nakatanggap ng benepisyo mula sa Cash for Building Livelihood Assets project ng pamahalaan.

Pagdating sa sektor ng agrikultura, ang sektor na nagpapakain sa Kabisayaan, naging matamlay rin ang pagtugon ng pamahalaan. Mahigit-kumulang tatlong libong mga magsasaka lamang ang nabigyan ng mga bagong punla, samantalang 160 lamang ang nabigyan ng mga bagong hayop na alagain sa bukid. May 44,870 mangingisda naman ang nabigyan ng mga bagong fishing gears, samantalang, 32,081 mga bangka naman ang nakaya lamang na makumpuni. Ang bagsak na sitwasyon ng mga magsasaka at mangingisda ay lalong nagpapabagal sa pag-unlad ng rehiyon.

Kung hindi matutulungan ng gobyerno ang mamamayan mula sa kanilang mga nawalang hanap-buhay, laging naroon ang pangamba na darating ang panibagong sakuna bago pa man sila tuluyang makatindig.

Higit sa mga nawalang hanap-buhay, kitangkita rin ang pagkukulang ng gobyerno para sa mga pabahay ng mga nasalanta. Sa 1.2 milyong mga kabahayan namang nasira, 364 lamang na mga pabahay ang naayos sa Tacloban, at sa Tanauan, Leyte. Ang mga bunkhouses na dapat ay pansamantalang paninirahan lamang ng mga mamamayan ay tila naging permanente na, kasama ng pagiging permanente ng kanilang masalimuot na kalagayan. Bukod sa mga nabulok na relief goods, tila nabulok na rin ang mga tulong-pinansyal na ibinigay ng iba’t ibang bansa noon. Ang pera at kagamitang ibinigay ay hindi pa rin nakikita

CULTURE CORRESPONDENTS Angelo Dennis Aligaga Agdeppa Jamilah Paola dela Cruz Laguardia Jose Lorenzo Querol Lanuza Thalia Real Villela RESIDENT ILLUSTRATORS Lizette Joan Campaña Daluz Daniel John Galinato Estember Princess Pauline Cervantes Habla Joanne Pauline Ramos Santos RESIDENT PHOTOJOURNALIST Jenny Mary Camama Dagun RESIDENT LAYOUT ARTIST Patrick Jacob Laxamana Liwag DANIEL JOHN GALINATO ESTEMBER

Abandonado sa paraan ng pag-unlad ng kabahayan ng mga mamamayan.

Isang malaking sampal din para sa mga nasalanta ang makupad na paglalabas ng pondo ng pamahalaan para hanguin sila sa kahirapan. Dumaan muna ang isang taon bago alalayan at bigyangpasnin muli ng administrasyon ang mga nasalanta sa Samar at Leyte, patunay rito ang kamakailan lang naaproba ang P160B reconstruction plan para sa Kabisayaan.

Dahilan ng administrasyon ang mabusisi nilang pagtukoy sa paggastos nito para masiguro ang kalidad ng pagtugon, subalit sa patuloy na paglipas ng panahon, mas lalong nahihirapan ang mga nasalanta.

Inutil ang isang pamahalaang nag-iisip na maghihilom ang sugat ng pananalasa ng bagyong Yolanda sa sariling-sikap ng mga taga-Samar at Leyte. Lumipas na ang panahon at lalo lamang nagkapatongpatong ang mga sakunang kinakahirap ng mga Pilipino sa ilalim ng rehimeng Aquino. Sa nagdaang panahon, laging nauuna ang pamumulitika, hindi lamang ng pangulo kung ‘di maging ng iba pang nasa kapangyarihan. Mabilis ang gobyerno sa paghahanap ng butas sa kanilang mga kaaway sa politika, pero nanatili silang mabagal sa pagtugon at pagbibigayhustisya sa mga nasalanta.

Ang mga sugat na taglay ng mga nasalanta

ANG KABAGALAN SA PAGTUGON AY PAGKAIT NG HUSTISYA Ang kabagalan sa pagtugon ay pagkait ng hustisya.

Sa sakunang nangyari sa Kabisayaan, hindi nalalayo ang UP. Hanggang sa kasalukuyan, mayroon pa ring kakulangan sa pasilidad at kakulangan ng mismong paaralan ang mga Iskolar ng Bayan. Matapos ang isang taon, naninirahan at nagdaraos pa rin ang mga estudyante sa makeshift tents dahil sa nasirang gusali ng pamantasan. Dahil dito, hindi dapat nakukulong sa mga nawalan ng kabahayan ang isyu, marapat lamang na maging kaisa ang mga Iskolar ng Bayan sa paghingi ng hustisya. Malayo sa realidad ang pagbangon na tinutukoy ng pangulo, lalo na’t siya mismo ay hindi nakikita ang Leyte.

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

Solidaridad - UP College Editors Systemwide Alliance of Guild of the Student Publications Philippines and Writers’ Organizations

The Cover

ay patuloy na nagnanaknak at nilalamon ng impeksyong dala ng mabagal na sistema. Ang sistemang ito ay tuluyan nang inabandona ang mga mamamayan para alagaan ang kanilang sarili at kalimutan ang hustisyang nararapat sa kanila.

Hindi na dapat dagdagan pa ang hapdi ng pinagsamang-samang latay ng sugat sa mga nasalanta ng bagyong Yolanda.

Walang panahong makapagsasabi kung kailan ito maghihilom, pero ang panahon para lumaban at igiit ang karapatan laban sa mapanlinlang at mapaniil na sistema ay ngayon na – naghihintay lamang ng isang hukbo ng mga taong sinubok ng delubyo, at handang magsakripisyo.

Illustration by Angelo Dennis Aligaga Agdeppa

LABAS-MASOK

JOSEF BERNARD SORIANO DE MESA AT GABRIELLE MARIE MELAD SIMEON GUHIT NI LIZETTE JOAN CAMPAÑA DALUZ

PAGTANAW SA KINABUKASAN NG PORNOGRAPIYA SA PILIPINAS

BABALA:

Ang mga susunod na mababasa ay naglalaman ng maseselang eksena.

Isarado ang pinto, buksan ang zipper este ang isipan.

Kanina ka pa himas nang himas. Abottanaw at halos lasap mo na ang matamis na rurok—eto na, onti na lang, ontingonti na lang—ngunit kulang pa rin ang bugso at pagbayo ng iyong pagod nang kamay. Kabilang kamay naman.

Malaking bahagi ng lipunan natin ang naaapektuhan ng porno. Ganoon man katindi ang pagtatago ng mga tao sa kanilang porno, hindi naman maitatanggi na ang kawalan o pagkakaroon ng porno ay may kaakibat na epekto. Bawat himas, bawat pasok, bawat ungol at sigaw, may nakatagong sarap, hirap, at katotohanan.

Tignan ang lipunan sa dalawang perspektiba — isang lipunang ipinagbabawal ng tuluyan ang pornograpiya, at isang lipunang legal ito.

MAGTIMPI KA: LIPUNANG BAWAL ANG PORNO Mapa-child, midget, tranny, twink, cartoon, solo, lesbian, gay, straight, eXXXtreme, o BDSM porn; MILF, DILF, bukkake, gloryhole, orgy, cumshot, bod, money shot, crotch shot, pop shot, at kung ano-anong shot na makapilipit-dila ang pabalat— s a ganitong klase ng lipunan, lahat ay walang takas, lahat ay nasaklaw na sa kategoryang katakam-takam ngunit ipinagbabawal.

Sa ganitong pangyayari, hindi malayong mas lumakas ang kapit ng ilang relihiyon sa mga usapin ng gobyerno. Naroon ang malakas na pagsang-ayon sa porn ban, dahil na rin sa konsepto ng kasalanan at moralidad. Naroon ang pagkakataon na mabawasan na ang bilang ng mga sexrelated crimes sa bansa dahil wala nga namang magiging “inspirasyon” at “idol” ang mga tao. Sa pagbaba ng bilang ng krimen, mas mapoproteksyonan ang kababaihan at mga menor de edad, na kadalasa’y biktima ng mahahalay na gawain.

Syempre, dahil walang Mang Kanor bilang simbolo ng kalibugan, wala na ring inspirasyon ang mga direktor at produsyer na gumawa ng mga istoryang may bahid ng pornograpiya. Mawawalan ng mga palabas na nagpapainit pa lalo sa tanghali ng mga Pilipino, at mapapalitan ng pambatang palabas, balita, at spin-off ng Be Careful With My Heart.

Ngunit bugso ng pagbabawal ay pasalungat na tugon sa agos. Nanggagalaiting tugon ng mga alagad ng midya, marapat na iangat ang ban dahil isa itong masidhing porma ng censorship na ymuyurak sa freedom of expression ng mga Pilipino. Da Vinci Load na rin ang dami ng gender at LGBT groups na magrereklamo. Normal ang pagtuklas at pagpapahalaga sa sexual identity at pagtatalik—bakit daw kailangang ilayo ito

sa mga tao?

Sapagkat hindi na maikalma ng mga tao ang nagbabagang init ng katawan sa apat na sulok ng kwarto, maaaring dalhin naman ang pagnanasa sa mga lansangan at virgin-tight na eskinita ng Maynila.

Lalong tumaas ang insidente ng rape. Bata, matanda, halaman o butas na unan, hindi nakaligtas sa gipit na tawag ng laman.

Kung walang pornograpiya at pagraraosan, kasabay ng pagbukas ng mga potensyal na “business” sa bansa. Ang mga desperado nang makatikim ay nagtungo sa mga bahay-aliwan, at patuloy na nagpalakas ng industriya ng prostitusyon. Pero syempre, kung bawal ang pornograpiya, mas bawal ang mga bahay-aliwan, subalit hindi rin naman mapipigilan ang mga tao sa kanilang kagustuhan. Mapapalitan lang ng mas matinding aksyon ang pagnanasa.

Kung pinipilit mabuhay ng mga bahayaliwan, hindi naman ito kaparehas ng sitwasyon sa ibang bagay. Luminis ang hanay ng mga tinderang nagbebenta ng pamparegla, pampa-abort, viagra, laruang patikim langit (G-spot vibes, dildos, butt plugs, nippple vibrators, vaginal balls, cock rings), at R-rated na mga pelikula sa Hidalgo Street. Nagsilahuan na rin ang mga magasin at dyaryong malalaswa— FHM, Tiktik, Remate, Bulgar. Say goodbye na kay Sam Pinto at Ellen Adarna.

Bagamat hihina ang bentahan ng ilang produkto, ang kalakaran ng black market ay lalakas. Mga hard drives at DVDs na napapanahon ang nilalaman: mula litrato ng babaeng walang suot kundi kanyang ngiti, hanggang bidyo ng nagaasuhang magkasintahan. Parang tinapa na tinago at saka binalot ang mga sex toys, na minsan ay patago pa ang delivery at shipping.

Babaguhin ng matinding pamantayan sa moral at imoral ang lipunan, at kasama sa mga maaapektuhan nito ang ekonomiya, na siyang yayanig sa kultura. Subalit kahit pa may mga matitinding batas laban sa pornograpiya, sa isang lipunang pigil ang libido, meron pa ring uungol. Sabi nga nila, masarap pa rin ang bawal.

IPUTOK NA: LIPUNANG LEGAL ANG PORNO Magdiriwang na ang mga mahahalay sa pagiging legal ng pornograpiya sa Pilipinas.

Sigurado, maraming business ang magbubukas sa pagiging legal ng pornograpiya sa isang bansa. Nandiyan

ang mga bilihan ng iba’t ibang sex toys (baka nga magkaroon pa ng mga stall sa loob ng mall), mga hotel na gagawing “setting” ng mga video, at syempre, ang mga video cameras at shooting equipment mismo.

Kasabay rin ng paglago ng mga kalakal na ginagamit sa pag-video ang pagtaas muli ng mga pelikulang erotika, o kahit mga pelikulang nadilaan lang ng sex scene para maging “artistic” ito. Totoo nga naman, para maging realistiko minsan ang isang istorya, dapat laging nakikipaglaro sa mga karakter ang konsepto ng pagtatalik dahil normal itong pakiramdam.

Pagkatapos ng bawat pelikula, muli na ring tataas ang benta ng mga nagbebenta ng DVD. Sa ganitong kalagayan din dapat asahang babagal ang Internet sa buong bansa sa dami ng magpo-porn. Marahil kalakip na ng taas ng benta sa XXX videos ay ang pagtaas ng panonood sa iba’t ibang websites. Kulang na lang, may manood habang nasa tren, bus, at klase (pero meron namang gumagawa nito kahit hindi ito legal).

Kung susuriin, malakas ang epekto ng pagapruba ng pornograpiya sa bansa lalonglalo sa ekkonomiya subalit hindi lahat ay kakagat dito. Mayroon pa ring mga sektor ng lipunan na lalaban sa ganitong batas.

Kabi-kabila pa ring mga organisasyon ang patuloy na aalma sa pagsasabatas nito.

Imoral, pagtutol ng simbahan. Hiyaw ng mga partidong para sa kababaihan, binaba nito ang tingin sa mga taong kasali sa mga bidyong ito.

Sa mga ganoong aksyon din lalabas ang iba’t ibang pagtaas o pagbaba sa antas ng kriminalidad. Maaaring tumaas ang krimen dahil sa mas maraming “inspirasyon” o bumaba dahil legal na rin naman na ang ilang gawain. Kaakibat ng pagiging legal ay ang paraan para ito’y pagkakitaan. Laging nandiyan ang Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) para buwisan ang mga porn stars, producers, directors, at mga nagbebenta ng videos at pornoserye.

Bilang kinikilala na sila ang pornograpiya, hindi malayong magkaroon ng iba’t ibang grupong magsusulong naman sa karapatan nila tulad ng buwanang medical check-up. Malay niyo, magkaroon pa ng partylist ang mga ito o maisama sa mga nagsusulong ng malayang sining at midya.

IPAGPATULOY SA PAHINA 09