The Manila Collegian Volume 28 Numbers 7-8 by The Manila Collegian

THE MANILA COLLEGIAN

THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES MANILA

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Thursday December 12, 2014 Volume 28 Numbers 7-8

02 NEWS Students protest on youth action day 08 FEATURES Waiting for the Red Light 11 CULTURE The Ghost of Christmas Present(s) 14 OPINION 12:51 15 EDITORIAL Toothless Freedom

02 NEWS

Volume 28 Numbers 7-8 December 12, 2014 | Thursday

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Students stage protest on youth action day Youth groups slam tuition hike, other school fees GAYLE CALIANGA REYNA

Demonstrating dissent over their skyrocketing tuition and other school fees (OSF), hundreds of students from different colleges and universities staged a mass dance protest at Liwasang Bonifacio on November 17 in commemoration of the International Students’ Day. First celebrated in 1941, International students’ day served as a reminder of the sacrifices, struggles and victories of student collective action against fascism and repression. In this year’s celebration, students and youth leaders led by the Rise for Education (R4E) alliance lambasted the Aquino administration’s incessant commercialization of education and other social services. Junk ‘Exorbitant’ Fees Before convening at Liwasan, a series of noise barrages and flash mobs were held by students from the University of the Philippines Manila (UPM), University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD), University of the East (UE), Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), and Lyceum of the Philippines University Manila (LPUM) in their respective schools to denounce the rising cost of tuition and to scrap OSFs. According to Sarah Elago, president of the National Union of Students in the Philippines (NUSP), there are increasing numbers of students unable to finish their studies because of the needed money for tuition. Moreover, she noted that added fees which are “redundant and exorbitant” made tuition even more expensive. “We strongly condemn the BS Aquino III’s neoliberal and deregulation policies in the education sector. The stratospheric OSFs and tuition fee have only effectively divorced the education system from the general Filipino student populace,” added Elago.

In a statement, R4E also said that unnecessary OSFs actually comprise the bulk of the total matriculation of students each semester. Similarly, the League of Filipino Students (LFS) added that the government’s implementation of the Education Act of 1982 and the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHEd) Memorandum Order No. 3, series of 2012 (CMO 3) aggravated the deregulation of tuition fees and imposition of OSFs.

prompted school administrators to impose income-generating projects. Furthermore, LFS urged youth across the country to join the fight for education and Aquino’s removal. Student Repression On the other hand, the youth groups also decried campus repression as they fight for their right to education.

Continuing Protests

Prince Ragasa, deputy chief of staff of the Office of the Student Regent, criticized the approved 2012 Code of Student Conduct particularly the provisions on “disrespect towards any person, which includes, but not limited to insulting, discriminatory and/or threatening behavior; and creating and/or engaging in disorder, tumult, breach of peace, or serious disturbances such as, but not limited to, rumbles within the University premises, resulting in harm to persons.”

Continuing their call to junk all OSFs and to stop tuition hikes, LFS and other youth groups under the R4E alliance held protest actions in their respective campuses on November 26.

Students who will be reported or complained to have violated the code of conduct can be suspended for one semester to one year. Furthermore, they shall be required to pay actual damages.

Consequently, students from UPD walked out of their classes and rallied outside the Executive House where the Board of Regents meeting was held. Participants also marched towards CHEd‘s office to reiterate their demands.

According to Ragasa, the disrespect provision was obviously meant for protesters, such as the students and faculty who railed against Department of Budget and Management secretary Florencio Abad back in September.

“The Filipino youth are beleaguered by state policies that ensure profit-driven interests thriving in social services such as education. We cannot just stand and watch as schools charge out-of-this world and skyrocketing fees from students. It is under these conditions that we choose to stand in the line of fire and raise the call for Aquino’s ouster,” said Velasco.

Likewise, Student Regent Neill John Macuha noted that the newly approved code represses the students’ right to freedom of expression.

“These other school fees should already be part of the tuition we pay in our universities, yet school administrators in state universities and colleges (SUCs) and private universities still employ them to conceal the ever-increasing price of education,” said LFS spokesperson Charlotte Velasco.

The LFS spokesperson also decried the government’s budget cut in SUCs that

“There is a probability that this will be used against students who are discussing about their projects and someone happens to be disturbed because of their noise,” he added.

COLLEGE BRIEFS The National Institute of Health (NIH) is still accepting research or thesis proposals for funding by the UPM Nationalist Institutes of Health, UPM Student Researcher Grant 2014. Deadline of submissions is on December 18, 2014. For inquiries you may contact Ms. Vivian E. Biala of the Research Management Committee of the UPMNIH at upmnih.rm@gmail.com or contact USC Councilor Brian Estado at 09175422936

ORGANEWS The UP Manila Chorale will hold its annual Christmas concert, this year’s concert is entitled “Gloria: Himig ng Pasasalamat.” There will be a 3PM Matinee and a 6PM Gala on December 13 at the UP Manila Museum of A History of Ideas. Tickets are sold at Php 250 with a special student rate of Php 150. Part of the proceeds will go to the development of the UP Manila Museum of A History of ideas. For inquiries, you may contact 0917-8951216 or 0919-997-1420.

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YOUTH STRUGGLE. Condemning the rising cost of education, various youth groups staged a protest last November 17 in commemoration of the International Students’ Day. Photo courtesy by Youth Act Now

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Volume 28 Numbers 7-8 Thursday | December 12, 2014

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Director of Philippine Genome Center, NIH is 9th UPM Chancellor 4 New VCs installed by the newly-elected Chancellor Padilla ADOLF ENRIQUE SANTOS GONZALES AND SOFIA MONIQUE KINGKING SIBULO

The University of the Philippines Manila chancellor, along with her four appointed vice chancellors, has sworn into office as the university’s highest administrative officials on October 29, 2014 in the PGH Social Hall. According to the vision set by the new chancellor, the new assemblage will drive the university towards higher excellency in academics and research, ensure the rebuilding of SHS Palo, promote working in a collegial and supportive environment, and lastly, empower and protect the universities assets.

2003 to 2004, then as the Vice President for Administration from 2006 to 2011. She was also the Assistant Secretary of the University and of the Board of Regents from June to December, 2006, and the Deputy Director for Fiscal Services of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) from November 2005 to May 2006.

Chancellor Carmencita MD, FPPS, MAHP

David-Padilla,

VC for Academic Affairs Nymia PimentelSimbulan, DR PH

The 9th elected Chancellor Carmencita David-Padilla, MD, FPPS, MAHPS, is a Professor 12, an academician of the National Academy of Science and Technology, and a University Scientist 3. She is also the Director of the Newborn Screening Reference Center, Executive Director of the Philippine Genome Center, and Interim Director of Institute for Health Innovation and Translation Medicine. She graduated cum laude with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Pre-medicine in UP Diliman, then took BS Medicine in UP Manila, being awarded as an Outstanding Graduate. She had her Pediatric Residency Training and MA in Health Policy Studies in UP. She also became an exchange Research Fellow in the Kobe University School of Medicine.

Nymia Pimentel-Simbulan, DR PH, is a professor in the Department of Behavioral Sciences (DBS), College of Arts and Sciences. Before she became the vice chancellor for academic affairs (VCAA) this year, she was the chairperson of DBS. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree, major in Sociology from UP Diliman, and obtained masteral and doctoral degrees in Public Health from UPM. Furthermore, she was an OSA Director for six years. She is also a member of the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), and one of the editors and writers of “Terrorism and Human Dignity.” When the chancellor chose her to be the new VCAA, she said that she was flattered, and added that the task is “frightening and also challenging.” Her inspiration to take on the challenge is her commitment to serve the students and faculty members.

She is a multi-awarded pediatrician and geneticist garnering awards from the university level up to the international level. In her career, she drafted three legislations, one of which is now a law, the New Born Screening Act of 2004. Also, she has published 155 articles referring to health, specifically more on genetics and newborns. Her term as chancellor will be from November 1, 2014 to October 31, 2017. In her vision, UP Manila will be a haven of excellence, scholarship, collegiality, and service. She also emphasizes on strengthening the School for Health Sciences (SHS) in Palo, Baler, and Koronadal, for they are concrete operationalization of the University’s mission of “service to the Filipino people.” Her administration, according to her, will be known for protecting the rights of students, faculty, and administrative personnel. It will also be identified for partnerships and professionalized services. Her inspirational motto is, “People first before personal gains.” VC for Administation Arlene AlcidSamaniego, MD Dr. Arlene Alcid-Samaniego is a professor in the Department of Anatomy of the College of Medicine. Her specialty and subspecialty training is in histology. In addition, she is also the current director of the Office of Alumni Relations. She served as the Assistant Vice President for Administration of the UP System from

(The new VC for Administration expressed her desire to have an interview with the Manila Collegian. However, due to her tight schedule, the Manila Collegian was not able to conduct an interview with her.)

In the interview with The Manila Collegian, she specified some programs she wants to continue. First is the internationalization program in preparation for the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) integration. The problem she sees in this program, however, is that UPM still lacks adequate facilities and that faculty members will have excessive teaching loads. Second is to review and to revise the general education curriculum to adapt to the K to 12 program of the Department of Education. Third is the plan to start reviewing different graduate programs in UPM. Being imprisoned for six months during the martial law, her stand on activism is positive. For her, it is important that the students use this to fight for their rights. However, she strongly expressed that student activists nowadays lack the background knowledge about the stance they are protesting for. She added that to be effective in convincing others to join their fight, student activists need to know the pros and cons. “Student leaders, student activists should be able to conduct activities intelligently, lalong-lalo na UP students tayo,” she said. Pimentel-Simbulan also talked about some issues that concern her office. As for the transparency of her office, she stated that it is always open. On the other hand, she believes that the new programs, like the Student Academic Information System

(SAIS) and Socialized Tuition Scheme (STS), still have many glitches to be solved. In terms of the accreditation of the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PAASCU), she sees that it is good for the maintenance of the quality of education, but on other hand sees that these are added works. The vice chancellor added that the university only encourages the colleges to follow the guidelines of PAASCU, but these guidelines are not totally implemented. About the controversial academic calendar shift, she thinks that this shortened the days for semestral break and Christmas break wherein you could do more research. However, according to her, it prolonged the days for lessons and it did not affect the quality of education. VC for Research and NIH Director Eva Maria Cruz Cutiongco-De La Paz, MD Dr. Eva Maria Cruz Cutiongco-De La Paz, a graduate of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine (UPCM) in 1989, is the new National Institutes of Health (NIH) Executive Director and the new Vice Chancellor for Research. Cutiongco is also the current president of the UP Medical Alumni Society. Furthermore, she is one of the notable figures in the field of genetics in the Philippines. She is the current director of the Health Program of the Philippine Genome Center, and received numerous awards due to her contributions in the field of genetics. She also held several academic posts in UPM, specifically as a research associate professor in the NIH and also as a clinical associate professor in UPCM. VC for Planning and Development Michael L. Tee, MD, MHPED Dr. Michael L. Tee, the newly-appointed IPPAO Director and the Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development (VCPD), is an alumnus of UPCM who graduated in 1998. Tee also had a master’s degree in Health Profession Education, a master’s degree in Biology, and is currently taking his master’s degree in Business Administration in UP Diliman. Moreover, Tee was also the assistant to the director of PGH Public Affairs from 2004 to 2010, and was appointed as the IPPAO director in 2011. According to him, his motivation for taking the office was the urge to contribute to the process of improving UP Manila, so that it can be an environment that is more enabling on nurturing students and developing faculty and staffs. On the other hand, Tee also related to The Manila Collegian some of his management techniques. He began with sharing an abstract of PLAN and DEVELOPMENT, which stands for “Purposeful Listening ANalysis Do EVErything Legally Objectively Professionally, Make Everyone Nurture The Project.” Throughout the interview, he further emphasized the importance of listening to his constituents. He also mentioned that every project should not be planned top-down and must follow the frameworks allowed by law and

regulations. Additionally, he also gave his goals as a VCPD. “Ang objective ko is to help contribute to the efforts to improve on how the university delivers its services to the students, harness the capacity of the staff and to help the organization of national health policies and hopefully, develop the human resources with a nationalistic view and a global outlook.” Moreover, he also said to the Manila Collegian his priorities as the new VCPD. “Tapusin ‘yung mga nasimulan, ipagpatuloy ‘yung mga naplano na. Tapos kung may mga bagong plano, pag-usapan,” said Tee. On the other hand, Tee also stated the current status of the infrastructure projects in UPM and the SHS. On the construction of the CAS Student Center, Mr. Tee expressed his dismay about the labelling of the construction as a “stalled” construction. “Hindi natin sasabihin na these are problems because you are already judging it. You are already framing it as a problem. I would like to avoid framing things in a negative way. Let’s just call it as a situation. It’s a condition that arises because of the interaction of regulatory requirements, contract provisions, parties involved in the contract…” said Tee. Moreover, he also mentioned that the PGH Director showed interest on providing food to UP Manila students through rolling stores in Pedro Gil and Padre Faura. However, the plans are still assessed as of press time. According to him, on November 12 and 13, the UP Manila Chancellor and her VCs visited the School of Health Sciences in Palo and set consultations with the school’s constituents. Accordingly, Tee also showed confidential rehabilitation plans that was coordinated with the local mayor in Palo during their visit. He also lauded the finished construction of classrooms under the joint cooperation with ABSCBN’s Sagip Kapamilya Foundation. On the other hand, he also mentioned to The Manila Collegian that the NIH Building is now undergoing a procurement process. However, the project failed to secure a construction firm on the first bidding attempt. Lastly, Tee articulated his prospected expectation for himself on his last day as VCPD. “Our goal as an office is a sustainable response from the planning for UP Manila. “Kailangang maiwan ko lang ay nagawa ko ‘yung iniutos sa akin,” said Tee. Chancellor Padilla and Vice Chancellor for Research Cutiongco both intended to have interviews with The Manila Collegian, but were unable to do so due to conflicts with their busy schedules. Thus, the interview questions were sent to them and are now available on the Manila Collegian’s Facebook page.

04 NEWS

Volume 28 Numbers 7-8 December 12, 2014 | Thursday

Mga Fulung-Vulungan ng Nagjijisang

ITANONG KAY ISKO’T ISKA Anong masasabi mo sa sunod-sunod na 1bilihin pagtaas ng presyo ng mga pangunahing ngayong 2014?

I think it’s an indicator of the economic state of the Philippines. We’re known to be a country whose cost of living isn’t very high, but with everything rising, this is subject to change as well. - SaveMePls, CAS, 20**-7***

Pwede ring ipadala ang inyong mga sagot sa pamamagitan ng pag-text sa 09175109496!(Pero bawal ang textmate!) talong ni batman, 2012, CAS Lahat na po tumaas, height ko hindi pa din. Sakit beh. - Agent Skye (2011-****7)

NAKAKA-P*TA - capslock

Hindi makatarungan ang pagtataas nila ng presyo. Nagtataas ang presyo ng bilihin tapos hindi nagtataas ang sweldo. Pati presyo ng bluebook nagtataas. Kaya hindi rin tumataas ang allowance naming mga estudyante. Kaya hindi umaasenso ang estudyante. Wala naring badyet pambili ng kape para pampagising upang makapagaral - Verbenaceae, CAS, 2014-2XXXX

Tumaas na ata lahat maliban sa sweldo ng masa at grades ko. Unfair. - Saumensch, di ako CAS </3

Kailangang tanggapin na lahat ay nagmamahalan na at tayo na lang ang hindi. - CASqt, 2014-100xx

Ang hassle kasi wala na akong pera mamomoblema pa ako kahit sa pagbili ng mentos lang?!- Sassypammy, CAS, 201403797

ang naging unang semestre mo 2Kumusta sa ilalim ng bagong academic calendar?

Lahat na nagmamahalan. Tayo na lang hindi. - Legendre | 2012-04895 | CAS

KKLK. Nabutas na nga yung pantalon ko kahapon, butas pa ang bulsa araw-araw!!! schadenfreude, 2012 Ultimo carrots para sa mechado ng nanay ko, namamahalan ako. Jusko. - prolet, naCAScas, 2014 Ang masasabi ko lang ay buti pa ang bilihin, nagmahahal. - Daisy, 2014-xxxxx, CAS I’ve always been poor, so *insert sad face here* - damselindepression, 2014-xxxxx, CAS Wala na. Wala na akong afford. #purita purita meets bobita, 2012-XXXXX, CAS yata How should i know? nanlilimos lang naman ako sa faura e. - superhero ng ermita Ayun, di hamak na mas nahihirapan ngayon at mas mahal talaga mga presyo, pero tuloy lang ang buhay hahaha, lalo na kung necessity naman yung pagkakagastusan hahaha :))) - mary Christmas, 2014 - xxxxx, CAS Dati, kami yung nagmamahalan. Ngayon, bilihin na. - finally, 20xx - xxxxx, CAS Buti pa bilihin, nagmamahal. - halaman, 2014 - xx2xx , CAS

wala akong masabi, kasi grabe na talaga ;( halaman, CAS, 2014-44359 Quite frankly, depressing. Not that it was the academic shift’s fault, but this semester was one of the worst academic times I’ve ever experienced. - SaveMePls, CAS, 20**-7*** ISANG SEMESTRE PA LANG ANG NAKALIPAS?! JUSKO. - Legendre | 2012-04895 | CAS NAKAKA-P*TA - capslock HAHA ANONG BAGO. Hell week is hell week. Mapa June-October o August-Decemeber toxic parin ako. Pero grabe, parang ang haba haba lang ng sem na ituuuu. Pagod na pagod na ako. - Saumensch, di ako CAS </3 Masaya kasi marami akong nakilala. Minsan nakaka-stress narin kasi nakakapagod pala yung college. - Sassypammy, CAS, 201403797 Masaya dahil phil arts - halaman, CAS, 201444359 Ayun...still alive but barely breathing pa naman. - schadenfreude, 2012 HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA KAN WE NAT TOK ABAWT ET. - prolet, naCAScas, 2014

Dapat may gawin ang gobyerno natin para matigil na ang patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin upang hindi tuluyang maghirap ang ating mga kababayan. G-shock, 2014-00745, CAMP

SOBRANG NAKAKASTRESS PLS TO THE POINT NA OKAY LANG SAKIN KUNG MATUTULOG AKO NGAYON AT HINDI NA KO GIGISING BUKAS. lol caps lock para intense. But ironically, being insane with the people closest to me kept me sane lol - Daisy, 2014-xxxxx, CAS

Sanay na ako sa pagtaas ng presyo. Hindi na nakakapanibago.. - ABCD, CAS, 2014-****

We must not talk of such things damselindepression, 2014-xxxxx, CAS

Nakalalungkot, parang pag-ibig lang.. kung ano pa yung pinakakailangan mo para mabuhay, yun ang pinagkakait sayo. Sakit lang. - Patglo, CAS, 2014-05844

Wala na. Wala na akong natutunan. #bobita - purita meets bobita, 2012-XXXXX, CAS yata

“Swerte mo kung mapagbibigyan”... ng mas mababang presyo - LordC, CAMP, 2014-****9 Fasting din kapag may time. -Again, 2012-xxxxx

Sa unang sem, masasabi kong medyo minalas ako sa mga prof HAHAHA pero kaya naman, kailangan eh hahaha! Tiwala lang both sa sarili and kay Papa Lord. - mary Christmas, 2014 - xxxxx, CAS

What do you expect? -inangpakshet, 2017, C* MAHAL NAMAN LAHAT. WALA NANG MURA SA PILIPINAS KUNDI P*NYETA AT P*T*NGINA -

tan****** thesis ‘to - superhero ng ermita

Masaya pa rin kasi kasama ko na sya. - finally, 20xx - xxxxx, CAS

Lola Patola

Haleeeeeeerrrr der mga afowwwzz naginir niyo na ba ang chiszmaxz, lyk mag kakaroon daw ng reunion ang aking peyborit na girlas off all time, like You Go Glen Coco! Pero weyt a minute kapeng majinit, bago pa man mag reunion ang Mean Girls ay may mga froppie na ang to the huhyesttt levelszszsz ang pagka mean sa aking mga afowsz, Ay anez mga madam, nasa burn book ko na kayo forevahhh. Tsk Tsk.

You go Glen Coco! The mean reunion chiszmax numvah 1! Sinetch itey daw itong fropie na mushroom ang peg. As in lulubog-lilitaw daw ang lola mo, at ang i-spluk pa ng aking afow ay wit pa daw silang nag-eexam at 3 weeks na daw di nag te-teachsung si froppie kahit ngayong malapit ng mag endsung ang terminology na itey. Ay juice colored kalurkey! But weyt there’s mooooooore splukelya pa ng aking mga afow ay dalawang subject pa ang itinuturo ni froppie pero less than 8 meetings palang daw ito nag tuturo at wit daw nitey gusto mag ispluk agad kung may class ba o wala, mas bet daw ni froppie ung mga last minute na pasabog ung 30 mins before class tsaka niya i-bo-broadcast na wit niya bet mag klase no more reasons that’s it that’s all, oh di ba bonggells si froppie sa announcement, kawawa naman tuloy ang aking mga afow na un lang ang class for the day. Juice mayo naman froppie, sang balat ng earth mo naman kaya plano hugutin ang grades ng aking mga beloved na afow?!?! Hay naku froppie if I were you isasama ko na sa aking new year’s resolution ang pag attend sa mga klase ko para you know, may ma-learnsung naman ang aking mga afow from you at wit masayang ang kanilang pinapaysung sa tuition fees.

You go Glen Coco! The mean reunion chiszmax numvah 2! For all I know si Regina na ang pinakademanding sa lahat pero wit, my whole layf is a lie, ‘coz lyk may umagaw na sa kanya ng corona ng demanding queen.

Lyk this froppie daw ay may rekwayrment na pruh-ject pero wit niya bet i-approve ang pruh-ject propowzal ng aking mga afowss. Lyk bet lang naman ng aking mga afowss ng simple na pruh-ject na magegetsung ng lahat and lyk pozible na magawa, pero wit itey bet ni froppie, ‘coz froppie lyks owt-ov-diz-wholewideworld na pruh-ject na siya lang ang makakagetsung ang misyown impozibru kung gawin. But waaayyyyt, there’s mooooreee, lyk ito raw si froppie, ay mercury to pluto ang kafar-far away ng kanyang tini-teachsung sa zubject na dapat niya ituro. Ay anezz na madam, ang bet ng mga afowsz ko na ma knows ang mercury pero pluto ang tinuro mo, sakit sa bangs!! Hay nakowww lyk there is so mayni mean profs tuh-luh-guh sa Yu-Fi-Em pwede na sila bumuo ng sariling grupo, HAHAHA. BUT NO! Wit dapat maging mean huh, para magivsung kayo ni Santa ng gift diz coming Christmas. Oh sige na, gorabells na ang lola niyo, Imma buy a gift pa para za inyong Lolo Upo, love lots mga afoowwsss. XOXO LOLA P.

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Volume 28 Numbers 7-8 Thursday | December 12, 2014

BOR approves promotions and compensations for faculty, staff Workers unions reiterate calls for revision of promotion guidelines CARLO REY RESURRECCION MARTINEZ AND ARTHUR GERALD BANTILAN QUIRANTE

More than 70 percent of faculty and staff of the University of the Philippines (UP) System are set to receive additional compensation after the Board of Regents (BOR) approved their promotion in a special meeting on November 14. The promotions cost a total of P205 million, with the funds being provided by the Department of Budget Management (DBM). Majority Promoted According to the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs (OVPAA), 2,228 faculty were promoted. Refer to Table 1 for the full breakdown. On the other hand, 74.3 percent of research, extension, and professional staff (REPS) as well as administrative staff will be promoted. Refer to Table 2 for the number of staff promoted per CU. UP President Alfredo Pascual claimed that the round of promotions are a fulfillment of his earlier promise. “I am happy that the promise I made during my investiture in 2011 – to reward meritocracy and excellent performance – has finally been fulfilled,” Pascual stated. Meanwhile, the merit promotions are retroactive to January 1, 2014, with the calls for promotions first made by Pascual to UP Diliman, UP Los Baños, UP Manila, UP Baguio, UP Visayas, UP Cebu, UP Mindanao and UP Open University in July 2014. Calls Reiterated On the other hand, the All UP Academic Employees Union (AUPAEU) continued

to demand fair and equal “sagad” award and promotion for administrative staff and REPS, emphasizing that all their teaching, committee work, professional achievements, and other contributions to the University for the past few years will result to nothing because of the unequal treatment between Full Professors and administrative staff. The AUPAEU also contested the decision that “sagad” employees, those who have reached the last step increment in their current salary grade, will no longer be promoted. Instead, they will receive a onetime compensation of varying amounts, depending on their current rank and salary grade. According to the decision made by the BOR, Full Professors shall receive a onetime compensation of P30,000 while the rest will only receive P10,000. This decision will greatly affect 213 “sagad” REPS and 2,659 “sagad” administrative staff systemwide. In line with this, the AUPAEU expressed support for the passage of House Bill 3015 proposed by the Makabayan bloc which aims to increase the minimum pay (Salary Grade 1) of workers in the public sector by P6,000 (from P9,000 to P15,000). Effective Agreement Meanwhile, after the Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) meeting between AUPAEU and UP panel at the National Engineering Center in UP Diliman on November 21, the UP panel agreed in principle to AUPAEU’s proposal to give study privileges to non-earning relatives up to 3rd consanguinity of single fulltime faculty and REPS, including married

couple who don’t have children. Furthermore, AUPAEU’s position that lecturers must be included in the coverage of CNA was preserved as the UP Faculty Manual classifies lecturers as temporary teaching, academic personnel. In addition, the existing provision in the CNA that recognizes medical officers and resident physicians in Philippine General Hospital

(PGH) as academic personnel and are consequently covered in the CNA was reasserted by both panels. On the other hand, privileges in UP sports facilities for faculty and REPS, the inclusion of teaching associates and fellows in the CNA, and the proposal for tax relief for faculty and REPS researches are subject to further study.

Ranks Recommended by Constituent Unit (CU) for Promotion

Number of Faculty

Instructor

221

Assistant Professor

865

Associate Professor

556

Professor

586

TOTAL

2,228

Table 1: The number of promoted faculty for the 2014 merit promotions. (SOURCE: OVPAA)

Constituent Unit

Percentage of REPS and Administrative Staff Recommended for Promotion

UP System

85.6%

UP Diliman

85.9%

UP Los Banos

81.3%

UP Manila

64.8%

UP Visayas

73.9%

UP Mindanao

39.7%

UP Baguio

78.8%

UP Cebu

54.4%

Open University

33.7%

Philippine General Hospital (PGH)

67.7%

TOTAL

74.3%

Table 2: The percentage of REPS and administrative staff recommended for promotion in each constituent unit. (SOURCE: OVPAA)

Ika-5 anibersaryo ng Ampatuan massacre, ginunita ng journalist groups ARIES RAPHAEL REYES PASCUA

Nagkaroon ng isang buong linggong paggunita sa anibersaryo ng Ampatuan Massacre noong Nobyembre 17 hanggang 24 sa iba’t ibang parte ng Pilipinas sa panguguna ng grupo ng mga mamamahayag. Kabilang sa mga grupong nakiisa sa komemorasyon ay ang Central for Media Freedom and Responsibility, Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication, Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), Photojournalists’ Center of the Philippines, Philippine Association of Communication Educators, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), at Philippine Press Institute. Ang paggunita sa anibersaryo ngayong taon ay nakatuon sa pagpapanatili ng kaligtasan ng mga media workers, kasama ang International Federation of Journalists. Bilang panimula, nagsagawa ng candle-

lighting activity sa Edsa Shrine noong Nobyembre 17. Nagsagawa rin ng iba’t ibang programa sa ilang parte ng Pilipinas at buong mundo sa tulong ng International Freedom of Expression Exchange na idineklara ang ika-23 ng Nobyembre bilang “International Day to End Impunity.” Dagdag pa rito, nagsanib-puwersa ang Southeast Asia Journalist Union, Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, IFJ, at NUJP sa pagbisita sa General Santos City upang makita ang kalagayan ng mga pamilya ng mga biktima. Naglabas naman ng pahayag ang College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) tungkol sa kawalan nila ng tiwala sa pamahalaan sa pagkamit ng tunay na hustisya sa Ampatuan Massacre. “We are frustrated with the slow pace of the trial. It is disheartening that justice lies in the hands of those who are powerful, yet, they are not doing anything about it,” pahayag ng CEGP.

Sa kabilang banda, inaasikaso naman umano ng gobyerno ang hustisya para sa mga biktima ng masaker. “Rest assured that the government is doing everything to prevent any delay in the case and that we should not be the source of any delay,” ani Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte. Ayon naman kay Pangulong Aquino, naniniwala siyang hindi dapat tumigil ang mga mamamahayag sa paghahanap ng hustisya para sa mga namatay nilang kasama, at ang Ampatuan Massacre ay hindi magiging katanggap-tanggap kailanman. “Pero ulitin ko, hindi natin tino-tolerate ‘yan at hinahabol nga natin lahat ... Pero masasabi natin naman siguro at sasangayon kayo, maski anong samahan, mayroong maayos, mayroon hong hindi maayos. Ulitin ko lang ho, obligasyon ng estado, ano man ang ginawa mong krimen kailangang pagbayaran mo,” dagdag pa niya.

Natapos ang buong linggong paggunita sa pagpupulong sa pagitan ng mga nasabing grupo at ni Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila de Lima, at nangako ang kalihim sa grupo na pagtutuunan ng pansin ang kaso. Nagkaroon din ng art display sa Bantayog ng mga Bayani bilang pagsasadula sa masaker. Nakipagpulong din ang samahan kay Col. Henry Libay, pinuno ng Task Force Usig na nakatalaga sa kaso ng mga namatay sa Ampatuan Massacre. Magugunitang 32 mamamahayag ang namatay sa nasabing masaker na naging dahilan upang ikonsidera ang Pilipinas bilang pinakadelikadong lugar para sa mga mamamahayag noong 2009.

On April 28, the Philippines and United States signed the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which will allegedly help strengthen the capabilities of the Philippine military for external and territorial defense. Militant groups slammed the agreement, with Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) arguing that the deal’s “10-year coverage will surely be expanded in the light of the US’ geopolitical strategy of pivoting to Asia and targeting China.”

On April 1, the Office of the Ombudsman found probable cause to indict Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles with plunder over the P10 billion pork barrel scam.

APRIL

On January 27, just two days after the peace agreement was sealed, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) launched Operation Darkhorse, an offensive against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), a breakaway group of the MILF. A total of 53 people - 52 BIFF members and one soldier - were killed on February 2.

The final annex of the Bangsamoro Framework Agreement was signed by the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on January 25. The said agreement is part of the Aquino administration’s effort to forge a “peace pact” with the separatist group in a bid to end the four-decades-long armed resistance in Mindanao.

JANUARY

Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd) also allowed tuition fees increase in 1,299 private schools for the academic year 2014-2015.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) approved a tuition hike in 171 private tertiary schools in the country on May 20. Consequently, the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) staged a protest in front of CHED office on May 29. The NUSP claimed that the tuition increase is a manifestation of the Aquino administration’s abandonment of its responsibility to education.

MAY

The Supreme Court (SC) ruled on February 18 that three provisions of the controversial Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 are unconstitutional. Among these provisions is the section pertaining to real-time collection of traffic data. On the other hand, the online libel provision of the said law was declared unconstitutional, but only with respect to penalizing the original author of an internet post.

FEBRUARY

In President Benigno “Noynoy” S. Aquino III’s State of the Nation Address on July 28, he stated several points of economic growth, employment stabilization, wider infrastructure, and even good governance. However, it is insulting that the government itself is actually setting back the country due to pervasive crippling policies and self-serving government officials.

After several setbacks including blows by nature and corrupt people thieving the national treasury, the year 2014 could be officially labeled as the year the country must get back on track. But just how much has the Philippines recovered from last year’s devastation?

EZRA KRISTINA OSTAYA BAYALAN AND RONILO RAYMUNDO MESA

No Resolution A look back at the year of supposed revival

Various groups expressed their contentions against CHED Memorandum No. 20 (CMO 20) which will remove Filipino from the general education curriculum of colleges and universities by 2016. According to the Rise for Education Alliance, the resolution “will worsen the clash between the English and Filipino language.” Moreover, the CMO 20 will lead to a possible lay-off of approximately 10,000 fulltime and 20,000 part-time college professors, according to the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts’ National Committee on Language and Translation (NCCA-NCLT).

JUNE

The Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro was signed on March 27, concluding the 17-year peace talks between the government and MILF.

Benito Tiamzon, chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), and his wife Wilma Tiamzon, secretary-general of the CPP-NPA, were arrested by government forces in Cebu on March 22 over charges of crimes against humanity, including murder. The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDPF) condemned the arrest, dubbing it “illegal”.

MARCH

President Aquino approved the abolition of 11 government owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), according to a statement by the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) released on March 3. Among the GOCCs to be abolished are the National Agribusiness Corporation (NABCOR), Zamboanga del Norte Rubber Estate Corporation (ZREC), and Philippine Forest Corporation (PFC), all of which are linked to the Priority Development Assistant Fund (PDAF) scam.

ISKOTISTIKS

06 NEWS Volume 28 Numbers 7-8 December 12, 2014 | Thursday

As long as there is no strong political will, these problems will never be resolved; thieves and liars will continue to plague this country. As long as there is no political morale, our public officials will remain “substandard” and our people will continually suffer.

As the end of the year approaches, we still face several unresolved issues and scandals of the government. Our problems are increased tenfold. It is even more disappointing to note how the Aquino’s regime refuses to acknowledge the failures of their old and new policies.

A year after super typhoon Yolanda hit the country, issues of corruption regarding the funds intended for Yolanda victims surfaced. According to a report of the Commission on Audit (COA), hundreds of millions of pesos apparently failed to reach the victims due to government offices using them up or keeping them in banks. Moreover, a development officer from Palo, Leyte admitted that “truckloads of expired and spoiled relief goods were dumped and buried”. Apart from this, the bunkhouses built for the typhoon survivors were dubbed as substandard by the Senate committee on public works.

Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude, a 26-year old transgender, was beaten and killed in a hotel room in Olongapo City on October 11 by US Marine Private 1st Class Joseph Scott Pemberton. Reports say that Laude died from asphyxia by drowning since Laude was seen with her head slumped in the toilet. Because of the slaying, several senators are pushing for the review of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and the EDCA. According to Senator Francis Escudero, the DFA must “seek the amendment of the VFA regarding its lopsided criminal jurisdiction provision.”

The Quezon City (QC) government and UP had a dispute over the real property tax payments of the UP AyalaTechnoHub. According to the QC government, UP has to pay P117 million in taxes since the TechnoHub is not exclusively used for educational purposes. UP has filed a petition to the SC to stop the QC government from auctioning off the 38-hectare land.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Alan Purisima admitted to the presence of corruption in PNP. Purisima added how he was ashamed that the former firearms and explosives office became “the seat of crime and corruption for the longest time”. He also indicated the existence of syndicates inside PNP. Thereafter, Purisima was charged for plunder, graft, and indirect bribery by the Coalition of Filipino Consumers. This is Purisima’s second plunder charge, the first being in April in Legazpi City where he was accused of entering an anomalous Php100 million contract with a courier service company for firearms licenses.

SEPTEMBER

NOVEMBER

After almost three years of hiding, retired Major General Jovito Palparan was arrested on August 12 in Sta. Mesa, Manila by a joint team of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Naval Intelligence Group. Palparan, who is also dubbed as Berdugo or The Butcher, was considered to be the most wanted fugitive in the country because of numerous extra-judicial killings and abductions, most notably of two University of the Philippines (UP) students Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan in 2006.

AUGUST

OCTOBER

Youth groups led by Youth Act Now filed an impeachment complaint against Aquino on July 22, the second case filed over the DAP issue. The complainants accused the president of betraying public trust and violating the 1987 Constitution for carrying out the said program.

In a televised public address on July 14, Aquino criticized the SC decision, insisting that the implementation of DAP did not violate the law. He also cleared that “the Disbursement Acceleration Program is not pork barrel.”

With 13 out of 14 justices voting against it, the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) was declared unconstitutional by the SC on July 1. The DAP, tagged by progressive groups as the presidential pork barrel, was bared to the public when Senator Jinggoy Estrada claimed that it was used to bribe senators into convicting Chief Justice Renato Corona in 2012.

JULY

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NEWS 07

08 FEATURES

Volume 28 Numbers 7-8 December 12, 2014 | Thursday

CHLOE PAULINE REYES GELERA, LIEZL ANN DIMABUYU LANSANG AND JENNAH YELLE MANATO MALLARI ILLUSTRATION BY DANIEL JOHN GALINATO ESTEMBER

TRAFFICKING IN THE PHILIPPINES

WAITING FOR THE RED LIGHT EXPOSING THE MASSIVE CHILD

The exploitation of children has become a norm. As the government turns away from the welfare of its youth, more and more children are subject to harassment and abuses in the forms of forced labor and human trafficking. What serve as antitrafficking laws and campaigns are deemed futile as the number of victims continue to thrive in numbers. Laws fail to materialize and remain stored in the stockpiles of the government. Left with no choice, the children are forced to live under the chokehold of their abusers.

COUNTER FLOW Struggling with destitute living conditions, the children involuntarily disregard their supposed privileges in exchange for survival. It is stated clear in Section 3 (2), Article XV of the 1987 Constitution that “the State shall defend the right of children to assistance, including proper care and nutrition, and special protection from all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation and other conditions prejudicial to their development”. However, the actual reality attests the alarming contradiction. A study spearheaded by the Philippines Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) and the United Nations’ Children’s Fund (UNICEF) stated that 2.8 million children under the age of 15 live in poverty in the Philippines and more than 20% of Filipino children under age of 5 experience malnutrition. The dire living conditions faced by the children cause them to undergo the deprivation of the most basic physiological needs. According to reports, 4 million children suffer the lack of sanitary facilities and potable water, and 1.4 million children live in informal settlements in the country apart from being hungry and unfed. It is alarming that at such young ages, these children are already devoid of the most basic necessities essential for their daily survival. The health of the youth is at stake, and their mere exposure to unsanitary environments keeps them vulnerable to more illnesses. Along with the deprivation of healthy living conditions, they fail to enjoy other fundamental rights such as the right to education. A data from the National Statistics Office survey cited that the main reason of children for not attending school is the need to find a job in the hopes of ending their hunger. Due to extreme poverty and with the lack of government assistance, they are deprived of the access to education. In fact, the Department of Education observed a continuous decrease in elementary school education from 1999 to 2007. This just shows that many Filipino children do not even get a chance to step in the walls of a learning institution and miss the opportunity to develop their potentials.

According to a survey conducted by the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) and the Social Weather Stations (SWS), the Aquino government is not making a move to abate the issue of poverty. The purported economic growth by the government obviously does not trickle down to the masses, and more importantly, the youth, as they remain defrauded of their rights. Under dismal conditions, the youth had incessantly been put in the face of jeopardy, and their vulnerability as children puts them on a more precarious situation. They abandon schooling and basically abandon their lives as children to start working while enduring the non-improving state of their living. Their rights to enjoy their childhood and the right to learn are neglected as they are forced to seek employment at early ages.

HIT AND RUN The children are powerless and paralyzed under the shackles of poverty; they have been the most vulnerable targets for abuse, trafficking, and harassment. Most children are commonly recruited as domestic helpers or entertainers. Many of those being targeted come from the rural areas where living conditions are more severe. For instance, the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting has reported that more or less 18,000 children serve as workers in various mining operations across the Philippines. UNICEF has also recorded an incident where children from ages 12-16 have been recruited as child prostitutes in the bars of a nearby mining village where there had been a gold rush. In both cases, the children endure physical abuse and work long hours for a little pay. In 2012, the International Labor Organization (ILO) produced Global Estimates on Forced Labor. A total of 20.9 million forced laborers are children aged 17 below of whom 67.1% are girls. Data from the government case files indicates that 3 out of 123 victims are male. Majority of the victims are young women that fall into the age bracket of 13-22. As shown by the numbers, a lot of young women have been victims of child abuse, mainly with the rampant forced sex labor and exploitation. Apart from prostitution, children have also been vulnerable to the virtual harassment, with live streaming of child pornography being dubbed as a multi-billion dollar cyber market, as stated by the Philippine National Police (PNP).Approximately, 60,000-100,000 children in the Philippines are involved in prostitution rings and cybersex dens. They are coerced to perform sex acts in front of the computer for Internet broadcast to foreign viewers who pay. The underlying risks and effects that these impose to children run deeper. Higher rates of physical injuries and fatalities are recorded on the young who are forced to work in hazardous jobs. The abuse experienced by children also impairs their ability to respond to stress, and many victims suffer from anxiety and personality disorders as they grow up. In the battle with the scarcity of their own needs, these children are obliged to suffer the adverse effects of abuse in exchange for the meager income that would keep their existence for another day.

DEAD END In the midst of the children’s cries and pleas to be rescued, the government remains rigid in extending its hand to give them the due assistance they need. Various laws have existed to supposedly protect the welfare of the youth from child labor. One of them is the Republic Act 9208 or the “Anti-trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, allowing the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to expedite rehabilitative and protective programs for victims of child trafficking. The law also gives the department the authority to accredit non-government organizations for the intervention of different trafficking incidents. The provisions of the law have also been expanded with the signing of Republic Act 10364 or the “Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012”. Such amendments in this Act include the permission to report and publicize the names of suspects and accused in human trafficking cases. However, such laws remain futile as the Philippines remain to be the cradle of trafficking among children. The Philippines was ranked under Tier 2 Watch List in the 2009 Trafficking in Persons Report of the United States State Department (USSD) due to the Philippine government’s negligence to show evidence of progress in convicting trafficking transgressors. According to the US government reports, the number of children trafficked in the Philippines range from 20,000-100,000 with foreign people, particularly other Asians as perpetrators. The US State Department also listed the Philippines as a “source country” for human trafficking. Convicted perpetrators also remain low compared to the number of child trafficking incidents in the country. The much needed methods in tracking and prosecuting child trafficking perpetrators were not addressed by DSWD, as well as the government agencies that are deemed accountable. Such immobility could be seen in the situation of the children sheltered under the Manila Reception and Action Center (RAC), a government-run facility which has been reported for negligence and maltreatment. Instead of giving immediate assistance to the children, DSWD rather defended the facility by stating that it is not built for longterm clients, and that the children should be brought back to their homes, or to the care of NGOs. The government, which should be the first to defend the rights of its youth, has ultimately proved itself inutile by evidently passing its tasks to the care of other concerned organizations. Even in the presence of 132 laws that aim to protect women and children, nothing materializes with the continuing neglect and faulty assistance of the government to the situation. The cries of the children remain unheard. Justice is not served to the young who are forced to face the dire living conditions of daily life. Instead of being found within homes and schools, they are seen in streets and factories, expending their energy not on studies and recreation, but rather on work. The government has become the main transgressors through their continuous negligence and desolation to the needs of children. Instead of doing something to help the children, they have subjected them to a more compromising position. The futures of the nation are at stake.

FEATURES 09

Volume 28 Numbers 7-8 Thursday | December 12, 2014

he Coco Levy Fund Scam was one of the biggest robbery in the Philippine history—a systematized corruption that oppresses the coconut farmers up to the present. The coconut industry has long been bragged for its economic contribution. However, despite the potential growth it brings to the country’s production, the coconut farmers remain abject in poverty. As to when the distribution of the coco levy funds collected from the farmers remains to be a question begging for an answer.

Roots

Poverty

Under the virtue of Republic Act 6260 or Coconut Investment Act implemented by the Marcos administration, coconut farmers shall pay Php0.50 as part of the Coconut Investment Fund and Php0.05 for coconut conventions and maintenance and the operation of Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) for every 100kg of copra or its equivalent in other coconut products that they were able to sell. Following this, Presidential Decree no. 273, still under Marcos Administration, states that on the same scale, Php15.00 shall be collected on every first sale and shall there be any violators, he/she shall have his/her license cancelled, or pay a fine ranging from Php2,500 to Php10,000, or both. The collection of coco levy was initially proposed to last only for a year. But after another decree was passed, 9 years were added to the burden of the coconut farmers. Ten years passed and the collection already amounted to 71 billion, but neither the coconut industry nor the coconut farmers received any support Contrary to what was known, it was not the landlords who paid the levy; the burden of the tax was placed on the coconut farmers. The collection of coco levy lasted for nearly ten years which at some point, the money collected are no longer audited and supervised by the government. Nonetheless, the coconut farmers

continued to pay. The farmers’ supposed income has decreased since they had to pay the tax imposed on their sales. The tax collected from their wages was supposed to be an investment to improve their productivity. It was supposed to be used for a dedicated research and new varieties of production that carries work faster which will help the coconut farmers be more competitive in the global market. However, the coco levy fund is still not utilized to develop the coconut industry and increase the farmers’ welfare until the current Aquino administration. Furthermore a huge portion of the 9.7 billion collected funds on 1982 was allegedly corrupted by higher officials under the then Minister of Agriculture Danding Cojuangco. Allegedly, Cojuangco used up the money to buy 30% of the shares of San Miguel Corporation (SMG) which is one of the largest companies in the country and the United Coconut Planters Bank. Militant peasant organizations including coconut farmers filed a plunder case against him, yet until today, the case has not progressed. Ten years’ worth of contribution from the toil and sweat of the coconut farmers were never used to address their needs. Moreover, the issue appeared to have been buried by series of scams involving public funds.The coconut farmers who are amongst the poorest are not only exploited labor, but scammed and betrayed. They have given their years of working into a contribution they never gained anything from.

Branches

Corruption

There is an urgent need to uplift the current state of the coconut farmers as their wages are barely enough to keep themselves alive. Some of the farmers’ annual salary amount only to Php 10,000. On a Manila Standard Today’s report, three fourths of the total income goes to the landlords, overseers,

RECLAIMING THE STOLEN FUNDS OF THE COCONUT FARMERS JOLEEN AIRA RESTERIO ESTELLA AND AMANDA ERIKA MITERIA LIM ILLUSTRATION BY MARIA CATALINA BAJAR BELGIRA

traders and processors which are about 25 percent of the coconut industry population. The remaining 75 percent which comprises the small coconut farmers, tenants, lessees and landless farm workers have to share among themselves the remaining one fourth of the industry’s income. Moreover, the coconut farmers are at the mercy of usurers and loan sharks which are mostly copra traders who control the industry. Their interest rates are as high as 80100% which further deprives the farmers the meager income they have. It is the no wonder that the farmers never make enough income to pay back their loans, support their family or send their children to school. Recently, there has been the “cocolisap” issue that further worsened the coconut farmers’ condition. Cocolisap is a small plant parasite that feeds on the leaves of young coconut trees and on the surface of fruits. The PCA tried to release Telsimianitidia also called “kaibigang kulisap” which was supposed to eat the cocolisap, however; the results failed desperately as the cocolisap populated even more. Another proposed solution was to inject “Starkle” on trees. However, the said solution is worth P2, 500—obviously unaffordable for the coconut farmers affected by the cocolisap. Another burden that the farmers had to face includes natural disasters such as the Yolanda’s devastation. It has been estimated that around 33million coconut trees were damagedby the typhoon which affected more than 300,000 coconut farmers who rely on those trees for a living. In any of these issues, the government failed to respond to the farmers. Coconut products are valuable to the market making the question of why Filipino coconut farmers remain in abject poverty not just an economic but a moral question. The underlying

rationale is entrenched deeply in the type of agriculture system the country has; one that is oppressive to the masses and profitable only to the ruling few. But the coconut farmers do not hide in fear. They are fighting for their rights to reclaim the funds rightfully theirs. With the several organizations supporting them, the issue should have been resolved. But the government does not give way for its resolution and rather represses the issue. Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), Coco Levy Funds Ibalik Sa Amin (CLAIM) and Kilusan para sa Ugnayan ng mga Samahang Magniniyog (KilusMagniniyog) are organizations formed to fight for the rights of the farmers and to push for genuine agrarian reform. Last September 18, KilusMagniniyog operated a symbolic march, called KM71, representing the 71 billion coco levy funds recovered from SMC. 71 coconut farmers from Davao shall also march to Malacañang to ask President Benigno Aquino III to establish the Coconut Farmers’ Trust Fund. Furthermore, KMP and CLAIM are striving for the approval of HB1327 which states that the funds shall be distributed back to the coconut farmers in the form of social benefits. Attempts to reclaim the coco levy funds have been going on for several years with little to no progress done due to the contempt of the every administration. As such, it is now the duty of every Filipino to support the cause of the coconut farmers and condemn the current system that systematizes and legitimizes oppression to the different sectors of the society.

Other violence involving political clan rivals includes an ambush which allegedly targeted the convoy of Mayor Abdul Manamparan

The private militia of these political dynasties is not uncommon; dedicated to exhibit the power they possess. Disappearances and killings of people who dare to speak against them are rampant. One case was the death of Atty. Datukon which was also attributed to the Ampatuans. The abuse and atrocities attributed to these political families are many, yet go unrecognized as impunity blankets the acts of abuse. Their influence has masked numerous other crimes, and the Maguindanao Massacre is not the first of many.

Political dynasties are blatantly dispersed all over the nation. According to the Movement Against Dynasties(MAD), there are 178 political dynasties ruling in their respective provinces in the Philippines. Some of these include the Marcoses in Northern Ilocos, a political clan dating back in 1925, the Ampatuans in Maguindanao, in power since 2001, the Reyeses’ dominance in Marinduque that has gone over four decades, and the continuing rule of the Aquinos-Cojuancos in Tarlac. In the case of the Ampatuans, they gained greater footing upon Ampatuan Sr.’s election as the governor of Maguindanao, along with the consolidation of their ties through the continued ruling of Ampatuan Sr.’s sons in different districts and localities of the province. Moreover, Ampatuans were former president Arroyo’s closest allies. Allegedly, the greatest debt of the former president to the Ampatuans was the multiple landslide votes she attained in the province. The Ampatuans was said to have aided Arroyo in assuring a full vote for her party in the 2007 senatorial elections—a full sweep of 12-0 in the poll fraud.

The large-scale murder was attributed to the Ampatuans, however; actions to immediately hold them accountable was impeded by their huge influence within and beyond the confines of Maguindanao. They have and always been a force to be reckoned with—a huge portion of the province’s political and economic power is concentrated in the hands of a single bloodline.

The Malfeasance

Now, five years since the Maguindanao Massacre, the justice yearned for remains out of reach, leaving only the absence of it to ponder upon.

The trap was set. Fifty-eight civilians composed of Mangundadatu’s relatives, journalists and lawyers were ambushed and killed. The act of the massacre was inhuman, as if done by those who dispossessed morality. A grave that was dug for the corpses using a backhoe was found and later identified to be a belonging of the Maguindanao provincial government. The death toll rose as the mass grave revealed more mutilated corpses—a grueling number of bodies murdered to serve as a sign of power and impunity.

aguindanao has long been ruled by the Ampatuans, unopposed, until a challenge presented itself in the form of Esmael Mangudadatu--an imminent threat to the dynasty’s reign which led to the setting of the stage for a mass murder.

The witnesses have tapered mouths, fed by bribes and undertaking of financial settlements. Luisa Subang, a widower of the slain reporter Ian Subang and Nancy de la Cruz, a mother of the late reporter Gina de la Cruz were offered half a million and three million pesos respectively, in exchange for the agreement to drop the persecution. Both offers were declined, as the need for justice overtakes fear for security and financial sustainability. Even public persecutors and the head of the prosecution panel were allegedly bribed a great deal of money which led to their abandon of the trial. Albeit unsubstantiated denials, the alleged bribery still continues to delay the method of the prosecution. Furthermore, murders did not end at the death toll on the grounds of the massacre; it continues beyond the court and the police line. Suwaib Upham, one of the perpetrators, turned potential witness and agreed to testify against the Ampatuans with hopes to finally bring some progress to the case. He was murdered months after he testified. Esmail Enog, a key witness to the killings, was mutilated and dismembered in 2012 after agreeing to testify against his former bosses. These deaths succeeding the massacre only serve to show the power of the warlords

The proceedings then followed with the surrender of Andal Ampatuan Jr. and Zaldy Ampatuan on November 26, 2009. The procedures that followed only laid out the pieces of evidence in an array: a raid in Ampatuan’s warehouse only showed ample ammunition, Ampatuan Jr. was positively identified by Mangundadatu’s late wife through a text message, and that the convoys that intercepted the victims were property of the Ampatuans. A year after the massacre, delays continue to slow down the process of the trial. Testimonies in biweekly hearings all point out to the warlords and their militia as the assailants of the crime, however main perpetrators remain untouched.

Justice progressed slowly for the case, albeit its degree of importance and carnage. Three days after the massacre, the due process only drew the motive for it as political. The grounds for arrest were clear; the only hindrance to it was the great influence and collaborative powers of the political warlords.

The Misfeasance

The Philippines is ruled by not one, but hundreds of Ampatuans, political families who run not to serve the people but to serve themselves. The needs of the people are neglected, funds misused and issues of human rights violations remain unresolved. Their monopoly of power is continuous, their reign of impunity incumbent and unchanged.

of Lanao del Norte and resulted to thirteen casualties and ten wounded people. Another case involved Romeo Olea, a radio commentator who exposed the political grind in feuding political clans and was shot by unidentified riders. Depredations before, during and after election periods have not been a rare occurrence, especially in a country where there exists a political landscape dependent on political clans and warlordism. Civilians are murdered all for the sake of escalating tensions between political rivalries. Moreover, instead of justice, the cases have been buried amongst others, unresolved and glossed over.

Decades and decades of ruling dynasties continue to choke and revoke the rights of the people—all in the name of power. Years and years of monopolization and skewed rule has CONTINUED ON PAGE 13

Hereafter begins and persist the feast of crows and the dance with dragons done by dynasties—and as long as the administration continues to feed the culture of impunity that has spanned affinities and successors—there shall be no end to this everlasting winter and the game of thrones.

The Anti-Political Dynasty Act could be considered a move towards changing the rotting political landscape the country has, yet it is being obstructed by the incumbent government. In his speech during the commemoration of National Heroes’ Day, the President declared that politicians will be at a disadvantage due to their loss of political rights with the passage of the said bill. It is indeed naïve if not ignorant to expect the President to support a bill which could potentially attack the very nature and rationale behind his hold in power. It only shows how much value the current administration places on its local and political patrons over the interest of its people.

Furthermore, the Anti-Political Dynasty Act has been proposed and pushed to the side since 1987, albeit its weighty purpose as a bill: to prevent the monopoly of power that is exclusive to bloodlines. After twenty-seven years of getting re-filed, it has made headway, with the new name House Bill 3587 or the Act Prohibiting the Establishment of Political Dynasties moving up to the plenary. Its premise is to guarantee equal opportunities to hold public office and disintegrate connections in and within the concentration of political power.

Like the silent treatment the case has received, the current administration has kept an inutile stance on the case. Moreover, President Aquino, being a part of a political dynasty himself, failed to enact actions against those who continually abuse their hold of the country’s arms in the face of security forces and private militia. This regulates the practice of human rights violations and indemnity commemorated repeatedly over the course of political dynasties. The culture of impunity reigns on—promises of bringing veritas to blanketed judicial proceedings broken—as the administration continually fails to deliver what has long been sought and fought after.

The calls for justice are belabored time and again. But the cries are ignored, with the government turning a deaf ear and keeping itself under the control and stranglehold of political dynasties.

The Nonfeasance

The message is clear and resounding: the Ampatuans will readily and have already handed out offers of money and death enabling them to delay and further end the persecution. It has been a practice long done by politicians and those with higher ranks, a practice done in impunity. As long as they sit still on their throne of carte blanche, the suppression of justice for the victims continues on.

beyond bars.

KATRINA MARIA LIMPIADAPEROLINO ILLUSTRATION BY JAMELA LIMBAUAN BERNAS

Excavating Impunity under the Rule of Political Dynasties

Game of of Game Thrones Thrones

10 FEATURES Volume 28 Numbers 7-8 December 12, 2014 | Thursday

CULTURE 11

Volume 28 Numbers 7-8 Thursday | December 12, 2014

“SAMIMBAHAAAAYY ANDAMIMBATIII! MERI KRISMAAS SAWAWALATII! ANG PAGIBIIIG ANSYA NAGHARI!! ARAW-ARAW AY MAGIGIMPASKU LAGI!! ASANIII POOO, NAPAPARITOO---” “PATAWAAAAD!!!!” “TENKYUU, TENKYUU. AMBABARAT NINYO, TENKYU!” The seventh batch of young carolers that passed by the house—the seventh you could have been at least charitable to and given a piso or even bente if it weren’t for the annoying mineral water bottle sounds. Oh, yes. You can definitely feel it now — the change in the air. It’s that time of the year again, when we can count on three constant things: noisy carolers, people becoming friendlier to each other by the minute, and flamboyant commercials endorsing a new pair of running shoes, a tablet, expensive cars— swearing that ‘tis the season of peace and goodwill until you go shopping and get the bill! Ah, Christmas.

O Come, All Ye Pay-ful

Wish lists, wish lists everywhere.

In the myriad of holiday festivities and celebrations, nothing is any more important than surprises and presents. The culminating activity of the year’s experiences and happenings is wrapped in red and green and gold and is called Christmas. Everyone automatically becomes friendlier and a bit more generous in this festive time, a perfect opportunity to ask for a little bit of something. Hence, wish lists and the ever-anticipated Christmas presents are born. Kris Kringles, and exchange gifts invade Christmas parties banking on people’s culture of giving and receiving, as Christmas has transformed it into the time of granting. Even faith becomes mixed into this masquerade as seen in the little Simbang Gabi ritual. The decades-old belief that complete attendance to all nine masses guarantees the granting of a wish is a fan favorite. Some religiously observe this tradition in anticipation of good health, wealth, and virtually all-else self-sufficing when they can do so for three hundred days instead of just nine. Christmas is also the perfect time to put on that halo and commit to an act of good intention because there’s almost always a faint engraving of a return request. For a Catholic country such as ours, Christmas has always been the day when hope and salvation arose in the form of Jesus Christ so it’s a must to be Christ-like during this time. For others, it’s the perfect time to abide by the obvious and shouldhave-always-been-observed notion of humanity, a last-minute repentance or simply, a kick-starter for that upcoming New Year’s resolutions list. It’s not a big surprise as it's more than normal for people to expect and give out presents during the festive holidays. It has become a tradition, almost forming

a division in Maslow's own hierarchy, and a tool to which people showcase their capability and willingness to give regardless of what is given. This ritual of gift-giving for them signifies an answer to the call of charity, fostering a sense of generosity that they themselves believe they need to have, especially now that it's Christmastime. Generosity plays a role but so does facesaving. Christmas becomes an avenue for self-redemption, for salvation. We give as compromise for our mistakes in the past year and as a way of saying we are not allout, year-round bad guys. We’d like to be regarded for our positive nature, and of our need to be approved of. The fault here is not on gift-giving itself but on the mass' fixation on materialism disguising as goodness, compassion and humanity. Capitalism has established an unspoken rule that people blindly follow to the point of obsession: generosity is now synonymous to expensiveness. There’s also nothing else that shouts love more than something that lasts instead of giving a heart-felt, but fleeting hug. That same idea makes people as easy as 1, 2, 3; no depth, just gifts and voila! They’re good to go. The capability to give is judged by what kind of gifts they can afford to put under the Christmas tree. Hence, it’s the most wonderful time of the year. For the media however, who function as the all-around henchmen of capitalists in their profit-centered adventures, this is an opportunity to feed the compassionhungry citizens with ideas of positive values they were deeply deprived of in the past months. It is an opportunity for them to feed on this depravity and turn it into the most effective fuel for their intentions. They jam-pack TV stations with holiday ads that illustrate giving in the form of bottles of soft drinks and boxes of doughnuts. They air movies that depict the many forms of the holiday spirit that often end in the opening of presents under a generously decorated Christmas tree. The notion that people transform into wish-granting genies and surprise-giving angels in a puff of holiday air reinforce the need for buying and wrapping and giving and satisfying. The air turns cold, but their “hearts” do otherwise. It is instead pumped with ideas and expectations of a fulfilling Christmas in the form of intricately wrapped boxes of a material desire.

Spender Claus is Comin’ to Town

’Tis the season to buy like there’s no tomorrow! From the everyday deodorant you use (that

always lets you down) to those half-priced pastries you fall for during the chaotic midnight sale, it’s extremely obvious that the entirety of our year is dominated by endless consumption. So pervasive is this concept that even the most special of holidays and festive of seasons cannot escape the calls of materialism and, as a result, desire for profit. The loud and flashy proof is going up all around us—it’s called Christmas Christmas is christened as the most undisguised, most naked celebration of capitalism. By naked, it shows the contrary—wrapped, adorned and decorated in expensive sparkly things. Unlike other holidays, Christmas successfully wakes people’s dormant urge to spend, spend, and spend, giving them a loooooong list of reasons to squander their bonuses and 13 month pay. Often for luxuries they can barely afford, which they buy at a time when such items’ prices are unnaturally inflated, because everybody else is also buying them. However, these reasons come not only in the form of the urge to lavish each other with presents, but also in the relentless need to make merry after a long, tiring year. We love the parties, the caroling, the stocking, the monito-monita, and the photos with Santa. We love the happiness and contentment that comes with Christmas. Indeed, there is a real sense of living when the usual stresses of school and pressures

of work are gone, when, even for one day, we partake in human community and share goodwill together. Capitalists feed on these kinds of values and inclinations. Every decision a store makes about its decors and advertisements, is based solely on demographics and a want to sell, sell, sell. With every clearance sale, secret sale, limited-time sale, sudden sale, last-minute sale, every type of sale in existence—they generate enormous seasonal demand and take advantage of it by packaging the genuine spirit of Christmas into purchasing of the latest sleek gadget, or recently released comics. Even the annoyingly catchy “Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer” is one famous product of the capitalist construct. Our beloved reindeer started out on 1939 as Montogomery Ward’s promotional gimmick, the story and song popularized to start pulling shoppers to their newly-built department store. Santa Claus himself has become the greatest mascot the capitalist industry could have, spreading the notion of exercising ‘kindness’ for the mere sake of obtaining material things. Over the decades, Christmas has transitioned from being the heightened CONTINUED ON PAGE 13

The Ghost of Christmas Present(s) The Capitalism that Stole Christmas PIA KRIEZL JURADO HERNANDEZ AND GABRIELLE MARIE MELAD SIMEON ILLUSTRATION BY PRINCESS PAULINE CERVANTES HABLA

12 CULTURE

Volume 28 Numbers 7-8 December 12, 2014 | Thursday THALIA REAL VILLELA DIBUHO NI CZARINAH CATAPANG TUAZON

POORBANIZATION

Pagsipat sa Bigong Urbanisasyong ng Bansa

"Hiram" lamang Kamaynilaan.

ang

lungsod

Mula sa matatayog na establisyimento, hanggang disenyo ng mga kalsada, binago nang husto ng kolonyalismo ang buong konsepto ng urbanisasyon ng mga Pilipino. Nang inangkin ng mga Kastila ang soberanya ng bansa, itinatag nila sa Maynila ang himpilan ng kanilang kapangyarihan, dahilan para mapaalis ang noo'y mga naninirahan dito. Pagdating naman ng mga Amerikano, naging kabisera ito ng pangunahing pampulitika at pangekomomikong mga gawain. Ngunit hindi lamang mga imprastraktua ang sapilitang "ipinahiram" nila sa bansa -- maging ang mga problema ng urbanisasyong hindi lapat sa konteksto ng lipunang Pilipino ay mariin na naiturok mula kalungsuran hanggang kanayunan.

A N G PA GBA GONG-BI HI S SA MAYNI LA Binihisan ng mga Amerikano ang mga Pilipino at mga lungsod nito alinsunod sa kanilang kultura — isang kulturang malayo sa atin. Ang mga imprastrukturang nakaporma sa anyo ng kapitalismong laganap sa Amerika ay dumating din sa bansa. Gaya ng mga Kastila, pagsasaayos ng mga daan at pagpapangkat ng mga gusali rin ang kanilang paraan upang mamanipula ang ating ekonomiya’t mga pag-iisip, isang tiyak na daan tungo sa pagsisilbi sa kanilang mga dayuhang interes. Bahagi ng eurocentric racism ng Amerika at adhikain nilang madomina ang developing world ang nakuhang pagkakataong paunlarin sa kanilang konteksto ang Pilipinas mula sa bakas ng mga Kastila. Tinawag nila ito bilang White Man’s Burden ngunit itinuturing na tropeyong kanilang napagtagumpayan. Binitbit nila ang industriya (ng mga kapitalista), at disenyo’t ayos ng Amerika sa lungsod ng Maynila, at sa iba pa nilang kolonya, upang iangkop sa kapaligiran nakasanayan ng mga Kano. Bahagi rin ito ng Benevolent Assimilation

ng Amerika kung saan ipinatitikim nila ang Kanluraning impluwensiya sa mga third world country upang hindi raw mapag-iwanan ang mga bansang ito ng makabagong takbo ng pandaigdigang kaunlaran. Ang naging plano sa Maynila at Baguio ay nagamit din sa mga lungsod ng Venice, Paris, Chicago, at iba pa. Inasahan nilang maging standard ang Maynila ng mundo sa pagiging moderno. Subalit dahil na rin sa pananakop, nawalan ng paraan ang mga Pilipino para magdisenyo ng lungsod para sa kanilang mga sarili. Hinulma ng banyaga ang ating mga lungsod. Ngunit tinayuan nila tayo ng industriyang export-oriented ngunit import-dependent na lalo namang nagpadapa sa ating ekonomiya. Madali ring naisakatuparan ng Amerika ang kanilang mga plano dahil sa hindi pagtutol ng pamahalaan ng bansa, na naaambunan din ng grasya ng pagbabago. Dahil din sa nakapokus sa komersyalisasyon at pagpapayaman ng mga pribadong sektor ang ipinamang klase ng urban planning ng mga Amerikano sa atin, hindi natin nagagamit nang husto ang ating mga waterways at malalawak na kalsada; mismong ating mga sidewalks na nga’y kinakain na ng mga establisyamento. Wala na rin tayong matinong residential na lugar sapagkat puro mga condominuim na lang na wala sa lugar, tulad ng nasa likod ng Rizal Park na dapat sana’y nape-preserve dahil bahagi ito ng ating kasaysayan. Makikitang hindi kumukuha nang mga ekspertong nakasandig sa tunay na pangangailangan at pagpapaunlad ng bansa ang ating pamahalaan. Dahil kung oo, dapat matagal na nilang nakita na mass transport system ang tunay at dapat haligi’t pundasyon ng ating urban-planning. Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin matunog sa pambansang pamahalaan ang Filipinooriented urban planning – paano nga kasi’y ang mga nakaupo sa pamahalaan ay naambunan ng grasya ng patuloy na mga nanamantalang kapitalista at dayuhan. Ang naging resulta ay isang uri ng urbanisasyong hindi lapat sa ating pangangailangan – mga sala-salabat na traffic jam, mga establisyimentong tataob sa malalakas na lindol at bagyo, at mga residential areas na tinutumbok ang mga daanan ng tren at trak. Magandang mapaintindi kung bakit matindi ang pagpaplano ng tunay na urbanisasyon sa Metro Manila. Bukod sa ito ang ating kabisera—sentro ng halos ng lahat ng mga transaksyon, gaya nga ng nabanggit kanina, ito kasi ang nakaiimpluwensya, kung ‘di kundi man lubos na ginagaya, ng ating mga probinsya. Nakasentro ang tunay na pagpapaunlad sa Maynila dahil kasunod na rin naman nito ang pagpapasigla ngating mga probinsya.

Tunay na masasabing huwad ang kalayaan ng bayan na ating tinatamasa sapagkat hindi tayo ang kumokontrol at nakikinabang sa ating mga ginto’t iba pang mga raw material o likas na yaman. Malinaw na harapan pa rin tayong pinaglalaruan, at pinagsasamantalahan ng Amerika.

ANG PANGH IH IMAS O K S A MGA KANAYUNAN Nakasentro ang pagpapaunlad sa Maynila dahil kasunod na rin naman nito ang pagpapasigla ng ating mga probinsya. Ngunit dahil huwad ang sistemang gamit at mayroon sa Maynila, ang mga probinsya ay nalalason lang din. Naging simbulo na ng pang-ekonomiyang pag-unlad ang mga malalaki’t komersyalisadong gusali na nakakapang-akit sa rural-urban migration. Bukod sa pagpunta sa mga siyudad sa pag-asang makikita doon ang milagro ng ekonomiya, ninanais din ng mga taga-kanayunan na ilapat ang sistema ng urbanisasyong mayroon ito, dahil naramdaman nilang kailangan na nilang makipagsabayan para mapansin ng pambansang pamahalaan, at mabigyan nang sapat na pagkalinga at pondo. Kapitalismo na rin ang batayan ng kaunlaran sa kanayunan gayong panlilinlang sa mga tao’t pananamantala sa likas na yaman ng lugar ang hatid nito. Ang pumalit sa mga sakahan sa probinsya na mga mall, convenience store, commercial districts, at iba ay nagbibigay ng nakararangyang pakiramdam sa mga taga-probinsya. Subalit, ito ay naghahatid ng huwad na kaunlaran sapagkat habang nagtatagumpay sa pagpapakapal ng bulsa ang mga kapitalista, nasasaid naman nila ang mga kakarampot at payak na naipupundar ng mga tagakanayunan. Ang mga lupang pinagtataniman ng palay ay naging mga komersyalisadong establisyamento na. Ang bundok namang kanilang pangunahing tatakbuhan sana’y malawakan nang miniminahan o pinapatag upang pagtayuan ng mga pribadong kabahayan, resorts at hotel. Ang pagpapaunlad ng bansa’y dapat ngang nakalinya sa pangangailangan ng masa upang maiangat din ang antas ng kanilang buhay, lalo na’t sila ang puso ng bansa— tunay na asset at pangunahing pwersa upang mapatakbo ang ating ekonomiya. Dahil sa pag-angkin ng mga kapitalista sa mga lupa at establisyimentong dating IPAGPATULOY SA PAHINA 13

GRAPHICS 13

Volume 28 Numbers 7-8 Thursday | December 12, 2014

MALIGAYANG PASKO

JENNY MARY CAMAMA DAGUN

MULA SA PAHINA 12

kinatitirikan ng hanapbuhay ng mga tagakanayunan, walang ibang pagpipilian ang iba sa kanila kung hindi pumunta sa lungsod at doon hanapin ang swerte – swerteng nakita sa pagiging kontraktwal na mga mangagagawa. Ngunit, dahil sa mataas ang presyuhan sa housing market, batalyon ng mga pamilya ng mga manggagawa ang nagiging urban poor. Sila naman ngayon ang sinisisi ng mga nasa pamahalaan sa patuloy na paghambalang umano ng proseso ng urbanisasyon sa mga lungsod. Ang ating mga rural na pamayanan ay hindi dapat hayaang kainin ng sistemang kapitalismo. Ang tanging tunay na makapagpapalakas lang sa mga ito ay ang tunay na pambansang ang industralisasyon-pagbubuo, o pagpapaganang muli, ng mga sariling industriyang ating mga probinsya, tulad ng pagpro-produce ng iba’tibang prutas o palay o iba pang mga natatanging yamang angkin ng kanilang lugar, hindi ‘yung mga commodity na produktong kapitalismo, at panghihimasok ng produktong dayuhan. Ang maunlad na pagtingin natin sa pamayanang may mga nagtatagisang pribadong establisyamento ay itinurok ni Uncle Sam sa nalilinlang nilang mga kaisipan natin. Ang katotohanang nasa likod nito’y idinidikit nila ang kaunlaran sa konsepto ng urbanisasyong dinala nila rito upang nakatakip nilang mapadaloy ang kanilang imperyalismo-kapitalismo.

ASSUMING EUNICE HECHANOVA

Ang urban-planning na modelo o makakapag-impluwensya sa rural planning ng ating bansa ay alinsunod sa dapat mabuo na nating sariling konsepto ng urbanisasyon at pag-unlad na nakasandig sa interes nating mga Pilipino. Sapagkat kung hindi, habang buhay lang tayong magiging anino ng Amerika na isang kabalintuanan sapagkat tayo’y tagaSilangan. Dahil mismong salita pa lang na “kaunlaran” na ginagamit natin sa kasalukuyan ay akma lamang para sa mga taga-Kanluran at mekanismo nila upang makapagmanipula ng buong mundo. GAME OF THRONES

FROM PAGE 10

spanned generations spurning impunity. Houses and families are all champions for the iron throne—the throne that springs power and indemnity. Winter is coming— and is continually coming, whilst the fight for the iron throne is fought over by clans and dynasties. THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT(S)

season of generosity and kindness to one of acquisition of things and guiltless consumption. We have been conditioned by capitalist ventures to expect that satisfaction naturally flows from prosperity and gaining of material objects. They clothe this ritual of consumerism nicely in feel-good sentimentality, embedding it in the cultural traditions of the Filipino people. But as Richard Easterlin’s Easterlin Paradox has confirmed, as our possessions accumulate, our aspirations rise in proportion to the gains, leaving us no happier or contented than before. This misguided expectation might set us up for disappointment, as it wrestles the true meaning of Christmas—kindness, solidarity, forgiveness, and tolerance—away from our overfull hands, one wrapped present at a time.

FROM PAGE 11

12:51

MULA SA PAHINA 14

Capitalism exists as a corruptor of human nature that enriches the human soul with wittily knitted and subtly lined false ideations of giving and humanity. Christmas becomes its perfect disguise in its goal to downplay the essence of the holidays and drive us towards its profitoriented spectacles of spending.

Pangarap na lang din talaga ang bumubuhay sa mga taga-UP sa ganitong hellweek. Ang daming pangarap ng mga isko at iska, pero sigurado akong isang lugar lang ang pangarap namin ngayong mapuntahan — isang kamang matutulugan nang mahaba at mahimbing.

This is what submerges the spirit of Christmas in heaps of wrapped presents. This is the phantom that devours the Christmas spirit and shoves it down under all the pretenses of kindness and generosity. This is the festering wound that infects the human soul which forces Christmas to fade into a background of products and promotions as Santa becomes a mascot of power and consumption.

Ayan na yung araw. Sana, sa pagsikat nito, huli na. Huli na para sa taong ito? Sana.

Namumugtong mga mata, pagod na mga balikat, nanginginig na mga kamay — wish ko lang na tungkol ito sa buhay pag-ibig ko, kaso hindi. Hindi. Kawalan ng tulog ‘to.

* Para sa mga napuyat ngayong first sem, at mapupuyat pa sa susunod

The Maguindanao Massacre, dubbed as the most horrific elections-related violence perpetuated by a political dynasty, is ruthless—for the sole fact that it stays unresolved. The delivery of justice continues to be undone, and the changes in government only help for the contempt and disparagement of those with critical consideration towards the case. The bodies have long decayed, the blood dried on the ground yet the punishment for those responsible have not been laid out. Tears and blood continue to be shed for the battle for justice, with no apparent end in the near future. Five, unfulfilling years into the case, those with intent purport for justice continue to battle out the ghosts of injustice. To move as a people condemning and fighting against impunity would guarantee further justice and victory for those slain and for those who strive for freedom and truth.

14 OPINION

Volume 28 Numbers 7-8 December 12, 2014 | Thursday

MISCHIEVOUS MAVERICK

AKALA KO

Arthur Gerald Bantilan Quirante

ayong dalawa.

Dalawa lang iyan sa mga huling salitang iyong sinambit na pumasok sa aking pandinig — mga katagang dumiretso sa aking puso at nagtibay ng aking tindig. Dahil sa atin, ako ay naniwala. Ako ay nagtiyaga. Ngunit paggising ko sa isang makulimlim na umaga, ang lahat pala ng ito ay isang akala. Akala ko noon, magtatagal. Akala ko noon, walang bibitaw. Akala ko noon, magmamahal. Ano nga bang nangyari at tila naging isang alikabok na lamang sa kalawakan ang "tayong" minsan na nating pinanghawakan? Walang susuko, pinangako pa natin noon sa isa’t isa. Ngunit kasabay ng paglalakbay ko sa isang panibagong mundo ay ang paglaho ng mga salitang pinaniwalaan ko. Hindi naging matayog ang lipad. Hindi naging patag ang daan. Hindi naging maningning ang pagsasama ngunit ang pagmamahal ay siguradong naroon pa. Sa kabila ng unos at himagsik ng paligid, nanatili tayong malakas at buo ang dibdib. Subalit hindi palaging kampi sa atin ang

panahon at pagkakataon — sa dami ng pagbabago, nabitawan natin ang kamay ng isa’t isa. Tuluyan tayong hinila ng mga bago nating daigdig. At dahil may kanikaniya na tayong daigdig, nawala na rin ang pinakainingatan natin. Wala akong magawa. Sa una, ayaw ko pang maniwala. Ngunit tila unti-unting bumuhos ang mahapding patak ng ulan na nagsasabing panahon na rin upang tigilan.

“

KUNG MAGTATAGPO PA BA TAYO AT KUNG MAY BABALIK PA BANG MGA NATUYONG DAMDAMIN, IPAUBAYA NA LANG NATIN SA TADHANA AT KINABUKASAN.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit at papaano, na sa matagal na panahon ng matamis na pagsasama, naging mabilis at walang kasing pait ang wakas. Marahil nga ako ay nagkulang, ngunit sapat ba ito upang ako ay iyong kalimutan at tuluyang iwanan?

MANILA OBSERVATION hen I see my block, my mind sees glass jars: already a mass by itself but still needs to be filled. They’re like a puzzle to work on who among them has depth. Which ones are hollow? How fragile are they? I reminded myself, “How you see others is how you see yourself”. My conscience warns not to dwell in negativity but day by day, I lean towards being a wallflower (or more likely as a fly on the wall) than being true to everyone. But, nondisclosure doesn’t mean they can’t read you. A classmate once admitted, “You look unhappy sometimes.” I am, and the reason is that I’m not always comfortable being around them, but pinpointing their faults would look like I’m selfish. The best way I can analogize our relations is describing how a key doesn’t always fit every lock. I got to the point of classifying them into cliques for the sake of dissecting their behavior. I thought I was alone with this thinking, until a friend acknowledged that we’re still masking ourselves. Another group shared that most of our block mates are poor listeners, even commenting that for them, listening is not to obtain information but a way to seek attention. It’s even hard to imagine that you have a pair of fellow students confessing to you that they see themselves as a “minority”. My fear would be to end this year only recognizing them by names. I don’t want to see them as detached eyes glued to their own worlds or as competitors fighting their egotistical way to the highest of ranks. I need to view them as a family to be proud

Dalawang buwan na akong nag-iisa, tahimik at payapa. Dalawang buwan nang walang inaalala. Ngunit sa araw-araw ikaw pa ri'y kinakamusta. Iniisip at binabagabag ng mga maiikli ngunit malinaw pa ring alaala natin, na tila ba kahapon lang ang lahat. Sa pagdaan ng mga araw, sa pagsilip ng bawat bukas, natuto akong maging malakas. Natuto akong humarap sa mapanghusgang tingin ng marami. Natuto akong muling bumangon at tumindig sa dalawang paa ko. Salamat sa’yo, natuto akong iwasto ang inakala ko.

Maka-ilang ulit kang humingi ng tawad,

STATE OF THE SECTION ADDRESS

Josef Bernard Soriano De Mesa

pilit na nagtanggi, at nanawagan ng isa pang pagkakataon. Huwag kang magalala, maka-ilang ulit na rin kitang inintindi at pinatawad. Ngunit hindi mababawi ng pagtatanggi at paghingi ng tawad ang realidad na tapos na tayo. Kung anoman ang naganap noon, lahat ay bahagi na lang ng kasaysayan ngayon. Kung ano pa man ang mangyayari, kung magtatagpo pa ba tayo at kung may babalik pa bang mga natuyong damdamin, ipaubaya na lang natin sa tadhana at kinabukasan.

of belonging with, a steady partnership that’s willing to lend a hand in our shared burden. Professing paranoia isn’t an easy task. I still find it difficult to identify whom to spend trust with. It’s better to let others understand the situation than stay pressured. I also believe we impose expectations on everyone; we just choose to keep quiet. I then challenge everyone to speak their minds and not hide oneself from silence because words must not be underestimated. However in speaking their minds, people must remember the

“

BUT OUR SILENCE ABOUT THE MATTER PERHAPS REFLECTS WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR: TO BE AT PEACE, EVEN JUST FOR A WHILE. difference between being open and being rude. We can tell we’re imperfect. We have the ingredients for stepping on each other’s feet and putting one off in the wrong way. We’re like a ticking bomb. But our silence about the matter perhaps reflects what we are asking for: to be at peace, even just for a while. To be honest, I can’t speak for everyone. This is only a version of what college may look like for the uninitiated. I just sensed that not all of us freshmen (or maybe even

those in the higher years) are enjoying the way we thought it would be. We’re still getting a hang of what’s going on because we’re newcomers. Soon, we may settle in with what we have and work with what is offered. Our outlook with one another can evolve, and not for the worse, hopefully. Honestly, I want to read this in a year’s time and think, “What the hell was I saying?” I’ll confess to my future self, “If it weren’t for what’s happening today, you wouldn’t have a single clue on where you’re standing right now.” I expect by then that we wouldn’t have any concealed doubts from each other; that being familiar with what makes us smirk also means being able to tell what hurts us to learn how to avoid conflicts. There’ll be more moments to come, but it’s up to us to cherish it and make it memorable. And if things still don’t go quite what is expected, I guess having standards doesn’t always work.

I-spluk mo na beh : facebook.com/lolapatola Merry Christmas! -Lola P

BASAG-ULO Lean Sandigan 12:51*

Sobrang hassle ng semestreng ito.

Alam kong hindi ako nag-iisa, at malamang may mga taong mas marami pa ang ginagawa kaysa sa akin. Pero bakit kaya ganoon, parang ang bigat-bigat ng lahat ng pasanin ko. Ayoko namang maging grade-conscious, pero parang lahat pa rin ng ginagawa ko kailangan maayos at kailangan on-time. Laging nandoon yung pangamba na babagsak ako at made-delay ako ng 300,000 years bago grumaduate. I know, OA. Duh, eh ganoon nararamdaman ko eh. Pero hindi naman ako OA kung mag-status o mag-tweet tungkol sa semestreng ito. Habang yung iba nagdadasal kapag 11:11 na matapos na ang kalbaryo, ako naman hinihintay mag-alas-dose. Yung ibang tao kasi, ang dami-daming feelings. Ako rin naman, pero bihira ko lang i-share, para kunwari ang cool ko kasi ‘di ako naaapektuhan ng stress. Pero ang totoo, hirap na hirap na ako. Hindi ko na nga alam kung kailan pa ang huling tulog ko ng alas-diyes. Minsan napapaisip na lang din ako kung para saan ba itong ginagawa namin sa UP. May magagamit ba talaga kami sa mga pinag-aaralan namin? Napapaisip ako kung bakit sa pagsakay ko ng tren, jeep, at bus, nakangiti pa rin yung mga estudyante sa ibang school. Ganoon na lamang ba kahirap sa pamantasan namin, o talagang pinapagod at pinapatay lang namin ang sarili namin? Eh kaso wala eh, mukhang ang sagot ay: Ginusto namin ang gulong ‘to. Minsan naman, pakiramdam ko parang hindi naman talaga nababawasan yung kailangan kong gawin. Para akong may kalabang hydra na kapag pinutol mo ang ulo, may dalawang tutubo bilang kapalit. Pero tulad ng pinupunto ko kanina, kahit ilang ulo pa ‘yan, walang panahon para malungkot at humagulgol — sayang sa oras. Kapag medyo nasasabaw ako, pumupunta yung isip ko sa ibang dimensyon, kung saan ang UP Hellweek ay mayroong pahinga sa kalagitnaan ng linggo. Ito yung tipong, “Hep! Stop muna sa paggawa ng requirements. Dahil mahalaga sa pamantasan na maintindihan niyo ang binasa niyong gabundok na readings, dalawang araw na pahinga ang ibibigay ko para ma-absorb niyo lahat.” ‘Di ba? Astig! Pero kung saan-saan na ata ako dinadala ng kasabawan ko. Hanggang sa pagsusulat nitong column na ito, puyat pa rin ako. Patunay na siguro ito na walang paraan na mabago pa ang paghihirap ng mga isko at iska sa pamantasan. Ito na siguro ang “Tatak UP” — mga maletang eyebags. Tatak UP din ang paghihirap sa pag-aaral, at paggamit ng mga pinag-aralan sa tamang lugar. IPAGPATULOY SA PAHINA 13

EDITORIAL 15

Volume 28 Numbers 7-8 Thursday | December 12, 2014

HE STRUGGLE FOR GENUINE TRANSPARENCY IS FAR FROM OVER.

Last November 24, 2014, the House Committee on Public Information approved the People’s Freedom of Information (FOI) Act of 2014 popularly known as the ‘Consolidated Freedom of Information Bill,’ an act that could strengthen the rights of citizens to get information from the government. Many failed attempts for a FOI law have filled the last two decades, yet after years of waiting for a bill that concretizes transparency, what the people got is a ‘watered-down’ bill.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Angelo Dennis Aligaga Agdeppa ASSOCIATE EDITOR FOR INTERNAL AFFAIRS Patrick Jacob Laxamana Liwag ASSOCIATE EDITOR FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS Elizabeth Danielle Quiñones Fodulla MANAGING EDITOR Carlo Rey Resureccion Martinez ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR Jennah Yelle Manato Mallari NEWS EDITOR Ronilo Raymundo Mesa

The government recognizes there is a strong need to have a bill advancing our freedom to information, yet in the process of making such legislation, loopholes and vague provisions are created. Hence, a toothless bill will be created, and inevitably be used to abuse power. Several exemptions on the bill have vague meanings that can be used by government officials to fully avoid investigation. In this context, exemptions to the rule can only entail escape routes for criminals. Although it is notable that there is a needed exemption to disallow access to information if it relates to national security, or similar events such as weakening the stand of the country in bilateral or multilateral negotiations or relations, most of the exemptions do not benefit the country and its people. The current form of the bill covered up more facts other than what can be considered as threats to national security. The section 5 alone states that the public should acquire an approved request from the Sandiganbayan before accessing the statements of assets, liabilities and networth (SALN) and income tax returns (ITR) of government officials. With this, there are really no public records for anyone to access. There is also no given justification on the said bill on why SALNs are given limited access, as this can be a basic component in the transparency of the government and its officials. However, the biggest controversy can be found on the Section 7 of the bill, as most of the exemptions written create a defanged bill for the transparency and accountability needed by the Filipino people. The exemptions are broad enough for the law to protect some government officials, making the teeth of justice and public scrutiny brittle. In essence, Section 7 is the reason on why FOI should be considered weak. The greatest beneficiaries of by the FOI Bill are lap dogs in the executive department. The bill cloaked the executive department effectively as some exemptions include the access of information while in the decisionmaking and policy formation phase. The exemption proves to be a similar “executive privilege” that former President Arroyo used in covering the alleged illegal deals made in the NBN-ZTE deal. The denied access made possible by the FOI bill exemption can make public and media scrutiny be futile, as there are no ways to counter-check the facts presented by the government. Furthermore, this can be a potential cloak in defending the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) proposed and handled by

FEATURES EDITOR Angelica Natividad Reyes CULTURE EDITOR Jamilah Paola dela Cruz Laguardia GRAPHICS EDITOR Lizette Joan Campaña Daluz NEWS CORRESPONDENTS Ezra Kristina Ostaya Bayalan Adolf Enrique Santos Gonzales Eunice Biñas Hechanova Gayle Calianga Reyna

JOANNE PAULINE RAMOS SANTOS

Toothless Freedom President Aquino and Budget Secretary Abad. Yet the immunization and justification of corruption as government projects does not end there. Information about various projects through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) or any project by the executive could be hidden far from the suspecting public. This is in contrast with the fact that policymaking bodies of the Executive department should be transparent, since these bodies are concerned with the budget, affected sectors, and stakeholders. The two powerful arms of the government in curbing crimes and political enemies are also empowered by the bill. The section contains exemptions in granting access to information if there are ongoing operations by the military or police. This can be used to deny information, citing that it can compromise or interfere with any operation.

the bill, and the Filipino people in exercising their right to information. Public officials will be allowed to use this exemption in every anomalous project that they have, as this part withholds information because “premature disclosure would frustrate the effective implementation of a proposed official action.” The Consolidated FOI will stop the people and the media in their tracks of finding truth and justice because of claims that gaining information of the general public will “frustrate the implementation.” Ultimately, the exemption provided by the bill stops the ability of the public to stop corrupted projects before it is implemented. The attempt to hasten transparency in public service is being used by the administration to protect its allies and cronies. The vague and broad exemptions

VAGUE AND BROAD EXEMPTIONS OF THE FOI BILL PASSED BY THE COMMITTEE WILL SERVE AS A CLOAK AND PRIMARY DEFENSE OF THE GOVERNMENT TO EXTEND ITS PLUNDER The media and the people will then have no access to knowledge about military operations concerning extra-judicial killings, torture, enforced disappearances, as well as raids and airstrikes that might have destroyed communities. As if denying information during military operations is not enough, the FOI Bill can also withhold facts on the basis of “a right to a fair trial.” It is ironic and absurd that the government who claims to fight corruption use this exemption in a bill that aims to expose it. It is apparent that rules will be bent in order to protect themselves should their political party and allies be attacked in the future. The last section of Section 7 greatly weakens

FEATURES CORRESPONDENTS Liezl Ann Dimabuyu Lansang CULTURE CORRESPONDENTS Jose Lorenzo Querol Lanuza Thalia Real Villela RESIDENT ILLUSTRATORS Daniel John Galinato Estember Princess Pauline Cervantes Habla Joanne Pauline Ramos Santos RESIDENT PHOTOJOURNALIST Jenny Mary Camama Dagun 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 Solidaridad - UP Systemwide Alliance of Student Publications Guild of the and Writers’ Organizations Philippines

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of the FOI Bill passed by the committee will serve as a cloak and primary defense of the government to extend its plunder, without the people having basis to counter it. Providing public service needs public trust. However, there can be no trust in a bill that does more protection of the government and its projects, rather than giving the public its right without any exemptions. No trust should be given to the government without a genuine FOI Bill. Without transparency and information given to the people, there can be no true measure of democracy. The people have the right to know the truth, and the truth must always prevail.

Illustration by Princess Pauline Cervantes Habla